September is REALTOR® Safety Month

In an ongoing effort to help protect our members and keep safety top of mind, Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) and National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) dedicate September as REALTOR® Safety Month.

The reality in real estate is that there are some real threats when working in the field, and it's crucial to be prepared. The 2023 REALTOR® Safety Survey highlights alarming statistics of the potential dangers REALTORS® face while on the job:

• 56,000 REALTORS® were victims of a crime while performing their duties.
  
• 322,000 REALTORS® felt fear for their safety while on the job.
  
• 406,000 REALTORS® don’t have safety protocols in place to protect themselves.

The goal of REALTOR® Safety Month is to bring awareness of potential dangers and reduce the number of industry-related safety incidents, so every REALTOR® comes home safely to their family every night. There is no better time than now to reassess your safety protocols and make safety a top-of-mind priority.

LIBOR works with our members to improve the safety culture in the industry by raising awareness, educating on safety protocols, and encouraging all REALTORS® to stay vigilant on the job. To get started, LIBOR has made available an assortment of tools focused on agent safety that brokers and agents can use to establish a strategy that can be incorporated into your current office safety protocol.

In 2019, LIBOR established a  REALTOR® Safety Alert Network to notify members of local safety concerns and emergencies. Alerts will be issued in situations when a REALTOR® or a REALTOR®’s immediate family member goes missing, an association name is being used fraudulently to dupe consumers or a physical threat to REALTORS® is deemed to warrant national attention.

Additionally, here are NAR’s Top 5 Safety Action Items that can make a significant difference in your safety:

• Plan Your Safety Strategy - Customize a safety plan to suit your unique needs
• Tips and Best Practices - Learn proven techniques to stay safe and avoid potential risks.
• REALTOR® SAFETY Month Webinar - Join NAR for a FREE live webinar on Sept. 18th at 1:00 pm CT for essential tips to stay safe on the job.
• Personal Protection Resources - Explore safety apps and devices for added security.
• REALTOR® Safety Pledge - Prioritize safety in your daily business operations for yourself, clients, and loved ones.

Throughout REALTOR® Safety Month LIBOR will offer a variety of resources, including weekly Safety Tips and Safety Webinars, to empower members to take action and stay safe. To kick off this important initiative, next Wednesday's Webinar on September 18, 2024, will focus on Real Safe Agent, a free LIBOR benefit available to all members. Join Real Safe Agent Training Rep Ray Beckett as he guides you through the inner workings of the Real Safe Agent app, and details everything you need to know to help keep your safety and the safety of your fellow agents, a priority.

Safety is a healthy habit that could save your life. Remember, the real value in real estate is YOU. For more information on safety tools and resources, visit lirealtor.com/safety.