Realtor Safety: Practical Tips from Carl Carter
This episode continues our conversation with Carl Carter Jr., founder of the Beverly Carter Foundation, dedicated to improving realtor safety. In Part 1, Carl shared the tragic story of his mother, Beverly Carter, a real estate agent kidnapped and murdered while showing a property.
Today, we shift the focus to practical safety strategies for real estate agents. From screening clients to staying vigilant at open houses, Carl provides actionable steps to help agents protect themselves while doing their jobs.
Why Realtor Safety is a Difficult Conversation
Carl notes that real estate safety is often an uncomfortable topic. Many agents assume that violent crimes in real estate are rare or won’t happen to them. Others find safety measures inconvenient or worry about deterring clients.
However, criminals target agents because they are often alone, publicly advertised, and perceived as wealthy. Recognizing these risks is crucial to staying safe in the field.
The Beverly Carter Foundation’s Mission
Founded in 2017, the Beverly Carter Foundation provides free safety resources for real estate professionals. The nonprofit educates agents on recognizing threats, implementing safety protocols, and preventing crimes against real estate agents.
Carl and his team, all volunteers, work to reduce risks for agents through training, resources, and advocacy. The foundation’s goal is simple: Ensure no other real estate professional suffers the same fate as Beverly Carter.
Open House Safety: What to Do If You Feel Unsafe
Many agents feel vulnerable at open houses but aren’t sure how to react if a situation feels off. Carl suggests:
- Take a fake call and step outside if someone makes you uneasy.
- Mention home surveillance—even if the house doesn’t have cameras, this can deter bad behavior.
- Use a cloud-based camera at open houses to record visitors and allow remote monitoring.
- Position your sign-in sheet at the entrance to engage with visitors before they move through the house.
- Trust your instincts—if something feels wrong, leave immediately and call for help.
Handling Clients Who Refuse to Sign In
Some buyers resist signing in at open houses. Instead of framing it as a safety measure, Carl suggests saying:
- “We like to inform sellers of who toured their home.”
- “This helps us follow up with serious buyers.”
- “We track all property visits as a standard business practice.”
Agents should consistently require sign-ins to establish professionalism and increase realtor safety.
Screening and Verifying Clients
One of the most critical real estate safety measures is properly vetting new clients. Carl recommends:
- Meeting all clients in a public place first (your brokerage office, a coffee shop, or a neutral location).
- Using a client profile form to document their contact information, ID, and buying needs.
- Running a background check using online public records or services like Forewarn, an app that verifies identities and checks criminal records.
- Avoiding last-minute, unverified showings—agents should never meet someone at a vacant home without screening them first.
Beverly Carter’s case highlights how screening clients could prevent dangerous situations. The criminals researched her but provided false identities, which a simple background check might have uncovered.
Listing Appointment Safety
Even listing appointments can be risky, as agents enter unknown homes alone. Carl suggests:
- Telling colleagues or family exactly where you are and when to expect you back.
- Bringing another agent or assistant to appointments whenever possible.
- Using a pre-established check-in system—such as texting an agreed-upon emoji or code word to a trusted person to confirm safety.
- Being aware of unusual client behavior—some homeowners may have criminal records, mental health concerns, or hidden motives.
Several agents have reported dangerous encounters during listing appointments, proving that real estate safety concerns extend beyond buyer showings.
Top Five Realtor Safety Tips
Carl’s top five real estate safety recommendations:
- Screen every client consistently. Require ID and verify their identity before meeting in person.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, remove yourself from the situation immediately.
- Use a buddy system. Share your location with a trusted friend or colleague at all times.
- Have a consistent sign-in process at open houses. Don’t let fear of losing a lead stop you from prioritizing real estate agent safety.
- Layer safety precautions. Never rely on a single safety tool (e.g., carrying a weapon)—combine multiple strategies for maximum protection.
Realtor Safety is Professionalism
Many agents fear that enforcing safety measures will drive clients away. However, requiring sign-ins, ID verification, and safe meeting locations should be standard practice for all real estate professionals.
Carl believes that safety should be as ingrained in real estate culture as fair housing laws. If all agents followed the same real estate safety protocols, clients would come to expect it, making it easier to enforce.
More Realtor Safety Resources
The Beverly Carter Foundation offers free downloadable safety resources for agents, brokers, and teams. Visit BeverlyCarterFoundation.org and navigate to the training tab for:
- Client profile forms
- Seller safety guides
- Open house safety checklists
- Technology recommendations for agent security
For further inquiries, contact Carl directly at Carl@BeverlyCarterFoundation.org.
Final Thoughts
Realtor safety should never be optional. Carl’s advocacy and the work of the Beverly Carter Foundation provide essential tools for real estate professionals to stay safe while serving their clients.
For more real estate safety discussions, subscribe to Hustle Humbly and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hustlehumblypodcast. Have questions or topic suggestions? Email hustlehumblypodcast@gmail.com.
Stay safe, and we’ll see you next week!
