Real Estate Safety

Real estate safety is a shared responsibility between agents, sellers, and buyers. Because the industry involves meeting strangers in private or vacant locations, having a proactive safety plan is essential.
Here are the most critical safety protocols:
For Real Estate Agents
Vetting New Clients: Never meet a new client for the first time at a property. Always meet at the office or a public place (like a coffee shop) first. Ask for a photo of their driver’s license and have them fill out a "Prospect Identification Form."
The "Follow, Don't Lead" Rule: When touring a home, always have the client walk in front of you. Gesture toward rooms (e.g., "The kitchen is to your right") rather than walking into them first. This keeps you between the client and the exit at all times.
Avoid "Dead Ends": Do not enter small, enclosed spaces like walk-in closets, attics, or basements. Let the client view those areas while you remain in the doorway or hallway.
Park for a Quick Exit: Always park on the street rather than in the driveway. This prevents you from being "boxed in" by another vehicle.
For Home Sellers
Prescription & Valuables Lockdown: Theft of prescription medications is one of the most common crimes during open houses. Lock up all medications, jewelry, small electronics, and firearms in a bolted safe or remove them from the premises.
Identity Protection: Hide mail, bills, family calendars, and passports. Criminals often use open houses to gather personal data for identity theft or to learn when you will be away on vacation.
The Post-Show Sweep: After an open house or showing, check every window and door. Intruders sometimes leave a back window or side door unlocked during the tour so they can return later that night.
Essential Safety Technology
Modern tools can provide a "digital safety net" during your workday:
FOREWARN: A lead intelligence app that allows agents to instantly verify a prospect's identity and criminal history using just a phone number.
SentriKey Safety Feature: If you use SentriLock, the app can be set to "check in" on you during a showing. If you don't respond to the prompt, it automatically alerts your emergency contacts.
Tether RE: A comprehensive safety platform offering 24/7 live monitoring, SOS alerts, and "struggle detection" that can dispatch help even if you can't reach your phone.
Pro Tip: Establish a "Safe Word" or phrase with your office or a colleague. If you call and use that specific phrase in a sentence, it signals that you are in danger and need the police dispatched immediately without alerting the person you are with.
A safety checklist for clients isn't just about protecting their property; it's about giving them peace of mind while their home is "on display" to the public.
Home Seller’s Pre-Showing Safety Checklist
Prepare your home for visitors and protect your family’s privacy with these simple steps.
Secure "Target" Items
Criminals often use open houses to scout for small, high-value items that are easy to conceal.
Prescription Medications: Store all meds in a locked cabinet or take them with you. (This is the #1 targeted item).
Jewelry & Watches: Empty the tops of dressers and bedside tables.
Firearms: Ensure all weapons are unloaded and locked in a bolted-down safe.
Small Electronics: Tuck away tablets, laptops, and expensive gaming controllers.
Protect Your Identity
Identity theft is a growing concern in real estate. Hide any document that contains your personal details.
Mail & Bills: Clear off the kitchen counter or "command center."
Calendars: Hide family wall calendars that show when the house will be empty (vacations, school schedules).
Financials: Lock away checkbooks, credit card statements, and tax documents.
Digital Privacy: Hide Wi-Fi passwords and avoid leaving computers logged in.
"Live" Security Measures
Lighting: Turn on all lights (even during the day). Bright homes are safer and show better.
Camera Check: If you have a doorbell camera or internal security cameras, ensure they are active.
Note: While cameras are great for safety, remember to follow local laws regarding recording audio of conversations.
Electronic Lockbox: Confirm your agent is using an electronic lockbox (like SentriLock or Supra) rather than a manual combo, as these track exactly who entered and when.
The "Walk-Out" Protocol
Valuables Sweep: Do one last walk-through to ensure nothing valuable was missed.
Pets: Secure pets in a crate or, ideally, take them with you. An anxious pet can be a liability or may escape if a door is left open.
Don't Linger: It is safer (and better for the sale) if you are not present during the showing.
The "Return-Home" Inspection
When you return after a showing or open house, do a quick "Security Sweep":
Check the Windows: Ensure no one unlocked a window for a later entry.
Check Back Doors: Confirm all secondary exits are still deadbolted.
Check the Spigots: Believe it or not, some intruders turn on exterior water or gas—just do a quick perimeter check.
When buyers are touring homes, they often focus on the "dream" (the kitchen, the view, the layout) and forget that they are entering private properties with strangers.
Home Buyer’s Safety & Etiquette Guide
How to stay safe and respect property boundaries while finding your next home.
The "Safety First" Mindset
Don't Tour Alone: Always meet your agent at the property or have a friend/partner join you. If you are self-touring, let someone know exactly which address you are visiting and when you expect to be finished.
The Exit Strategy: When you enter a home, take note of all exits. Avoid getting "cornered" in small spaces like walk-in closets, basements, or attics. Let your agent or partner enter those areas while you stand in the doorway.
Daylight Tours: Whenever possible, schedule showings during daylight hours. This allows you to see the neighborhood clearly and ensures you aren't walking through a dark, unfamiliar property.
Respect the "Digital Eye"
Assume every home has security cameras. Doorbell cameras, "nanny cams," and smart speakers are now standard.
The "Silent" Tour: Avoid discussing your budget, your level of interest, or your negotiation strategy while inside the house. Wait until you are back in your car or at the office to talk numbers.
Assume Audio is Recording: Many smart home devices can record audio. Be polite and keep criticisms of the home professional; disparaging the seller’s taste while in their living room can hurt you later during negotiations.
Personal Privacy & Etiquette
Hands Off Personal Items: It is perfectly fine to open closets, kitchen cabinets, and pantry doors to check storage. However, never open dresser drawers, nightstands, or medicine cabinets.
Ask Before You Snap: Always ask your agent if photography is allowed. Some sellers have specific "No Photo" requests for privacy reasons. Never post photos of a stranger’s home on social media.
The Bathroom Rule: Use a public restroom before your tour. Using a seller's bathroom is considered a breach of etiquette and, in some cases, a safety/sanitation concern for the homeowner.
Neighborhood Reconnaissance
Safety extends beyond the front door.
The "Off-Hours" Drive-By: If you love a house, drive by it on a Friday night and a Sunday morning. This gives you a true sense of noise levels, street lighting, and neighborhood activity that you won't see during a scheduled Tuesday afternoon showing.
Trust Your Gut: If a street or a specific property makes you feel uneasy, don't ignore that feeling. Your physical safety is more important than a "good deal."
Quick Tip: Keep your hands free. Wear a crossbody bag or leave your purse in the trunk of your car. This keeps your hands available to test handrails, open doors, and move quickly if needed.
The first 24 hours of homeownership are a whirlwind of excitement, but they are also when a property is most vulnerable. Between moving trucks, open doors, and the fact that the previous owners (and their contractors/friends) may still have access, security should be the top priority.
The First 24 Hours: New Homeowner Security Checklist
Congratulations on the keys! Before you unpack the first box, complete these essential security steps.
Immediate Access Control
The most important rule of a new home: You don't know who has a key.
Change the Locks: Don't just get new keys; replace the deadbolts or have a locksmith re-key them. This includes the door from the garage to the house.
Reset the Garage Code: Locate the "learn" button on the garage motor and wipe the memory to de-program any old remotes or keypad codes.
Clear Smart Home Access: If the home has a smart lock, video doorbell, or thermostat, perform a factory reset to remove the previous owner’s access from their phone.
Perimeter & Entry Points
The "Window Tab" Check: Check every window in the house. Ensure they are not just closed, but fully locked. Check for "ventilation tabs" that might have been left open.
Verify Sliding Doors: Sliding glass doors are a common weak point. If there isn’t a security bar (a "Charlie bar"), measure the track and place a wooden dowel in it temporarily.
Update the Mailbox: If it’s a locking community mailbox, ensure you’ve received the keys or have requested a lock change from the Post Office.
Safety & Utilities
Test Smoke & CO Detectors: Press the "test" button on every unit. Even if the home was inspected, batteries can die during the move-in period.
Locate the Main Shut-offs: Know exactly where the main water shut-off and the electrical breaker panel are. In an emergency (like a burst pipe during move-in), you don't want to be searching for these in the dark.
External Lighting: Ensure the porch lights and any motion-sensor lights are working. If the bulbs are out, replace them immediately so the house looks occupied.
Moving Day Protocol
The "Front Door Guard": During a move, the front door is often left wide open. Ensure one person is always designated to stay near the entrance to monitor who is coming and going.
Box Management: Do not leave boxes for high-end electronics (like a new 75" TV) on the curb. This signals to burglars that there is brand-new gear inside. Break the boxes down and keep them inside until trash day.
Hide the "Valuables" Box: Keep your jewelry, passports, and closing documents in your personal vehicle—not on the moving truck.
Pro Tip for Your Clients
"Introduce yourself to the neighbors on both sides within the first 24 hours. A neighbor who knows your face is your best security system; they'll be much more likely to notice if something—or someone—doesn't look right at your new front door."