September is Realtor® Safety Month
September 15, 2026
Every September, the real estate industry pauses to focus on something that matters year-round: the safety of the professionals who make transactions happen.
Real estate agents regularly meet strangers in unfamiliar spaces, navigate vacant properties, and manage high-stakes conversations under time pressure. The risks are real — and so are the tools and habits that reduce them.
At Ticor Title, we work alongside real estate professionals every day. We know how much care and commitment this work requires. This September, we want to share six practical safety tips drawn from NAR guidance and current best practices — because your safety matters to us, and to the clients who count on you.
If something feels off during a showing or client meeting, it probably is. NAR's safety guidance is clear on this: trust your gut. Your instincts are a professional tool, not an overreaction.
It is always acceptable to pause, reassess, or leave. No appointment, no commission, and no client relationship is worth compromising your safety. Show confidence — and know that walking away is a legitimate professional decision.
2. Use the buddy system
Whenever possible, bring a colleague when meeting a new client or visiting an unfamiliar property. Strength in numbers is not just a saying — it is a practical deterrent.
If you must go alone, tell someone at your office exactly where you are going and when to expect you back. Set a specific check-in time. Make this part of your standard showing routine, not an exception.
3. Share your location
Use your smartphone's location-sharing feature with a trusted contact before every showing — not just unfamiliar ones. Most devices have this built in, and real estate-specific safety tools are also available.
Make it a standing habit. A colleague who knows where you are at all times is one of the simplest and most effective safety measures available to any agent.
4. Pre-screen new clients
Before meeting a prospective client at a property, meet them first at your office or a neutral public location. Request a callback number, verify contact information, and note identification when appropriate.
NAR recommends gathering basic information from new clients before any in-person meeting. A quick phone or video call before a first showing takes minutes and adds a meaningful layer of protection.
5. Control the exit
During showings, always position yourself nearest the door and know your exit routes before you begin. NAR guidance specifically recommends walking behind the prospective client rather than ahead of them.
At open houses, keep blinds raised and maintain visibility from the street. Know where the exits are in every property you show — make it part of your walkthrough.
6. Use digital safety tools
NAR now offers the REALTOR® Safety Network, a national alert system that notifies members of safety concerns and emergencies in their area. Members can also report incidents directly through NAR's Safety Alert Submission Form.
NAR also offers free member resources on cybersecurity awareness, because digital safety is part of personal safety. Explore what is available at nar.realtor/safety.
Physical safety is only part of the picture. Real estate professionals face unique pressures: unpredictable schedules, emotionally charged transactions, and the weight of guiding clients through some of the biggest decisions of their lives.
NAR has expanded its safety resources to include a Mental Wellness Toolkit, offering tools for managing stress, burnout, and anxiety in the field. We encourage every agent to explore it — and to treat mental wellness as part of professional preparedness, not separate from it.
Visit nar.realtor/safety/mental-wellness to learn more.
At Ticor Title, we believe agent safety and transaction security go hand in hand. While you protect yourself in the field, we work to protect every transaction at the closing table.
Wire fraud targeting real estate transactions is one of the fastest-growing financial crimes in the country. Secure closings are built into everything we do — from how we verify wiring instructions to how we communicate with all parties throughout the transaction.
Your clients trust you with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. You can trust us with the closing.
Connect with Our Team
NAR offers a full library of safety tools — free or discounted for members. Bookmark these before October:
Safety tips and best practices
REALTOR® Safety Network
Mental Wellness Toolkit
Take the REALTOR® Safety Pledge
Real estate agents regularly meet strangers in unfamiliar spaces, navigate vacant properties, and manage high-stakes conversations under time pressure. The risks are real — and so are the tools and habits that reduce them.
At Ticor Title, we work alongside real estate professionals every day. We know how much care and commitment this work requires. This September, we want to share six practical safety tips drawn from NAR guidance and current best practices — because your safety matters to us, and to the clients who count on you.
Safety is a practice, not a one-time checklist.
Six Tips to Stay Safe in the Field
1. Trust your instinctsIf something feels off during a showing or client meeting, it probably is. NAR's safety guidance is clear on this: trust your gut. Your instincts are a professional tool, not an overreaction.
It is always acceptable to pause, reassess, or leave. No appointment, no commission, and no client relationship is worth compromising your safety. Show confidence — and know that walking away is a legitimate professional decision.
2. Use the buddy system
Whenever possible, bring a colleague when meeting a new client or visiting an unfamiliar property. Strength in numbers is not just a saying — it is a practical deterrent.
If you must go alone, tell someone at your office exactly where you are going and when to expect you back. Set a specific check-in time. Make this part of your standard showing routine, not an exception.
3. Share your location
Use your smartphone's location-sharing feature with a trusted contact before every showing — not just unfamiliar ones. Most devices have this built in, and real estate-specific safety tools are also available.
Make it a standing habit. A colleague who knows where you are at all times is one of the simplest and most effective safety measures available to any agent.
4. Pre-screen new clients
Before meeting a prospective client at a property, meet them first at your office or a neutral public location. Request a callback number, verify contact information, and note identification when appropriate.
NAR recommends gathering basic information from new clients before any in-person meeting. A quick phone or video call before a first showing takes minutes and adds a meaningful layer of protection.
5. Control the exit
During showings, always position yourself nearest the door and know your exit routes before you begin. NAR guidance specifically recommends walking behind the prospective client rather than ahead of them.
At open houses, keep blinds raised and maintain visibility from the street. Know where the exits are in every property you show — make it part of your walkthrough.
6. Use digital safety tools
NAR now offers the REALTOR® Safety Network, a national alert system that notifies members of safety concerns and emergencies in their area. Members can also report incidents directly through NAR's Safety Alert Submission Form.
NAR also offers free member resources on cybersecurity awareness, because digital safety is part of personal safety. Explore what is available at nar.realtor/safety.
Your safety matters to us — every transaction, every showing, every day.
The Mental Side of Safety
Physical safety is only part of the picture. Real estate professionals face unique pressures: unpredictable schedules, emotionally charged transactions, and the weight of guiding clients through some of the biggest decisions of their lives.NAR has expanded its safety resources to include a Mental Wellness Toolkit, offering tools for managing stress, burnout, and anxiety in the field. We encourage every agent to explore it — and to treat mental wellness as part of professional preparedness, not separate from it.
Visit nar.realtor/safety/mental-wellness to learn more.
Your Safety Extends to the Closing Table
At Ticor Title, we believe agent safety and transaction security go hand in hand. While you protect yourself in the field, we work to protect every transaction at the closing table.Wire fraud targeting real estate transactions is one of the fastest-growing financial crimes in the country. Secure closings are built into everything we do — from how we verify wiring instructions to how we communicate with all parties throughout the transaction.
Your clients trust you with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. You can trust us with the closing.
Connect with Our Team
Free Resources from NAR
NAR offers a full library of safety tools — free or discounted for members. Bookmark these before October:Safety tips and best practices
REALTOR® Safety Network
Mental Wellness Toolkit
Take the REALTOR® Safety Pledge