Office Forms
These forms were developed by the Washington Real Estate Safety Council for the purpose of positively identifying people agents are doing business with, providing emergency information to everyone in the office, and to help keep track of agents in the field. They are provided in Word format and can be customized with your logo or company information.

Personal Identification Form
Offices across the nation are now asking for photo identification and information from clients before going to view property. The form is quick and easy to fill out (name, address, employer and automobile information). Not only does this procedure identify the person you are working with, it helps qualify a prospect and aids police if something happens to you. This simple form may be the best preventative safety measure your office can take. If a client objects to completing the form, that in itself should raise a red flag.

Agent Identification Form
If there was an accident or an agent did not check in when they were scheduled to, you or the police would need this information quickly. It is recommended to place the Agent Identification Forms collectively in a separate folder that anyone can access. The information should be updated at least once a year.

Agent Itinerary Form
This form helps you find an agent when there is a problem at home and gives you a place to look when an agent is missing. Many agents print out an additional "show list" and attach the form to it. Your front office people will appreciate having this information if they need to contact an agent.

Additional Safety Resource
The National Association of REALTORS Field Guide to REALTOR Safety contains a wealth of material on agent safety, including additional forms, procedures and safety tips. Access the field guide by visiting REALTOR.org and searching "Safety Field Guide."

Keep your agents safe on the job! By being aware of basic safety guidelines, agents can improve their chances of not becoming a victim and keep their daily business activities fun, profitable and safe. To help agents establish and maintain safety in their everyday routine, Louisiana REALTORS has assembled this resource of safety information geared toward the real estate professional, including LR's REALTOR Safety Guide, simple safety tips, and office forms and procedures.

Louisiana REALTORS Safety Guide
The Louisiana REALTORS Safety Guide provides valuable tips, information and suggestions for enhanced REALTOR safety while performing daily tasks.

REALTOR Safety Guide

Simple Safety Tips

Ask prospects to stop by your office and complete the personal identification form before going to a property. This should be openly obtained, preferably in the presence of an associate. Information should be retained at office; knowing that a name and address are known may discourage an assailant.

Introduce the prospect to someone in your office. A would-be assailant does not like to be noticed or receive exposure knowing a person could pick them out of a lineup.

Use an emergency code word. If you sense you are in a dangerous situation - call an associate or the office with a preassigned emergency code word i.e. "We are on MAYDAY street" or "Look in the RED FILE." Whoever receives the emergency code word should send help immediately and remove the agent from the situation.

Use your own car to show a property. The prospect could have a weapon concealed or even another person hidden within their car.

Do not try to talk your way out of a situation. If you are attacked, scream. It has been found that by screaming "FIRE" people sometimes respond more quickly than a plea for "HELP."

Safeguard your office. Keep your windows and counters clear. Robbers and attackers like to work in private and police like to see in. Keep a radio or TV playing fairly loudly in the back room when you’re alone in the office. Secure all unused doors and windows, especially if they are in the rear of the office and out of sight and sound.

Call the Police when:
• Any time your are suspicious about a prospect.
• You feel uncomfortable about showing a house to a prospect.
• You feel suspicious about a person after you have shown a house.
• You have been assaulted in any way, i.e., robbed, raped, mugged.

Open House Precautions:
• Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several “escape” routes.
• Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape.
• Make sure if you were to escape by back door, that you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.
• Place one of your business cards, with the date and time on the back, in a kitchen cupboard. • Note on it if you were the first to arrive or if clients were waiting.
• When prospects begin to arrive, jot down their car description, license number and physical description.
• When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect. Direct them, don’t lead them. Say, for example, "the kitchen is on your left," and gesture for them to go ahead of you. Watch what the prospects are doing at all times. Do not become preoccupied with viewing the home.
• Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don’t call, they are to notify the police immediately.
• Inform a neighbor that you will be showing the house and ask if he would keep an ear open for any thing out of the ordinary.
• Have someone from your office, a relative or friend stay with you.