She looks so happy go-lucky without a care in the world!  What do you think she would do if confronted by a prospect who turns out to be a violent perpetrator??     

When you schedule an Open House with your clients, do you give much thought to your personal safety?  When your new construction builder asks you to work an Open House in an isolated subdivision or development, do you give much thought to what you would do if confronted or attacked by a perpetrator or predator that unexpectedly shows up at your Open House?

Many realtors work Open Houses by themselves.  However, with crime on the rise against real estate agents – especially women - the trend may be moving towards working as teams or at least having someone else with you (a spouse or a friend) during your time at the Open House.

If you are like many agents, you may never have experienced a confrontation with a potential client so personal safety may not be high on your priority list.  If you live in a city with a very low crime rate, the tendency may be to shrug off the thought of being attacked thinking “it won’t happen to me”.  This type of thinking may cause you to let your guard down leaving you vulnerable and at risk to being attacked because you didn’t recognize potential danger signs.

Whether meeting clients in their home to take a listing, showing homes to new prospects, or holding Open Houses  – what can you do to stay safe on the job and make yourself less of a target to the criminal predator?

First you must be Prepared and have a Personal Safety Plan of Action!  Be prepared - both mentally and physically - for the unexpected situation (and hope it will never happen).  But if it does, you are now prepared and have developed a safety plan of action to know exactly what you will do if put in a dangerous, confrontational situation.

One of my first recommendations for real estate agents and those who perform in-home sales/services is to take a woman’s self-defense class. The RAD Self-Defense training for women is a tremendous way to learn how to protect and defend yourself in an attack/assault situation.  Being physically prepared and knowing what to do to protect yourself is a valuable tool to have.

Consider carrying some type of a personal protection device like pepper spray, mace spray, TASER C2 or a personal alarm in the event you feel threatened or are attacked.  Your main objective with non-lethal protection is to throw off the attacker enough so you can get away to safety and alert the police.

You can checkout a complete selection of Personal Protection Products at http://www.ThePersonalSecurityStore.com.

Remember, your personal safety should be a #1 concern.  Being prepared and knowing how to protect yourself on-the-job - whether holding an Open House or showing property to clients - is a valuable tool to have.

Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!

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As real estate agents, you must always be on guard and thinking. You shouldn’t be afraid to show property but you must be smart when showing property.

If you are going to show property to a new client early in the morning or late in the evening, it is wise to take someone with you.  If you cannot take someone with you, always be prepared for the unexpected.   It is a good practice to meet new clients in your broker office first. Also have a digital came and take a picture of the client’s license plate and even of the client.  Then email this to your broker or your spouse.  That way someone has information on who you are working with. If the client doesn’t like that, then you should take that as a sign to ‘get out’.

Daytona Beach Area Real Estate Market, Data and Updates. By Lisa Hill, “THE SMART CHOICE!”

I was recently reminded of an incident that happened to a REALTOR® friend of mine, a few years ago. This incident was the type of horror story we all fear.

My friend received a call from a potential buyer who had to catch a flight out of town later that morning and he needed to leave by 9:00 a.m. He was anxious to see a model in a development my REALTOR® friend was representing and the only time he was available was early in the morning. So my friend scheduled an appointment to meet this potential buyer at one of the models at 7:30 a.m.

When she arrived at the model, the buyer was waiting and they proceeded to go inside the house. A few minutes later, another vehicle arrived with a couple in it. The potential buyer told my REALTOR® friend that these were friends of his and they all proceeded to view the house.

Then they got to the master bedroom. At this point, the original potential buyer pulled a gun out of a briefcase, then used garbage bag ties on my REALTOR® friend, and put her in the closet of the master bedroom. Now while my friend was in the closet, she could hear the 3 people  rummaging through the house and talking on what sounded like walkie talkies, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying, nor could she understand what they wanted in a model home. 

Meanwhile, she could see into the master bathroom from her position in the bedroom closet, through the space where the criminals had left the door open a crack. She kept an eye on the mirror in the master bathroom, which was reflecting the criminal’s positions outside the master bedroom. She managed to get the ties off her feet, then summoned her courage and ran out the back sliding glass doors to a neighbors house and called the police.

The criminals left before the police arrived and they never could figure out what the overall plan was, but it was obvious that these criminals were professionals and there were others close by.

I titled this post that buyers needed to read this too, for an important reason. If you’re a real estate buyer, you need to understand why your REALTOR® expects you to do things a certain way. For our safety we need you, as a real estate buyer to…

1. Meet us at our office, not at the house you want to see.
2. Take time to sit down with us to give us all time to get comfortable with each other, as well as to help us understand your real estate preferences.
3. Let us make a copy of your driver’s license and leave copies with our office personnel.
4. Stick to a schedule, so we can leave a definitive itinerary with our office personnel.
5. Completely fill in all the fields on the forms at an open house. You may think looking at open houses is a fun afternoon outing, but we honestly need to be sensitive to the safety of the seller’s possessions, and our lives.

Real estate buyers, we understand that you’re anxious to start looking at the houses or condos you want to see. But I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the safety of the agent is of utmost importance, and you can probably wait just one more hour. Please be understanding of this and cooperate with any requests your agent may make.  The story I’ve just told had a happy ending, as this agent was able to return safely home to her family and continue a successful career, albeit more than a little bit reluctant to return to work. But there have been many others who were not so lucky. Just read Elizabeth Nieves’ recent post about Sarah Anne Walker; a REALTOR® who was brutally murdered while holding open a model home in 2006.

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You read in the paper and hear on the news each day about people who are being attacked on the street, as they leave the restaurant, local pub, or shopping mall.  Too many people are lax about their personal safety never even considering that a personal assault or attack may happen to them. 

Today I read in the paper that a man was robbed and hit in the head with a beer bottle as he is pumping gas at a local gas station.  He said that while he was pumping gas at 11 p.m. three men asked him for money.  He told them he didn’t have any and the men knocked him down, assaulted him and robbed things from his truck.  I’m sure this guy had not considered that this situation would be imminent.

My husband and I stopped at a McDonald’s on the Chicago toll way the other night and as we approached our car, I could see a guy coming towards my husband.  My first thought was to avoid him and get inside my car.  He asked my husband for money because his car had crapped out on him.  First of all, if you are in dire straights like that wouldn’t you call someone you know instead hitting up a complete stranger for money - unless you have a scam on your mind?  I motioned for my husband and we went straight to our car trying to avoid the man.

It really is sad that you have to react that way but these type of criminal assaults are happening regularly.  It is hard to tell a real situation when someone may desperately need help from a scam where someone is trying to rob you of your cash or valuables.  It is important that we all become more proactive in our personal security and safety - and know what to do to keep ourselves and our family safe wherever we are. 

Here are some simple strategies to keep yourself safe when you are out and about. 

1.  Take a local self-defense training class.  One that I highly recommend is the RAD Self-Defense Training.  Check with your local law enforcement agency for any training they sponsor. Knowing self-defense techniques, strategies, and how to defend yourself against an attacker is a must especially in our trying times.  I have always recommended self-defense classes for women but men are being attacked quite a bit lately.  Where men think they can handle themselves, many of the attackers are coming in groups of 2-3 attackers on one.  If you are at least trained in self-defense awareness, you stand a better chance of defending yourself even if it against 2-3 attackers.

2.  Carry some type of personal protection when out on the street, especially if you are out by yourself late at night. Excellent non-lethal protection like Pepper Spray, Mace, TASER C2, Stun Gun, or a loud personal alarm are easy to carry in your purse or pocket and can be very effective if personally attacked or assaulted.  Make sure you are well aware how to use these personal protection devices.  More and more individuals are opting to carry a concealed lethal weapon like a firearm.  Once again be sure to take the necessary training when you carry a firearm.  This is a deadly weapon and you want to make sure you are totally in command of your weapon should an attack/assault situation happen to you.

Personal awareness is key here.  Be aware of your surroundings and try not to be out late at night by yourself.  Criminals are looking for individuals who look weak and  vulnerable.  Be sure to carry yourself with confidence and make sure you speak in a commanding voice if a stranger approaches you in a confrontational manner. 

Consider your personal safety a priority at all times.  There are way too many people who will have no problem assaulting you for whatever valuables or cash you may be carrying.

 Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!

Checkout a complete list of non-lethal Personal Protection Products at my website:  http://www.ThePersonalSecurityStore.com

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In the interim I put together a Free Report that can be downloaded entitled "Home Invasion Prevention..Learn Why Home Invasion Robbieres & Home Burglaries Are Becoming More and More Prevalent In Our Society."  To get a copy of your Free Report Click Here and complete your name and email address so you can get the downloadable link.

Homeowners, condo owners, and apartment dwellers need to make their home and family security a No.1 priority.  Each day individuals are losing their jobs, there is more unemployment (with no option of getting a job), and more people are turning to home robbery type crimes. 

As homeowners we need to have a security plan and be better prepared in our overall home protection so we can prevent this crime from happening to our home and family.

Get a copy of the Free Report "Home Invasion Prevention" now!  Click Here.

Protect Your Home with a FREE Home Security System ($850 Value). You pay only $99 Installation Fee + 24-Hour ADT Monitoring Services.  Call  866-755-6137  or Click Here to go to the website.

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Many companies may task their human resource departments with over-seeing security providers to keep employees as safe as possible while at work.  Larger companies may have their own security teams.  Small companies often implement their own internal safey policy with regard to authenticating visitors, access and perimeter control.

Complacency - Both HR and security experts are always concerned about the tendency of folks to become complacent and stray away from protocol.  Some let people into the building without following all sign in and authentication procedures.  Accepting an expired visitor’s badge is also not uncommon.  Others, when carding in through a side entrance, will allow others to follow them into the building alson known as "tailgating."

A fast growing problem - One of the many threats such security breaches may result in is domestic violence "spillover" into the workplace.  According to experts, this is the fastest growing category of workplace violence and is estimated to account for 6% of physical violence and 3% of homicide in the workplace.

Statistic - According to Cornell University’s ILR School, in 2003:

• "Batterers commit 13,000 violent acts against their partners in the workplace each year.  Batterers also pose serious threats to the safety of their victims’ co-workers."

If a batterer no longer knows where his partner lives he will go to the only place he knows he can find her.  Her place of work!  Very often a battered woman does not let her co-workers know of her situation or that the situation is coming to a boiling point.  These women have pride, put on a brave face and come to work and do the best they can.

Rather be safe than sorry - So we all owe it to one aother to follow the procedures and protocols put in place and to not make exceptions.  If we start making exceptions to the rules, pretty soon all we are left with are a lot of exceptions and no rules!

Your security team and human resource departments are there for you -

• If you are unsure about policies and protocol, ask HR or security to review them with you.
• If you know of fellow employees who seem to be getting sloppy on procedure, remind them of policy, and if need be, bring this to security or HR’s attention.
• If you feel you are in a threatening situation of any type, it is always best to bring this to your human resource or security teams’ attention with whom you can communicate confidentially.

Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!

Courtesy of Larry Kaminer, The Personal Safety Training Group, larryk@personalsafetygroup.com

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Cheryl Watterson, Radio Host & Security Expert will interview Lt. Bruce Barnes, Noblesville, Indiana Police Department Public Information Officer on Lets Talk Home Security Radio, 04-22-09. 

Lt Barnes has served in the US Army, Army Reserve and has worked his way through the ranks of the Noblesville, Indiana Police Department serving as patrolman, corporal, sergeant, and his current rank of lieutenant.  He also graduated from the FBI National Academy in Washington, DC - one of the top executive leadership academy’s.

Join the program as Lt. Barnes discusses Residential Security Inspections for burglary/theft prevention for your residence.  More and more home burglaries are happening and one reason is homeowners have become lax in their overall home security. 

When you leave your doors unlocked whether you are asleep or away from home, you are inviting strangers/intruders into your home.  Make security a habit!

This is the time for reiterating basic home security awareness.  Building solid home security habits will help homeowners keep their home well-protected and their family safe 24/7.

Join in the conversation with Lt. Barnes on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. EDT/3:00 p.m. PDT at (646) 727-3396 or online at www.blogtalkradio.com/letstalkhomesecurity.

Protect Your Home with a FREE Home Security System ($850 Value). You pay only $99 Installation Fee + 24-Hour ADT Monitoring Services.  Call 866-755-6137 or Click Here to go to the website.

Get a copy of the FREE REPORT-“HOME INVASION PREVENTION” @ www.letstalkhomesecurity.com

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The Real Estate Professional has a riskier job than one might imagine. Everyday real estate agents are meeting with complete strangers to look at a vacant property or home and are usually meeting alone with the client.

Because of the high number of violent attacks, assaults, and murders of women and men in the real estate profession, the National Association of Realtors has actually made safety and security programs available to members throughout the U.S.

They realized the dangers with which these professionals deal with unwittingly each day. Attending a self-defense class or a realtor safety awareness seminar can remind these professionals of things they should be aware of each time they meet with new clients. Following the new rules of the game is so important in keeping yourself safe…and alive!

Many criminals view real estate professionals as "easy prey" because they are usually meeting women realtors — alone - in a vacant or unoccupied location or home. The agent views the meeting with the prospect as a way to sell a home while the criminal prospect has other motives. He will most likely will have the upper hand and know when an imminent attack is coming. However, the realtor may already have a proactive safety plan in place — and that’s being aware and alert at all times.

It is always best to have your personal safety and security as priority number one. Keep in mind and follow the rules and guidelines that the NAR has set up. Don’t let a potential client steer you from doing what you know is right. Follow proper guidelines — such as meeting the client first in your office and completing necessary paperwork. If the client persists that they can’t do that, find another way to meet the person in a safe environment.

When meeting with a client to show a home or at an open house, always let them lead the way as you follow. Keep some distance behind and know where they are in the home should you stay back. Know where entry and exit doors are located and stay up-to-date on safety rules and guidelines. If your instincts tell you something is wrong, be sure to listen and wrap the meeting up immediately.

Realtor Safety Awareness and Personal Protection - Always Carry With You.

A violent situation can happen anywhere at anytime, especially in an unknown home or deserted location. If the potential client intends to assault or attack you — being armed with some type of self-defense or awareness training and personal protection like Pepper/Mace Spray, a Personal Alarm, a TASER C2 or a Stun Gun can save your life. These non-lethal devices can easily fit into your pocket, briefcase, portfolio, on your keys, or in your purse. It is better to be proactive and safe than physically attacked or murdered.  Go to The Personal Security Store for your personal protection products.

As we enter Spring, more and more people will be looking to buy or sell a home.  Take a few minutes to review your safety action plan and remember to keep your personal safety a high priority!.

Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!

Protect Your Home with a FREE Home Security System ($850 Value). You pay only $99 Installation Fee + 24-Hour ADT Monitoring Services.  Call 866-755-6137 to schedule your installation or Click Here.

Download the FREE REPORT -  "Home Invasion Prevention" and learn what you can do to avoid being a victim!  Click Here to get your copy!

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This is what my TASER C2 looks like.  I know a criminal is not going to want to know what this feels like.

Watch this video of someone who got hit by a TASER.  He lets you know you don’t want to "Take That TASER."

Video Courtesy of Taser Man

 I keep one of the Pepper Spray units on my keychain, one in my car, and the larger one in my home near the front door in case of a forced intrusion.

With personal robbery crimes, carjackings, sexual attacks, personal assaults on the rise, we should be mentally, physically, and personally prepared to defend ourselves against a criminal attack.

If you have not encountered any type of personal crime, now is a good time to become well-prepared by taking a self-defense and/or personal safety awareness class.  No one wants to be a victim of crime but if you shrug it off and say it won’t happen to you - you are potentially setting yourself up to become a victim of crime. 

A perpetrator can spot the person who has let their guard down, who isn’t paying attention to what is going on, and appears to be an "easy" victim.  Don’t be that person!  Lately there have been more attacks on women in the parking lots of some large super stores and shopping malls.  Although they have good lights and some even have surveillance cameras, if you are not paying attention, someone can quickly and easily force you into your vehicle or into their vehicle with no recourse from you. 

As you are leaving your location - work, a restaurant, the shopping mall, grocery store and especially alone at night - be alert and aware of your surroundings.  Be paying close attention to the people you encounter as you make your way to your vehicle.  Be sure to scan the area to make sure no one is following you or are around your vehicle.  Have your keychain in hand with your pepper spray in the ready mode. Don’t be afraid to use it if you feel your personal safety is in danger.  (Quick note:  Be sure to practice ahead of time and know how to use your personal protection).

I can’t stress how important it is to be aware and alert to your situation.  This is not meant to make you paranoid it is only meant to make you consciously aware that there are people out there who care nothing about you, they only want to do you harm and take what you have whether that be your belongings, your cash, or to sexually assault you.  Refuse to be that victim!!

Invest your time into taking a good self-defense class in your community.  Check with your local police or see if a  RAD Self-Defense Class is offered.  This is your first step to becoming educated in knowing how to protect and defend yourself.

Then if you feel you need the extra protection of a non-lethal weapon like a TASER C2, Pepper Spray, or Stun Gun, check it out.  You can check out these products at The Personal Security Store.

Leave me a comment and let me know what your personal protection of choice is.  Stay Safe!!

Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!!

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Fighting Back
It’s important to have a plan in the event of an attack.  Build your confidence by taking a self-defense class – it will empower you with the skills to defend yourself.
• Yell forcefully, “No!  Go Away! I don’t want trouble! Back Off! No! No!”
• Go for the nose with the heel of your hand.
• Go for the groin with your elbows and knees.

If you have been raped and want to do something about it, find a rape crisis center or friends who can support you.

Resources
RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network)
Call RAINN 24-hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Trust Your Instincts
• Don’t be fooled by appearance – rapists don’t always look dangerous.
• If you feel like you’re being pressured, coerced, dismissed or ignored, act on that feeling and remove yourself    from the situation.
• Don’t be afraid to make waves.
• Realize that men misinterpret women, so send clear verbal and non-verbal messages.

Since I mentioned instincts, a friend of mine highly recommended this book - “The Gift of Fear:  Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence” by Gavin De Becker. He talks almost exclusively about our instincts and how listening to and trusting that little voice inside of us - our "gut feeling" can help us to stay safe from violence - and could just save our life.

Video Courtesy of Prime Time Live & Gavin De Becker discussing fear, intuition, and safety.

Remember, Stay Aware…Stay Alert…Stay Alive!

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Let’s Talk Home Security Radio, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. PST.  Listen Online @ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/letstalkhomesecurity or via telephone call-in number (646) 727-3396.  Join us as we talk to Michael Bane, Downrange.TV. 

Michael Bane, Radio Host/Editor of Downrange.TV talks with Let’s Talk Home Security host Cheryl Watterson about guns, personal protection, safety, and how to keep your home and family safe.

Bane has an amazing website that all gun enthusiasts, outdoorsmen, sportsmen, and those seeking additional information on personal protection and safety will benefit from. 

Michael hosts his own weekly radio show on Downrange.TV called "Down Range Radio with Michael Bane."  He is also Host and Producer for the following shows, "Shooting Gallery", "The Best Defense", and "Cowboys."  You can go to www.downrange.tv and access these shows.

I came across Michael Bane a few weeks ago as I was writing an article on Home Invasion Prevention for my website www.homesecurity911.com.   The video Michael had put together on Home Invasion Prevention was perfect and went right along with my blog article. You can see the video by clicking here.

The video was so well put together that I contacted Michael to see if he would agree to talk with me on my radio show Let’s Talk Home Security radio.  He agreed.  The valuable security information and knowledge he will impart about personal home protection using a firearm, the best defense in personal safety, and how to avoid a home invasion will certainly be of great benefit to everyone who listens.

Be sure to listen to the interview with Michael Bane on Let’s Talk Home Security radio show Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. PST.  The radio call-in number is (646) 727-3396 or listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/letstalkhomesecurity.

Protect Your Home with a FREE ADT home security system ($850 Value). You pay only $99 Installation Fee plus the 24-Hour Monitoring Services.  Call 866-755-6137 or go to http://www.isecureyourhome.com.  Sign up and get a Free Bonus Personal Protection Package.

 

 

 

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