Open House Safety

Unfortunately reports of agents being attacked at Open Houses or Showings are far too common. That’s why taking steps to ensure safety during Open Houses is a paramount concern.

The good news is maintaining Open House safety can occur through just a few tactics and there are a surprising number of options that can be selected from.

In this post we’ll cover myriad such ways to improve Open House safety such as never hosting alone, situational awareness, defensive measures, tech tools, and team collaboration to set up a safe and productive Open House – for general Open House ideas and tips, check our post here.

When it comes to safety, there’s a LOT of tips so here’s a mini-guide on what we’ll dive into.

• General Safety Measures
• Establish Visitor Requirements
• Defensive Strategies
• Tools and Technology
• Never Host Alone
• Continuous Education and Resources
• First Meeting Guidelines for Showings

General Safety Measures

When it comes to safety at Open Houses there’s no single magic bullet. But there are a few general precautions, that when applied together, that can add a huge measure of safety. Here’s the list of general safety measures to always follow at an Open House:

• Pre Open House safety: Locking front door during setting up, ensuring exit doors are unlocked, appropriate placement of signage and marketing paraphernalia.
• Strategic positioning: Staying near exits, keeping back to the wall, monitoring movement
• Smart parking: Ensuring your vehicle can’t be easily blocked in
• Letting clients enter rooms first: Gives you control and observational opportunities
• Having a check-in “buddy”: Establish check-in protocols with them and a process if you miss a check-in.
• Keeping a first aid kit: You need to prepare for the worst sometimes so keep your kit nearby and stocked with the essentials. Hopefully it won’t ever be needed for more than a paper-cut.

These tips aren’t necessarily common sense, but they are simple to apply. Below we’ll get into more involved safety precautions, but consider these all basic “must-have” practices when hosting an Open House.

Establish Visitor Requirements

Making visitors provide information can add another layer of security during Open Houses. This can be done using multiple approaches:

Before the Open House: Realtors should mention that visitors need to have a pre-approval from a “real” loan officer and/or evidence of funds. This not only ensures that you are dealing with serious buyers but also adds an extra layer of verification for the prospective visitors. Photo IDs can also be requested.

During the Open House: Digital Sign-ins like Curb Hero can be utilized effectively to gather info and perform a text confirmation which creates a digital record of everyone’s attendance. Someone who was up to no-good may think again when theirs a digital trail of their attendance. Check out Curb Hero’s free Open House sign-in and see this article on how to use our text follow up feature to provide an extra layer of identity verification.

And while some visitors may hesitate when asked to provide information, when it’s positioned as a safety measure, there’s very little they can say to protest.

Defensive Strategies

It’s time to get real. If things do get physical, any defensive moves you know will undoubtedly take the front seat. And there’s a few options agents can utilize to defend themselves:

• Carrying pepper spray, mace, or bear spray
• Taking self-defense classes
• Carrying firearms (and make sure you’ve taken all firearm safety training/precautions)

In light of the potential risks real estate agents face, these measures shouldn’t be overlooked. Even if you’re non-violent to the core, it’s imperative to have enough knowledge to defend yourself in the worst case scenario.

However remember these “worst case scenario” measures aren’t a substitute for the more simple tactics shared above…and these defensive strategies are useless without true situational awareness.

Tools and Technology

Let’s dive deeper into the arsenal of tools and technology related to Open House safety that tech-savvy realtors can utilize.

Mobile safety apps

Glympse can provide real-time location sharing, offering an additional layer of security by allowing someone trusted to track your whereabouts during an Open House. This is the techy version of the “check-in” buddy recommendation from above.

Forewarn allow for preliminary background checks on potential visitors, providing an extra sense of security and preparedness before the doors even open.

Your “Phone” app: Yes the actual phone app on your phone is your best bet to call 911 in the event of an emergency. But you can take it to the next level by leveraging mobile phone security features like automatic SOS calling.

Security cameras

Now security cameras are small, cheap, and simple to setup…so their perfect for Open House safety. Temporary security cameras, specifically designed for portable use, can be strategically positioned around the property. These mobile cameras not only capture footage of all visitors but also serve as a significant deterrent when their presence is clearly indicated by signage. Brands like Ring, Wyze, and Blink offer choices of compact, easy-to-install cameras, which, coupled with an appropriate warning sign, can effectively deter inappropriate or unsafe behavior.

Also with technology rapidly evolving expect new safety solutions to emerge, but regardless keeping your cell phone handy throughout an Open House ensures quick access to emergency services if necessary.

Never Host Alone

This common Open House safety suggestion is fundamentally based strength in numbers. Having at least one trusted person as a companion during Open Houses not only bolsters one’s personal safety but is usually more fun! And if you bring someone with a relevant speciality when it comes to home purchase then it’s value add for your visitors (so a win, Win, WIN!).

Along these lines there are a few options for your co-hosting buddy:

• Another Realtor: Tag teaming Open Houses with other agents on your team is a good idea on multiple fronts but from a safety standpoint it ensures that responsibilities are shared and no one is left alone; team members can rotate duties; can also share leads afterwards.
• Lender: Many lenders are willing to attend open houses to gain leads, and they can provide marketing materials and engage with potential buyers.
• Preferred Vendor: Vendors such as insurance agents, home inspectors or even stagers (who are often also interior designers) may attend for networking opportunities while providing an additional safety presence.
• Non-Licensed Assistant: This can be an assistant on your team or in your office. They can be your safety presence AND can also help with setup, greeting and signing-in guests, and monitoring the event and other administrative support.
• Entertainment or Food Vendor: If you’re in the practice of hosting Mega Open Houses you can make sure one or more of your vendors there is someone you can trust with your safety.
• Spouse, Partner, Trusted Friend or Family Member: If a professional associate isn’t available, a friend or family member can offer personal support and help monitor the property, especially useful for non-professional assistance.

In essence, the key to ‘Never Host Alone’ Open House safety strategy that has multiple benefits including safety and collaboration. By instating these measures, the phrase ‘safety in numbers’ takes a practical and effective meaning in the world of real estate.

Education and Resources

Open House safety (like safety in general) is a learning process and there are lots of resources that are out there. Here are two that standout due to how many realtors trust them for safety guidelines, trainings, video tutorials, and downloadable safety toolkits:

Beverly Carter Foundation

First the backstory: The real estate community was shaken by the tragic kidnapping and murder of real estate broker Beverly Carter. Beverly was targeted due to the perception that she was a A) rich broker who B) who worked alone. In the wake of this tragedy, the Beverly Carter Foundation was established. The foundation is dedicated to educating and protecting real estate professionals, fostering a safer working environment for all. You can browse all their resources here at beverlycarterfoundation.org

National Association of Realtors (NAR) Safety Resources: No surprise that NAR has comprehensive safety materials for realtors that are generally well regarded.

Researching these and other safety resources regularly can provide new info on ways to ensure safety at Open Houses.

Hopefully a handful of the concepts shared above are easy to apply at your next Open House. At a minimum try to use ALL of the General Safety Measures above. Then layer in a few of the other tips – like never hosting an Open House alone – as it makes sense for your individual situation and preferences.