It's never a good idea to ignore common sense when you are eager to make a sale. Whether you're selling commercial or residential real estate, following a few basic safety rules will help keep you safe. While you can negotiate everything from the price to the terms, you should mark the following personal safety practices as non-negotiable. 

• Meet in Your Office or a Public Place. Your first meeting should happen at your office or in a public place such as a coffee shop, restaurant, etc. You should never have a first meeting in a client's home or in another place where you are alone or can't make a quick exit. When you meet, verify the client's identity by examining their ID, or through another method such as cross-referencing social media profiles, business pages, etc.
  
  
• Meet in the Daytime. Unless there is a legitimate reason that a client can't meet during regular business hours, schedule all appointments during the day.
  
  
• Use a Lockbox. A lockbox helps ensure that you have complete control over the keys. This helps prevent unauthorized access to the home or commercial property.
  
  
• Notify Colleagues of Your Schedule. Make sure that colleagues and any assistants know your schedule. Updating a shared calendar is a simple way to keep everyone informed of where you are, what you are doing, and when you should return.
  
  
• Use a Safety Timer. Safety timers are easy to program and will send a preset alert to your emergency contacts if you don't check-in before the clock winds down. Further, make sure that your emergency contacts are available during the period you plan to show the property.
  
  
• Verify No Pets are Home. Make sure that homeowners remove all pets from the home before your arrival for a showing. Even small dogs and cats can pose a risk of injury when you enter "their" space.
  
  
• Keep in Professional. Never give clients your home phone, email, and physical address. This helps protect you from fraud, phishing attempts, and any aggressive contact if the relationship turns sour.
  
  
• Turn the Lights on. Always turn the lights on before entering a home. Similarly, it is advisable to park your vehicle in a well-lit area that is visible from the street.
     
• Maintain Your Vehicle. Maintain your vehicle in tip-top condition. Never travel with worn tires, low batteries, low fuel, low oil, or low reservoirs of wiper fluid, etc. If there is a problem, your car is your lifeboat, so make sure it's always ready.
  
  
• Clear the House. Whether following an open house or a quick showing, make sure to clear every room in the house before you leave. This helps ensure no one stays behind once you lock the door.
  
  
• Prepare for Defense. No one likes to think of the risk of assault. It's not pleasant, but it is a possibility. Learning self-defense techniques, and carrying pepper spray or other protective devices isn't being paranoid; it's being prepared.
  
  
• Trust Your Gut. If the hairs on your neck stand up or start to tingle, trust your instincts. When things don't feel right, trust your intuition, and act accordingly.           

Ever wonder why Homesale Realty agents are some of the safest in the real estate industry? Contact BHHS Homesale Realty to learn more about the safety precautions we teach our agents to follow.