Troy Palmquist looks at safety tools that are changing the landscape for real estate agent security by reducing risk and stopping bad actors in their tracks
Fourteen years ago, on an April afternoon in West Des Moines, Iowa, 27-year-old Realtor Ashley Okland was hosting an open house when she was shot twice and killed. Her murder — which is still unsolved — remains one of the industry’s most haunting reminders of the vulnerabilities that come with this profession.
No suspect. No arrest. No motive ever confirmed. Just a cold case, reopened but still unresolved, that echoes every time an agent walks alone into a property with someone they’ve never met.
We often talk about agent safety as if it’s a seasonal topic, something that spikes during Realtor Safety Month and then fades again. But the reality is this: Agent safety is not a new concept. What’s new is the urgency — and the tools — available today.
What we’re looking for now is a two-pronged approach to security:
- Prevention: Reducing risk before you ever step inside the property
- Protection: Stopping someone when danger becomes real
Here are some current products and services to consider as you develop your own safety plan.
Prevention
This tool is designed to help you determine your vulnerability to risk before you leave the office.
Forewarn
Forewarn is a risk assessment and due diligence tool that uses proprietary and public information to help you verify an individual’s identity before you meet with them. It can use as little information as an incoming phone number to verify identity and criminal history, confirm financial data and validate current assets like property and vehicle ownership.
Protection
These products are designed to help you respond in the event of an emergency or potentially unsafe situation.
Tether RE
Tether RE is a real estate safety platform that is offered by a number of local associations and brokerages. It includes:
- 24-hour live safety monitoring with professional agents who can dispatch EMS if an emergency is detected, even if the agent cannot call for help
- SOS alert, a panic button to notify emergency contacts and Tether Monitoring in the event of an unsafe situation
- Silent immediate dispatch to instantly call for help in the event of a high-risk situation
- Proximity-based safety timers that contact you and dispatch help if needed
- Struggle detection senses sudden impact and initiates safety intervention
- Agent check-ins if you stay too long at a property
- Real-time GPS location tracking ensures Tether Monitoring and safety contacts always know where you are.
Learn more about Tether’s founders: Navigating the uncertain path of proptech founder
Force Field
Founded by a former U.S. Secret Service Agent and a human performance specialist with experience in military special operations, Force Field provides real-time status updates, an organization-wide visibility dashboard, emergency SOS and a patented touchless distress feature to trigger alerts even when the phone is off.
It also provides client ID lookup, address and neighborhood crime reports, criminal searches and safety training tools as part of a prevention plan.
REPULS Defense Spray
One of the dangers of pepper spray for real estate agents is that it can end up debilitating the agent when used in an enclosed space like a car or home interior. In addition, the chemical agent in traditional pepper spray can cause damage to soft surfaces, which may cause agents to think twice before deploying it — potentially waiting until it’s too late.
REPULS Defense Spray is a new type of deterrent spray that’s great for indoor use, since it’s not a fog or aerosol. Because it’s water based, it causes involuntary eye closure and can be mitigated with water in less than five minutes. Once it dries, the irritating agent is no longer active.
For anyone who’s leery of using a chemical spray, REPULS offers a safer, cleaner alternative. It’s already in use by law enforcement and security agencies, so you know it’s effective.
Of course, your level of comfort will vary when it comes to security interventions, and you may choose to arm yourself in whatever way feels right to you. These platforms and products provide a basic level of protection to ensure that you’re doing your due diligence when it comes to keeping yourself safe.
As always, no weapon or website is a substitute for gut instinct and awareness. Don’t take foolish chances with your personal security, and don’t be afraid to ask questions before you go into a meeting with a new client. Set the boundaries that make sense for you. The right client won’t be turned off by your caution.