The National Association of Realtors which is the trade organization of all the real estate agents/brokers, publishes a document every year related to safety. Reviewing the document leaves me wondering if everyone is aware of the dangers of this profession and if they understand what they need to do when they are facing a dangerous situation.

The association and all safety classes discuss how to be prepared and what to look for. But is that really enough? Is it enough for the majority of realtors who are women to take self defense classes? Will having a pepper-spray in your purse help when you are confronted by a stranger? Can you be expected to stay calm and collected when your biological defense mechanisms wake up and instigate you to do something? Should you get in to a fist-to-fist altercation with an assailant?

Do these work? Perhaps! But not all the time. The fact of the matter is that realtors walk in to an unknown situation every day, where unexpected things could happen. When there, they are in sell mode and their brain is not ready to deal with unexpected advancements and possible violence. So, what is there to do?

In most fields where safety is an issue, people are paired up so that if one is in danger, the other can help. Short of bringing a second person with you in every showing or open house, agents must use an alternative to the buddy system. Being alone in any situation opens you up to higher levels of risk. If you are alone, then there should be a mechanism where help can be called to rescue in a short period of time. It needs to disrupt the situation so the assailant realizes that others are coming and the situation has changed.