Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Real estate agents all over the country are facing safety issues as they show properties or host open houses. In facing this reality, United Country Real Estate has made the safety of their agents, brokers and auctioneers a top priority by searching for added tools and tips to keep them out of harm’s way.
“We always think it won’t happen to us, but the truth is that it has and it can again,” said Richard Thompson, executive vice-president of sales for United Country. “We must be intentional about safety and do all you can to be aware every time. Our agents can be even more at risk due to the fact that we are selling property in rural and remote areas.”
Thompson said that United Country is working to keep their agents safe every day by recommending guidance and tools like an app called Forewarn, which lets users run soft background checks on prospective clients by entering a phone number. This app provides criminal history for the person, so you can determine if additional caution is necessary.
“The app is a great qualifying tool,” said Thompson. “If the app shows someone has a lot of instability or a violent past, we know we can refuse to meet them or take extra caution, but it can also be used to get a clearer picture of the person’s financial stability. Either way, it should never be used to replace existing procedure, but only as an additional precaution.”
Other basic steps Thompson recommends are for agents to use a code that they can text call if they are ever in trouble or feel uncomfortable. That lets others know you need assistance right away. It actually came in handy in a situation that happened to an agent recently.
“A guy from out of state called to look at a property in a very remote location,” said Thompson.
“When he found the listing agent was a female agent he wanted to work with her” They met at the property and the agent started to feel uncomfortable, so she called her broker to ‘bring me the blue folder.’ That was the code for help now. Her broker came right away and removed her from the situation. We later found out the guy had weapons in his vehicle and had a plan to use them that day.”
The recent events that have been featured in the news about many real estate agents being assaulted, stalked and even killed while showing property has caused the United Country team to be even more on high alert. The company plans to highlight tools like the Forewarn app and a variety of ideas to support agents in the field needing guidance on safety.
“We are encouraging everyone to be intentional about safety,” said Thompson. “Tell someone where you are going and when and what time you will be done. Have a safety code or phrase. We can’t hide from the fact this is going on, but if we work together, we can try to prevent further occurrences from happening.”
United Country is the largest national lifestyle and country real estate franchise company with a combined network of over 6,000 conventional and auction real estate professionals and a unique marketing program that exposes local listings more broadly. For more information, call 800-999-1020 or visit website at UnitedCountry.com where you can find properties by property type, location, acreage or keyword(s).
About United Country Real Estate
United Country Real Estate –is the leading, fully integrated network of conventional and auction real estate professionals. The company has been an innovator in lifestyle and country real estate marketing since 1925. United Country has a combined network that supports more than 500 offices and 6,000 real estate professionals, with a unique, comprehensive marketing program. The exclusive program includes the highest ranked and largest portfolio of national, state, office, agent and specialty property marketing websites, unequaled national print advertising, a comprehensive internal real estate advertising agency, an extensive buyer database of nearly one million opt-in buyers and additional proprietary programs to advertise properties more broadly. United Country Real Estate is a division of the United Real Estate Group.