WASHINGTON (September 20, 2016) – (RealEstateRama) — Since 2003, the National Association of Realtors® has dedicated September as Realtor® Safety Month; this year, as part of ongoing efforts to keep its members safe, NAR has an updated safety report available for members, firms and associations and a mobile app that has been expanded to include safety features.
“Like most jobs that require interacting with the public, selling real estate involves some level of risk,” said NAR President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. “NAR is committed to protecting our members and making sure they have the resources and education to keep themselves safe and secure on the job.”
NAR’s just released 2016 Member Safety Report surveyed over 3,000 members about how safe they feel while on the job, their personal experiences, and the safety procedures and materials provided by their brokerage and found that 95 percent of surveyed members have never been the victim of a crime while working as a real estate professional. Sixty-one percent of respondents say they have never been in a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information; however, 46 percent of female Realtors® report that they have found themselves in such a situation. The most common circumstances that resulted in fearful situations were open houses, showing vacant and model homes, working with properties that were unlocked or unsecured and showing properties in remote areas.
REALTOR Benefits® Program partner SentriLock, NAR’s official lockbox solution and a leading electronic lockbox manufacturer and service provider, has expanded its mobile app with a new safety feature that allows Realtors® to reach contacts in the case of an unexpected or potentially dangerous situation. When a Realtor® opens a SentriLock lockbox at a property using the SentriSmartTM mobile app, a timer starts and after a set time has passed, the app will ask the agent for a status update. If the agent does not respond, a message is sent to the agent’s chosen emergency contact. This feature through the SentriSmartTM mobile app will be available by the end of October.
“NAR’s 2016 Member Safety Report found that 42 percent of Realtors® use safety apps, so this is an ideal tool for our members to incorporate into their safety protocols to guard their personal safety. Tools and preparation like this exemplify NAR’s efforts to safeguard its members,” said Bob Goldberg, NAR’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.
NAR also offers members an array of other safety resources, including tips and articles, safety training videos, courses and presentation materials, and safety-focused webinars available at www.realtor.org/safety. All are part of the ongoing efforts to communicate and educate Realtors® about safety throughout the year.
“While September is designated as Ò Safety Month, we are committed to our members’ personal safety year round,” said NAR Immediate Past President Chris Polychron, executive broker with 1st Choice Realty in Hot Springs, Arkansas, who helped recharge the organization in 2015 with an expanded roster of safety products, programs, presentations and educational resources for members and associations. “NAR works tirelessly to help Realtors® by empowering them with the right information and tools to manage the risks they face every day.”
For more information on Realtor® Safety Month and the safety resources available to NAR members visit www.realtor.org/safety.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
MEDIA CONTACT: JANE DOLLINGER / 202-383-1042
