All tips are taken from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS'® 2007 REALTOR® Safety Week Kit.

Tip #1
Choose flight over fight.
While every REALTOR® should take a basic self-defense course, the primary goal in any threatening situation is to escape from immediate danger and call for help.

Tip #2
Rely on your mobile phone.
Always carry a charged mobile phone. Clip your phone on and make it part of your everyday apparel for immediate accessibility.

Tip #3
Take 2 seconds when you arrive at your destination to check out potential dangers:
o Is there any questionable activity in the area?
o Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location?
o Can you be blocked in the driveway by a prospect's vehicle?

Tip #4
Dial before danger.
To best prepare for an emergency, pre-program important numbers into your cell phone. These may include your office, your roadside assistance service or garage, and even 911.

Tip #5
Don't get caught by a "phisher."
Don't respond to e-mails requesting personal or private information such as passwords, credit card numbers or bank account numbers. Even if a message appears to be from your bank or a trusted vendor, credible companies never request private information this way.

Tip #6
Help clients protect their belongings.
Remind clients who are selling that strangers will be walking through their home. Tell them to put any valuables in a secure hiding place. This includes prescription drugs.

Tip #7
Try to Avoid Working Alone
If you encounter an individual while working late or alone in your office, indicate to that person that you are not alone. Say something like, "My supervisor will be right with you and should be able to assist you."

Tip #8
Carry only the essentials for safety.
While you shouldn't carry unnecessary cash or valuables with you, here are several items you should keep on you-not in your handbag! Your cell phone with a fully charged battery, your wallet or simply an ID, and your car key. Everything else should remain at home or locked in the trunk of your car.

Tip #9
Don't walk ahead of a prospect.
When showing a home, always have your prospect walk in front of you. Don't lead them, but rather, direct them from a position slightly behind them. You can gesture for them to go ahead of you and say, for example, "The master suite is in the back of the house."

Tip #10
Check cell phone signal.
When you're showing commercial property, thick walls and/or remote locations may interfere with mobile phone reception. Be sure your phone is serviceable in the area in which you are showing the property.

Tip #11
Shield your computer from e-mail viruses.
Computer viruses can impair and seriously damage your computer. Viruses are often distributed via attachments in e-mail spam. Never open an attachment from someone you don't know, and, if you receive a strange or impersonal-sounding message from a familiar address, check with that person to make sure that they really sent it.

Tip #12
Nothing personal!
When talking to clients and prospects, be friendly but still keep your personal information private. This means avoiding mention of where you live, your after-work or vacation plans, and similar details.

Tip #13
Check the property before you leave an open house.
Don't assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

Tip #14
Ask clients to help protect themselves.
Inform clients who are selling that while you are taking safety precautions, and that you've checked and locked the home before leaving, they should immediately double-check all locks and scout for missing items immediately upon their return, in case you've missed any less-than-obvious means of entry.

Tip #15
Be prepared for road dangers.
Keep roadside breakdown essentials in the trunk, including flares, a tire-inflation canister, basic hand tools, spare belts and hoses, water, a flashlight and a first-aid kit. Have your vehicle inspected regularly, keep it well maintained and learn how to change a flat tire.

Tip #16
No vacancy.
When describing a listing, never say that a property is "vacant." This may be an invitation to criminals.

Tip #17
Practice safety when shopping online.
When shopping online, check out a Web site before entering your credit card number or other personal information. Enter this information only on secure Web pages with addresses that start with "https" and have a closed padlock symbol at the bottom of the browser window. These are signs that your information will be encrypted or scrambled, protecting it from hackers.

Tip #18
Plan ahead with a distress code.
Establish a voice distress code, a secret word or phrase that is not commonly used but can be worked into any conversation for cases where you feel that you are in danger. Use this if the person you are with can overhear the conversation, but you don't want to alarm them. Example: "Hi, this is Jennifer. I'm with Mr. Henderson at the Elm Street listing. Could you e-mail me the RED FILE?"

Tip #19
Use professional, polished marketing materials.
All of your marketing materials should be polished and professional. Don't use alluring or provocative photography in advertising, on the Web or on your business cards. There are many documented cases of criminals actually circling photographs of their would-be victims in newspaper advertisements.

Tip #20
Don't dial and drive.
If you must use your cell phone while driving, follow this advice for best safety practices: Use a hands-free model so that you can keep your hands on the wheel; learn to operate your phone without looking at it-you should practice this before getting behind the wheel; and don't dial while driving.

Tip #21
Install good locks on your home.
Your home should have deadbolts with full one-inch bolts on all entry doors in addition to existing locksets. Any door with glass panels within three feet of the lock should have a double-cylinder deadbolt, which requires a key on both sides.

Tip #22
Enlist the help of a nearby neighbor.
Inform a neighbor that you will be hosting an open house, and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.

Tip #23
Don't be trackable.
Rather than use your personal cell phone or home phone number-which can be "reverse searched" on the Internet to find your home address-consider using a toll-free number, which cannot be tracked. You can have calls to this number automatically forwarded to any phone.

Tip #24
Daylight hours only.
When showing a vacant commercial site, be aware of the time of day you meet a client. Showing a property at dusk or after dark, with no electricity on in the space you are showing, is not advisable.

Tip #25
Office precautions.
Keep your office safe: Ensure all doors other than the main entrance are secured, and all windows are clear so that passersby can see in. Also keep a clear exit route from the service desk to the door.

Tip #26
Sound the alarms.
Consider investing in an alarm system if you don't already have one. If you do, make sure you have a panic button feature you can easily use in the room you use as an office.

Tip #27
Skeptical of an e-mail request for information?
Before you act on an e-mail request, check a list of the latest e-mail scams on the Federal Trade Commission's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm.

Tip #28
Burglar-proof your basement.
When safeguarding your home, pay special attention to all basement windows. If any bushes or trees hide these windows, this can provide a place for burglars to break in without being seen. Consider reinforcing your basement windows with security bars, wire mesh or Plexiglas.

Tip #29
Stay safe in your car.
When you're alone getting into your car, the first thing you should do is lock the doors. Be observant when approaching your car; look underneath and in the back seat before entering.

Tip #30
Take two seconds as you walk towards your destination to check out potential risks.
o Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet?
o Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along the street?
o Is anyone loitering in the area?

Tip #31
Do an initial walk-through with escape in mind.
Upon entering an open house property for the first time, check each room and determine at least two "escape" routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked for easy access to the outside.

Tip #32
Watch what you say
Be careful with giving confidential information such as bank account numbers over your cell phone. Eavesdropping is a problem for users of analog cell phones and cordless phones, because the FM radio signals these phones transmit are easily monitored using scanners. Digital cellular and cordless phones are less vulnerable to eavesdropping.

Tip #33
Take notes for safety.
Place one of your business cards, with the date and time written on the back, in a kitchen cabinet. Note on it if you were the first to arrive or if clients were waiting.

Tip #34
Stay in touch.
Always let someone know where you are going; leave the name and phone number of the client you are meeting and schedule a time for your office to call you to check in.

Tip #35
Shred your personal papers.
Thoroughly shred all papers with personal information before you throw them away. Shred unwanted credit card applications and "convenience checks" that come in the mail, credit card receipts with your account number, outdated financial papers and papers containing your clients' personal information.

Tip #36
Be prepared-to leave the scene.
Part of being prepared to deal with a threatening situation is having "an out." Prepare a scenario in advance so that you can leave-or you can encourage someone who makes you uncomfortable to leave. Examples: Your cell phone or pager went off and you have to call your office, you left some important information in your car, or another agent with buyers is on his way.

Tip #37
Avoid getting robbed.
If you carry a purse, lock it in your car trunk before arriving at an appointment. All REALTORS® should carry only non-valuable business items (except for your cell phone), and do not wear expensive jewelry of watches, or appear to be carrying large sums of money.

Tip #38
Watch out for open house scams.
At an open house, be alert to visitors' comings and goings, especially near the end of showing hours. Police have reported groups of criminals that target open houses, showing up en masse near the end of the afternoon. While several "clients" distract the REALTOR®, others go through the house and steal anything they can quickly take.

Tip #39
Keep an eye out for tampering with your bills and bank accounts.
Open your credit card bills and bank statements right away. Check for any unauthorized charges or withdrawals and report them immediately. Call if bills don't arrive on time. It may mean that someone has changed contact information to hide fraudulent charges.

Tip #40
Always ask for ID.
If you're driving at night and are approached by a vehicle with blue lights, exercise caution. Call 911 to identify the vehicle, turn on your flashers to acknowledge that you see the police car, and keep moving until you're in a well-lit area. A legitimate law enforcement official will understand your caution.

Tip #41
Get expert advice on home security.
For a detailed security analysis of your home, contact a bonded professional locksmith who is an accredited member of a state or national locksmith association. At no cost to you, your police and sheriff's department will be glad to help when needed.

Tip #42
Take two seconds to pause and look around as you enter your destination.
o Does anything seem out of place?
o Is anyone present who shouldn't be there or who isn't expected?

Tip #43
Ask the local police to check on you.
When planning an open house, call the local police department and ask them to have a squad care drive by during your open-house hours.

Tip #44
Wear your REALTOR ID.
Always wear visible company identification such as a badge. It is also best to drive a vehicle clearly marked with your company name. These will be invaluable for identification if you need to get assistance.

Tip #45
Check out your clients.
When you have a new client, ask him/her to stop by your office and complete a Prospect Identification Form. Also, photocopy their driver's license and retain this information at your office. Be certain to properly discard this personal information when you no longer need it.

Tip #46
A safe garage means a safe home.
Help keep your home safe by covering garage windows. There is a lot about your garage you don't want potential criminals to know about-such as whether someone is home, or if there are tools or ladders available to help break in to your home. If you have an attached garage, make sure the door that connects your house to the garage is a solid core exterior door with a deadbolt lock.

Tip #47
Prevent identity theft.
Contact the fraud department of any of the three consumer reporting companies- Equifax, Experian and Trans Union-to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert automatically lets credit card companies and other creditors know they must contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts.

Tip #48
Escape unfriendly dogs.
If an unfamiliar dog is growling, has bared its teeth and otherwise gives you reason to believe it is aggressive, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a briefcase or coat. Slowly back away without meeting the dog's eyes. If the dog starts to circle you, turn with it rather than letting it get behind you.

Tip #49
Find a self-defense class.
The best way to find a good self-defense class is to learn what is available, and then make a decision. Many health clubs, martial arts studios and community colleges offer some type of class. You can also ask your fellow REALTORS®, friends and family if they have taken a self-defense class that they would recommend.

Tip #50
Keep your head in a car-jacking situation.
If you're car-jacked in a parking lot and forced to drive, don't leave the area. If you're in a crowded area, run your vehicle into another car, a building or a tree. If you're confronted at your car, throw your car key in one direction and run screaming in the opposite direction.

Tip #51
Park smart.
When showing property or meeting someone, park your car in front of the property rather than in the driveway. You will avoid having your car blocked in, you'll have an easier time escaping in your vehicle, and you will attract lots of attention running and screaming to your car at the curb area.

Tip #52
Don't send personal information in e-mail messages.
Don't send any vital or private information via e-mail. Keep in mind that unlike Web sites, e-mail is never secure.