Real Estate Can Be Risky Business

Real estate sales and rental agents routinely find themselves in situations where they are alone with clients or customers about whom they have very little information.The very nature of showing real estate to prospective buyers and tenants who are virtual strangers can make agents, both men and women, susceptible to becoming victims of violent crimes.

Recognizing the need for greater attention to real estate agent safety, the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® and the Real Estate Commission agreed to cooperate in promoting the education of real estate licensees about agent safety.Through the leadership of the REALTOR® Association’s North Carolina Real Estate Safety Council, a North Carolina Real Estate Safety Guide has been published to assist in this educational effort.Based upon a similar publication developed by the Washington Real Estate Safety Council, the guide contains some common sense safety tips that have been compiled from crime victims and real estate associations across the country.

When you take your real estate continuing education Update course next year, you will receive a copy together with specific instruction on how to reduce your risks.Copies may also be purchased online (www.ncrec.state.nc.us).Or you may download a copy free of charge from the Commission’s website.