Top Safety Tips for Property Managers – Realtor Safety Month

To honor Realtor Safety Month, the team at Apartment Guardian wanted to share several key tips to keep you and your team safe on the job. We value the work you do, and we hope you find these helpful. ~ Thanks! Kate

The unfortunate truth is that there are many dangers in this world. As a result, all individuals must ensure that they are correctly preparing to deal with any situation — including potentially dangerous ones. This goes especially for property managers and real estate leasing professionals. After all, both of these jobs require individuals to manage the homes of others, and being involved in someone's personal space can lead to some particularly dicey situations.

As a property manager or real estate professional, you must understand property management best practices that can increase your personal safety and the safety of those around you.

Understand De-Escalation Techniques

Conflict is a part of the job of any property manager or real estate professional. Unfortunately, at times you will have to deal with angry tenants who are upset for any number of reasons. As such, investing time and training in de-escalation techniques may be beneficial. These techniques will enable you to learn how to calm a volatile situation. Various resources are available online and can be learned simply through a Google search. They include respecting personal space, listening, and using a calm and soothing voice.[1]

Digging deeper, property managers and real estate professionals often benefit from learning techniques that specifically address the types of conflict they may run into, including disagreements over rent or repairs that need to be managed. In these instances, you may benefit from training particular to the industry.

Follow Your Gut

Does something seem off with a client? Are you uncomfortable going into a private space because you are worried about what could happen if a situation escalates or you need a quick way out? Don't ignore that feeling in the back of your mind, and don't dismiss it as paranoia. Trust your gut. If you are uncomfortable with a situation, avoid it, and seek outside assistance immediately.

Get Surveillance Equipment

Thankfully, these days, it is easier than ever to get affordable and reliable surveillance equipment. Security cameras, alarms, and motion-activated lights all provide robust ways to enhance your onsite safety. This is why many security professionals recommend using surveillance equipment as one of their property management safety tips.

To be clear, you may not need too many pieces of onsite safety equipment. If you do need onsite equipment, it may not be more than a few cameras. To determine your needs, consider consulting with an outside security professional who can honestly and thoroughly assess the type of surveillance equipment.

Finally, if you install surveillance equipment, clearly communicate what equipment you have installed (and where) to your tenants. This will help give them peace of mind, show that you respect their privacy, and make it clear that you have equipment installed in public spaces.

Attend Security Training

The evolving field of security means that you may want to consider attending specialized security training for property managers and real estate professionals. This will allow you to network with experts, learn more about what type of equipment you need, and get a better idea of what you can do to improve onsite safety. It will also give you a better chance to learn what techniques have recently evolved in property management safety tips and what pieces of information or security techniques are now woefully out of date.

Use Personal Safety Tech

Personal safety tech involves small wearable devices that can easily send a distress signal to your coworkers or the authorities, alerting them to the danger you face. If managed correctly, personal safety technology allows the wearer to discreetly alert coworkers to a potential safety problem, giving them time to evacuate an area and contact law enforcement. Wearable safety technology can enhance your personal safety and the onsite safety of anyone else in a facility.

As you can see, the best property management safety tips involve a healthy mix of technology, training, and common sense. If you want to take advantage of the latest technology to enhance your personal safety, check out Apartment Guardian. At Apartment Guardian, we use small devices that can enhance your personal safety by enabling you to quickly summon help and alert your coworkers to a safety hazard. Contact us today if you are looking for more information or to book a meeting for a complete overview of our services.

Side List - Infographic

• Understand De-escalation Techniques
• Follow Your Gut
• Invest in Surveillance Equipment
• Attend Training
• Use Personal Safety Tech

Side List - Stats

• 2/3 of all robberies occur on residential properties.[2]
• In 2018, there were more than 1,700 injuries suffered by property managers. These injuries ran the gamut between fractures and multiple traumatic injuries.
• Slips and falls were the most common types of injuries suffered by property managers.[3]
• For realtors who have experienced crime, 17% occurred at an open house. [4]