Cobb Co. (GA), Real Estate Agent Attacked in Broad Daylight. Yes, Again. My Open Letter to the Real Estate Industry. When is Enough, Enough? SAFETY TRAINING SHOULD BE MANDATORY!

I heard this news Friday, but delayed posting it. I am tired of these stories. It is so discouraging that real estate agents are being targeted more than ever. These news stories will never stop if this industry doesn't start taking safety training more seriously. That means the agents, the companies, the associations and boards. It is discouraging when I make contact to offer training and the associations and boards say “no”.... For whatever reason. They just aren't interested. They haven't had it for a while and are not interested now. Or, maybe they had it a couple of years ago and not many agents showed up. So, no, they don’t think they will do it again. Not worth it. But thankfully, they will file my program info away in case they ever need it. I am wondering what it will take before safety training becomes the norm instead of just a flyer to be distributed during NAR's Safety Month in September, or a video or an e-mailed 'reminder’ to be safe? How many more agents have to be killed, robbed or raped?



The same effort and a tiny slice of the budget to bring in technology, sales and marketing guru's can be used to bring in a safety trainer. Don’t just do it once, after tragic news, do it quarterly, twice a year, or even annually. Make it mandatory! However, you must bring in someone qualified. With all due respect to law enforcement officials, you would not call me instead of 9-1-1, so it is unfair when boards call on them to offer this specialized training in order to save money. I have walked in the shoes of real estate agents, having been one. I know it is not realistic to tell you not to host an open house alone, or not to show a property alone. It won't happen. You will do it after all the news dies down about the latest attack on the latest agent. However, you can learn realistic ways to take the danger out of how to show and host an open house. How to safely screen new clients, how to safely use social media, instead of putting everything out there about you, about your sellers and their houses and hoping for the best. Criminals are online in record numbers, just as agents are.



You can tell me how low the crime rate is in your community and unfortunately, I can show you several news stories from small, quaint communities like yours, where the real estate agent never thought it would happen there, either. Criminals have cars and they like quiet neighborhoods, too. The distressed market means people are desperate. It also means that even ‘nice’ neighborhoods have these properties. You must exercise additional caution. Learn how to work in this volatile market safely.



We should never blame the victim. But we all have to do everything possible to prevent these crimes against agents. That means if your association or company won’t offer safety training, get together with your fellow agents and make it happen. In the last 7 days, I have heard from agents in Bulgaria, New England, Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand, plus several Cities in the U.S., seeking information on working safely. I respect the fact that you have to make a living. I want you to know that you can do it safely though. Why don't you all join with me and help make safety training a regular part of training? I am tired of hearing these stories. Aren’t you? Let's do something about it. TODAY.

Read the news story about the agent attack in the Atlanta area on July 1, 2011:

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/cobb-county-real-estate-agent-attacked-20110701-es