September marks Realtor Safety Awareness Month, a critical initiative established by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2003 to bring awareness to potential dangers and reduce industry-related safety incidents. With alarming statistics showing that 56,000 realtors were victims of a crime while performing their duties and 322,000 realtors felt fear for their safety while on the job, the need for comprehensive safety tools has never been more urgent.
The Reality of Realtor Safety Risks
Real estate professionals face unique safety challenges that many other industries don’t encounter. According to NAR, 35% of realtors who were surveyed met a new or prospective buyer or seller alone at a secluded location or property. In 2023, 85% showed a house alone, compared to 42% in 2022. These statistics paint a sobering picture of the risks agents take on daily.
The profession’s inherent nature – meeting strangers, often alone, in unfamiliar locations – creates vulnerabilities that require proactive safety measures. Whether it’s an open house, property showing, or initial client meeting, realtors need tools that help them identify potential threats before they become dangerous situations.
Anonymous Calls: A Hidden Safety Threat
One often-overlooked safety concern for realtors is the issue of anonymous, blocked, or “No Caller ID” calls. These calls can come from:
- Potential clients trying to maintain privacy
- Scammers attempting real estate fraud
- Individuals with malicious intent targeting real estate professionals
- Robocallers and telemarketers disrupting business operations
When realtors receive blocked calls, they’re forced to make split-second decisions about whether to answer or let it go to voicemail. This creates a dilemma: answer and potentially engage with a dangerous caller, or miss a legitimate lead from a privacy-conscious client.
How MaskOff Enhances Realtor Safety
MaskOff tells you the number behind “No Caller ID” calls, and gives you the proof you need to stop them for good. For real estate professionals, this capability provides crucial safety and business benefits:
Immediate Threat Assessment
When you receive a blocked call, simply decline it and let MaskOff work its magic. You will get a text or push notification in real time which reveals the caller! This immediate identification allows you to assess whether the caller might pose a safety risk before any direct contact occurs.
Business Continuity
Rather than missing potential clients who block their numbers for privacy reasons, MaskOff allows you to identify legitimate prospects while screening out potentially dangerous contacts. This ensures you don’t lose business while maintaining safety protocols.
Documentation and Evidence
MaskOff provides the proof you need to document harassing or threatening calls. This documentation can be crucial for law enforcement or when seeking restraining orders against problematic individuals.
The Perfect Duo: MaskOff + Forewarn
For maximum safety protection, MaskOff works exceptionally well in combination with Forewarn, the background check app that many realtor associations provide as a member benefit. Here’s how these tools create a comprehensive safety ecosystem:
Step 1: MaskOff Reveals the Number
When you receive a blocked call, MaskOff unmasks the phone number, giving you the crucial piece of information needed for the next step in your safety protocol.
Step 2: Forewarn Provides Background Intelligence
Using as little as an incoming phone number, Forewarn can instantly verify identity, criminal history, property and vehicle ownership, financial data, additional phone numbers and address history. Once MaskOff reveals the blocked number, you can immediately run it through Forewarn to get comprehensive background information.
Step 3: Make Informed Safety Decisions
Armed with both the unmasked phone number and background intelligence, you can make informed decisions about whether to engage with the caller and what safety precautions to take if you do meet.
Real-World Safety Applications
Consider these scenarios where MaskOff and Forewarn work together to protect realtors:
Scenario 1: The Persistent Blocked Caller
You receive multiple blocked calls from someone claiming to be interested in a high-end listing. MaskOff reveals it’s the same number each time, and Forewarn shows the caller has a history of fraud convictions. You can now document the harassment and avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
Scenario 2: The Privacy-Conscious Legitimate Client
A blocked call comes in during your open house. MaskOff reveals a local number, and Forewarn shows the caller is a legitimate local resident with property ownership history and no criminal background. You can confidently return the call knowing it’s likely a genuine prospect.
Scenario 3: The After-Hours “Emergency”
Someone calls from a blocked number claiming to need an urgent showing. MaskOff reveals the number, Forewarn shows concerning criminal history, and you can make an informed decision to decline the meeting or insist on additional safety measures.
Best Practices for Using MaskOff in Your Safety Protocol
Daily Operations
- Keep MaskOff active on your business phone at all times
- Decline all blocked calls during business hours and let MaskOff identify them
- Cross-reference unmasked numbers with Forewarn before returning calls
Documentation
- Save MaskOff notifications as evidence of blocked caller patterns
- Create a log of concerning calls identified through your MaskOff/Forewarn combination
- Share information about problematic numbers with colleagues and your brokerage
Emergency Situations
- If MaskOff reveals a number associated with previous threats or harassment, contact law enforcement immediately
- Use the unmasked number to file police reports with concrete evidence
- Block the revealed number on your phone to prevent future direct contact
Beyond Technology: Comprehensive Safety Planning
While MaskOff and Forewarn provide powerful technological solutions, they’re most effective as part of a comprehensive safety strategy that includes:
- Office Protocols: Always inform colleagues of your showing schedule and expected return times
- Meeting Guidelines: Meet new clients at your office or neutral locations before showing properties
- Emergency Contacts: Establish check-in procedures with trusted contacts during showings
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, trust your gut regardless of what technology tells you
The Business Case for Safety Tools
Investing in safety tools like MaskOff isn’t just about personal protection – it’s smart business. 406,000 realtors don’t have safety protocols in place to protect themselves. By implementing comprehensive safety measures, you:
- Build Client Confidence: Clients feel safer working with agents who prioritize security
- Reduce Liability: Proper safety protocols can protect both you and your brokerage from legal issues
- Maintain Productivity: Spend less time worrying about safety and more time focusing on clients
- Protect Your Reputation: Avoid dangerous situations that could damage your professional standing
Taking Action This September
As we observe Realtor Safety Awareness Month, commit to upgrading your safety protocols. MaskOff is trusted by 1M+ users to protect them against abusive callers and offers a free 3-day trial to get you started.
Your September Safety Action Plan:
- Download MaskOff and set up call forwarding for blocked calls
- Activate Forewarn through your realtor association membership
- Create a Documentation System for tracking concerning calls and contacts
- Review Your Protocols with your brokerage and colleagues
- Practice Using Both Tools so you’re comfortable with the process when you need it most
Conclusion
Real estate safety isn’t just about being aware of potential dangers – it’s about having the right tools to identify and address threats before they escalate. MaskOff’s ability to unmask blocked callers, combined with Forewarn’s comprehensive background intelligence, creates a powerful safety ecosystem that helps realtors make informed decisions about every interaction.
Remember, the real value in real estate is YOU. This September, take the steps necessary to protect that value. Your safety, your family, and your clients depend on it.
Don’t wait until you’re in a dangerous situation to wish you had better safety tools. Download MaskOff now and get a free 3-day trial – because when it comes to your safety, every call matters, even the blocked ones.
MaskOff is available on both iOS and Android platforms. Visit maskoff.app to learn more and start your free trial. For Forewarn access, contact your local realtor association about member benefits.
