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Agents have been reminded about some simple tips to improve their safety, although most feel they are already taking all possible precautions.
According to a recent poll on Real Estate Business, 88 per cent of respondents said their business has firm protocols to keep agents as safe as possible.
Another five per cent said they do some things right but need to improve, while seven per cent said they give the issue very little or no thought.
Bob Barrington, a BDM for safety app developer StaySafe, said there are some simple ways to reduce risks, such as diary sharing, buddy systems and check-in and check-out rules.
Mr Barrington said agents should vet their clients as much as possible by checking their documentation, car registration and driving licence.
Agents should also be vigilant when the time to show the property arrives, Mr Barrington added.
“The kind of shoes you wear might be important in case you need to make a quick getaway. Where you park your car is important so that you’re visible to passers-by in the street,” he said.
“You might want to check with the neighbours when you’re showing a property so you have a safe place to go if you needed to.
“You should make sure when you show a property that the doors to the rear are unlocked so you can get out if you have to.”
Hockingstuart director Sam Rigopoulos said businesses can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of their staff.
“I know some agencies have had terrible experiences, but we haven’t come across anything that raised any significant flags for us,” he told Real Estate Business.
“We’ve got particular processes in terms of diary management. We have an open-diary system so everybody knows where anybody is at any given time. We’ve got systems in place with respect to evening appointments, particularly for our female staff.”
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