Agents Urged to Review Safety After Shooting
Following the death of a 27-year-old real estate agent in Iowa last Friday, real estate professionals in the state and elsewhere are being urged to review safety procedures to learn how they can better protect themselves while on the job.
Ashley Okland, an Iowa Realty agent, was fatally wounded in West Des Moines while holding an open house at a model townhome on Friday. Police have yet to identify a suspect and have released few leads.
"It's unfortunate that it takes such a horrible tragedy to increase awareness," says Kurt Schade, president of the Iowa Association of REALTORS®.
According to a 2010 U.S. Department of Labor report, 71 industry-related "real estate and rental and leasing" deaths occurred in 2009--30 of which were homicides.
Tracey Hawkins, a former real estate professional who owns Safety and Security Source, says that agents are often at risk since they’re meeting with strangers at empty homes, holding open houses, and agents are often perceived as wealthy and have photos with their listings that could attract potential criminals.
Hawkins told the Des Moines Register that with a sluggish housing market, she has noticed an increase in safety threats posed to agents. She says real estate professionals are being exposed to new dangers, such as encountering squatters or finding drug labs in foreclosed homes.
Iowa Agents Shaken
Shortly after news broke of the shooting of Okland on Friday, most real estate agencies in West Des Moines canceled their weekend open houses due to safety concerns with a shooter still at large.
Earlier this year, another Iowa real estate professional had been attacked during a showing by two men and was held at knife point, tied up, and robbed. She was able to escape, and the two men were later arrested and charged.
But the two safety incidents so close together has many real estate professionals in the state on edge.
"One thing we've learned is that no one is immune,” says Les Sulgrove, president of the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS®. “We're all exposed. You can't say it won't happen to me."
Source: “Realtors Group Pushing Safety,” Des Moines Register (April 12, 2011) and “Real Estate Job Carries Risks, Experts Say After Agent Killed in West Des Moines,” Des Moines Register (April 11, 2011)
Earlier this year, another Iowa real estate professional had been attacked during a showing by two men and was held at knife point, tied up, and robbed. She was able to escape, and the two men were later arrested and charged.
But the two safety incidents so close together has many real estate professionals in the state on edge.
"One thing we've learned is that no one is immune,” says Les Sulgrove, president of the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS®. “We're all exposed. You can't say it won't happen to me."
Source: “Realtors Group Pushing Safety,” Des Moines Register (April 12, 2011) and “Real Estate Job Carries Risks, Experts Say After Agent Killed in West Des Moines,” Des Moines Register (April 11, 2011)
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