Prospect or Predator? Realtor® Tips for Safe Sales

“What attracts a predator? Weakness, subservience and vulnerability,” said Realtor® and former New York Police Department sergeant Dave Legaz in a recent PAR webinar. 

Legaz is also a safety author, 2021 New York State Association of Realtors® president and the inaugural 2020 NAR Realtor® Safety Advisory Committee chair. He is a strong advocate for Realtor® safety and committed to helping Realtors® learn how to prevent and protect against predatory attacks while on the job.  

“These are predatory crimes and predatory behaviors that lead to the crime,” Legaz noted, sharing that predators’ motives include power and control. He believes learning how to identify predatory behavior and removing weakness, subservience and vulnerability from daily practice will help Realtors® stay safe.  

Legaz shared notable safety statistics from a recent NAR survey, as well as other key points on Realtor® safety: 

• The U.S. Department of Labor has deemed being a Realtor® a dangerous and high-risk profession  
• More real estate professionals are killed nationwide each year than NYPD officers 
• Overall, 22% of Realtors® work in fear (approximately 8,300 Pennsylvania Realtors®) 

He noted that recognizing a predator early is a good way to prevent future attacks. Often, predators will “victim shop,” going from open house to open house or from agent to agent, looking to find the ideal victim. A predator’s motive is power and control, while a thief’s motive is profit. A predator’s goal is to isolate you and commit an assault, but a thief’s goal is to be isolated while stealing from you or the property.  

The anatomy of a crime includes three things: motive, means and opportunity. Without one, the crime will fail. To remove the means, Realtors® can: 

• Avoid sharing personal information  
• Establish power and control  
• Set expectations 

To remove the opportunity: 

• Arrive 15 minutes early  
• Arrive and leave together with the client(s) 
• Bring a buddy if the property is vacant, has poor cell coverage or if you feel uncomfortable prior to the showing  
• Avoid hosting open houses alone  
• Check all rooms and the yard before locking up  

Carrying legal weapons for self-defense can also help during dangerous situations. NAR recommends that agents know their local and state laws, as well as their brokerage’s policies, before doing so. Additionally, while PAR does not sponsor any safety programs, Realtors® can check with their local associations for benefits aiding in safe practice.  

September is Realtor® Safety Month. Learn more about Realtor® safety through JustListed and NAR’s Realtor® Safety Program, and by watching the recording of this webinar. Legaz also shared the link to his co-authored book, “Safe Selling: A Practical Guide for Preventing Crime without Sacrificing the Sale.”