When Helping People Achieve the American Dream Becomes a Personal Nightmare: NAR Observes Realtor(R) Safety Week

CHICAGO , Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Would you welcome a complete stranger into your home or get into a car alone with someone you had just met? For Realtors(R) and other real estate professionals, these are everyday occurrences. Every job that requires interaction with the public involves some risk, which is why the National Association of Realtors(R) is reaching out to its 1.3 million members next week as part of its fifth annual REALTOR(R) Safety Week.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor in its most recent Survey of Workplace Violence Prevention, 2.5 percent of real estate businesses reported an incident of workplace violence in 2005. Although not common, real estate professionals across the country have been assaulted, robbed, even killed in the course of doing their jobs.

“Given their dedication to helping families achieve their dreams of homeownership, Realtors(R) believe that their profession’s rewards far outweigh the risks,” said NAR President Pat V. Combs of Grand Rapids , Mich., and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt. “NAR’s ongoing commitment to Realtor(R) safety education and awareness helps our members minimize those risks and, in the process, protect their customers and clients, as well. It’s one more way Realtors(R) add value to the real estate transaction.”

In advance of REALTOR(R) Safety Week, NAR distributed an education and awareness kit to all of its more than 1400 local and state associations, as well as the top 500 brokerages across the country. The REALTOR(R) Safety Week Kit includes a video, which has been revised and updated for 2007; support materials for safety presentations and awareness outreach; and a wallet-size card of safety tips, such as:

— Keep a charged cell phone with you at all times. — Meet potential clients for the first time in your office. — Never advertise a home as “vacant.” — Don’t put your home phone number on your business card. — Always take your own car for showings.

The annual awareness week is just one of many ways NAR helps Realtors(R) recognize potential threats and protect themselves throughout their careers. This year for the first time, NAR is offering an innovative, scenario-based 3D online safety course through REALTOR(R) University at http://www.REALTOR.org/RealtorUniversity . The course provides personal, professional and client safety information that is critical for all Realtors(R). Brokers can purchase course passes at a savings for their entire office to ensure that their agents practice sound safety techniques. For more information about NAR’s REALTOR(R) Safety Week and other safety initiatives, visit http://www.REALTOR.org/Safety .

The National Association of Realtors(R), “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Information about NAR is available at http://www.REALTOR.org . This and other news releases are posted in the Web site’s “News Media” section in the NAR Media Center.

REALTOR(R) is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS(R). All REALTORS(R) are members of NAR.

SOURCE National Association of Realtors

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