REALTOR® Safety in Vermont: Protecting Agents, Clients, and Communities
Real estate is a relationship business. We meet new people every day, often in private homes, vacant properties, or unfamiliar environments. It’s rewarding work… and it comes with real vulnerability.
As a member of the National Association of REALTORS®’s Realtor® Safety Advisory Committee, I’ve spent time thinking deeply about how we can better protect ourselves in the field while continuing to deliver exceptional service to our clients.
The truth is simple: safety isn’t optional in real estate. It’s a professional standard.
The Day I Trusted a System Instead of My Instincts
I was scheduled to show six properties in Bennington and Shaftsbury to a prospective buyer traveling from Florida. We had been communicating on and off for more than six months. He had booked a flight into Albany, taken a taxi to Bennington, and I planned to spend the day driving him to each showing—most of them vacant homes.
That morning, while printing out MLS sheets, I had a passing thought: “I should run him through FOREWARN.”
FOREWARN is a proptech tool that allows agents to quickly run a background check on prospective clients. Our state association had just launched it as a new member benefit, and I figured I’d give it a try.
Within seconds, everything changed.
What came back was terrifying. He had a lengthy criminal history, including multiple recent convictions for violent offenses.
My head started spinning. I immediately talked it through with my husband and made the decision to cancel all six showings—less than an hour before we were supposed to meet. I called the buyer, feigned illness, and apologized.
But the truth? I was sick to my stomach.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just narrowly avoided a dangerous situation. I genuinely felt like I had dodged a bullet.
Why This Isn’t an Isolated Risk
If this sounds extreme, it’s not.
In 2014, Beverly Carter, a real estate agent in Arkansas, was abducted while showing a home to someone posing as a buyer. Her body was later found in a shallow grave. The perpetrators targeted her specifically because she was perceived to be a “rich broker”—a chilling reminder of how exposed agents can be in the field.
That tragedy sent shockwaves through the industry and became a turning point for how we approach safety as professionals.
In 2023, it was estimated that 56,000 to 75,000 REALTORS® were victims of a crime while working. More than 25% reported feeling that their safety was at risk. The most dangerous situations involve meeting new clients at vacant properties, hosting open houses, or receiving threatening, inappropriate messages.
The U.S. Department of Labor has classified real estate as a dangerous and high-risk profession. Would it surprise you to learn that more real estate professionals are killed nationwide each year than NYPD officers? It’s true.
Safety Is a System, Not a Gut Feeling
For a long time, safety in real estate was treated as optional—something you thought about only if a situation felt uncomfortable. And while intuition matters, it’s not a strategy.
That mindset has changed.
NAR emphasizes that safety should be a consistent, repeatable process… in other words,safety is a system:
Verifying every new contact
Meeting new clients in controlled environments first
Sharing schedules with colleagues or family
Being intentional about how and where we show property
Maintaining situational awareness at every property
Parking with a clear exit strategy
Never letting convenience override caution
These aren’t extreme measures—they’re professional habits. When used consistently, they dramatically reduce risk. Nowadays, that means using tech tools like FOREWARN.
For additional safety resources and best practices, visit National Association of REALTORS®’s safety page.
A Powerful Tool: FOREWARN
Thanks to the leadership of the Vermont Association of REALTORS®, FOREWARN is now offered as a complimentary member benefit—and it’s been widely adopted across Vermont.
FOREWARN allows agents to:
Verify a prospect’s identity using just a phone number
Review address and ownership history
Identify financial red flags (liens, bankruptcies, etc.)
Access nationwide criminal history data
All of this happens within seconds—before you ever meet someone in person.
In my case, it wasn’t just helpful—it was decisive. It gave me information I wouldn’t have otherwise had, and that decision may have saved me from harm.
This isn’t about judgment—it’s about informed decision-making. It gives agents the ability to approach every interaction with clarity, preparation, and confidence.
Protecting More Than Ourselves
This also isn’t just about agent safety.
When Realtors verify who is entering a home, we’re also protecting:
Our sellers and their property
Our colleagues in the field
The integrity of the transaction itself
Safety protocols are part of delivering professional, responsible service.
Final Thoughts on Realtor Safety
Real estate may look simple from the outside. Show a house. Write a contract. Close a deal.
But behind the scenes, we are constantly managing risk—often in ways that aren’t visible to the public.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this:
Safety isn’t about fear—it’s about preparation.
And sometimes, it’s the small decisions—the quick check, the extra step—that make all the difference between a routine day… and a dangerous one.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Southwestern Vermont and want to work with professionals who prioritize both service and safety, we’re always here to help.
