Realtors are experienced in dealing with two of society’s biggest stressors — money and relationships — but many working in the field have little formal training on handling situations that threaten their own safety.
Agents are often expected to meet clients one-on-one, often in empty homes, creating the perfect opportunity for predators.
Rob Andress, a real estate agent who also runs Street Safe Self-Defence with his wife, Beth Andress, said when confronted with violence, Realtors often escalate the situation with their response.
Both men and women can be victims, said Rob, but there are differences in the types of situations they typically face.
“Males are often targeted for resources, money, vehicles, cars, watches, and women are targeted based on a dominance and control factor,” he said.
Personal image and agent safety
Veteran Hamilton Realtor Karen Filice said her first piece of advice to any female in the industry is to forgo taking glamour photos or full body shots for marketing materials.
“If you want to attract the nut cases, that’s the best way to do it,” said Filice, who’s been in the industry for 38 years.
She said some young female agents think their looks will help get them business, “but it might get them the wrong kind of business.”
Filice, who is broker of record at Cirrius Realty, said one of her staff members was being stalked and required a restraining order. As a result, Filice said she implemented a call forwarding system that protects her team from having to give out cell phone numbers.
“I always warn the young guys, too,” she said, noting a situation where a male agent attended a listing appointment and was greeted by a female client wearing negligee.
Threatening situations are too common
Rob said Realtors find themselves in suggestive or threatening situations more than you might expect.
A 2023 survey conducted by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) indicated that 9.6 per cent of respondents had been a victim of a crime while on the job.
“There’s not another industry in North America that will accept that,” Rob said.
Street Safe’s program, which has been attended by thousands of Realtors across Canada, focuses not just on physical self-defence, but also prevention.
The aim is to help Realtors understand and spot predatory behaviour.
“Predators know how to work around all the advice to meet in public,” said Beth.
“That is an invitation into the world that they want to get into, and that satisfies them. On top of that, it allows that predator the opportunity to measure their own risk against the Realtor.”
Most people seek self-defence training after an attack has already happened, so Beth said it is important for them to be empathetic and trauma-informed.
Realtors are shocked by having their trust violated, and are often hesitant to report crimes to their brokers or licensing board, she said.
Addressing the gap
Despite the high risk, safety training is a very brief part of real estate licensing programs, according to Rob.
Filice said most boards have programs that teach the rules and laws, but not how to protect yourself.
“But really, in this business, you need to be mentored, because you don’t know all that when you come out of school,” she said.
“I didn’t either, and I was grateful for the help I had when I first started.”
That education gap drives the Andresses to offer safety workshops across the region.
The couple said they’re seeing more demand not just from individuals, but also brokerages that want to train their whole team.
The course is five hours in length, but Beth said they spend the first four-and-a-half hours reviewing theory and red flag behaviours.
“We don’t want you to have to use the physical skills,” Beth said.
“We want you to be able to identify, recognize and remove yourself from that situation before it even happens.”
Online resources
In 2023, CREA launched two eLearning modules: Navigating Realtor Safety and Raising Cybersecurity Awareness, along with downloadable checklists, “all designed to help Realtors identify and manage risks both in-person and online,” CREA said in a statement to Real Estate Magazine.
CREA told REM that 1,300 members have enrolled in the course since 2023.
“Our 2023 Member Safety Survey found that while 54.9 per cent of respondents have implemented safety protocols, 45.1 per cent have not — highlighting the ongoing need for education and awareness. CREA’s resources are intended to complement training provided by local and provincial boards and associations.”
To build on this work, CREA said it will conduct a follow-up survey to help the association better understand current safety concerns and identify gaps, which will inform future safety resources.
Safety tips for Realtors
- Screen every call: Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A legitimate client will leave a voicemail.
- Ask for ID: Require clients to provide a driver’s license before a showing or listing appointment. If they protest, it’s a red flag.
- Show, don’t lead: Stay two meters behind clients during every appointment.
- Don’t meet strangers alone: Bring a partner or spouse to appointments or open houses.
- Be vigilant: Being nice is used by predators to disarm their victims, so it’s important to stay alert even when the client seems friendly.
The post Danger lurks in real estate: How to get ahead of threats appeared first on REM.