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The ROI of Employee Safety

Written by Kate Ballard-Rosa | Jun 3, 2022

Property management professionals at all levels understand that an undercurrent of potential danger lurks beneath the surface of every showing or open house.

A 2020 survey found that 31% of real estate agents fear for their safety while handling showings and open houses.

Savvy property management executives view employee safety as a must. But not simply for the obvious reasons. When you prioritize safety, your employees’ confidence and feelings of security on the job translate to a significant return on investment. This article discusses how increased safety measures actually pay for themselves in the long run.

Real Estate: A Deceptively Risky Industry

Real estate agents are extremely vulnerable to violence while on the job. Many agents are nervous when meeting their clients to show properties, and their concerns are completely rational. The National Bureau of Labor Statistics has confirmed that realtors and property managers have one of the highest death rates from violence.

While these numbers and the stress of potential danger can be detrimental to an agent’s peace of mind, property management executives may still overlook how this stress corrodes business success. Firms that don’t value onsite safety report decreased property sales and excessive requests for time off from burnt-out and unsupported employees. Long term, this can be devastating to a firm’s ability to close sales.

In 2022, Apartment Guardian's customer's used the panic button for personal safety three times more than during the same period in 2021.

By investing in accessible safety technology and solutions, property management professionals can go into showings with less fear and more confidence, giving them the ability to do their jobs knowing that they’re safe. This can lead to increases in productivity by as much as 17% and a drop in time-off requests by roughly 10%, which can be a serious boon to your business.

Profitability Beyond Claim Prevention

The anxiety and trauma brought by a safety incident can cost any company thousands of dollars in claims alone. Right away, this makes investments in safety solutions worthwhile from a financial perspective. However, there are more long-long term financial benefits to employee safety.

Threats to your employees’ safety can lead to increased turnover and absenteeism and a loss of job interest, which can all greatly affect a real estate firm’s productivity and profitability. If you’re looking to maximize profits, it stands to reason that protecting and supporting your employees will decrease turnover and absenteeism and boost job interest, overall putting more power in the engine of your business.

Prioritizing Employee Safety Pays for Itself

Agents and managers understand the confidence and security they need to thrive. Invest in the right safety technology to keep your agents safe and allow your company to grow in a stable, sustainable way. Keep your employees safely connected with Apartment Guardian’s fully mobile onsite personal security devices. Your devotion to their well-being likely will lead to increased growth, profits, and employee satisfaction across the board.

Sources

https://www.homelight.com/blog/agent-real-estate-agent-safety-tips/
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-dangerous-jobs/
https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2020-member-safety-report-08-31-2020.pdf
https://apartmentguardian.com/
https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/safe_workplace/safety_pays.html
https://www.velocitytitle.com/real-estate-agents-personal-safety-navigating-the-risks/
https://www.mcaa.org/smart_sol_article/impact-safety-profitability/