The Reality of Real Estate Safety
You already know the risks. Vacant properties. Unknown clients. Meeting strangers alone in spaces where no one can hear you. You've heard the safety tips. "Always tell someone where you're going." "Trust your gut." "Carry pepper spray."
But tips aren't a system. And "be careful" isn't a plan.
The truth is, most safety advice treats you like a victim waiting to happen. It's fear-based. It's vague. And it doesn't account for the fact that your job requires you to put yourself in situations that would make anyone uncomfortable — and you do it every day, because it's your livelihood.
You don't need more fear. You need a framework.
The goal isn't to win a fight.
It's to never be in one.
The Six Layers Applied to Real Estate
Inside Fierana, we teach the Six-Layer Protection System — a framework that starts long before any physical confrontation and gives you decision points at every stage. Here's how it applies to your work:
Layer 1: Your Operating System
The foundation: How you carry yourself. The awareness you bring to every showing. The habits that make safety automatic, not effortful.
Layer 2: Environmental Control
Before the showing: Arriving early. Knowing the exits. Checking the property. Creating conditions where threats are less likely — and escape is always possible.
Layer 3: Verbal Boundaries
When something feels off: The scripts and phrases that let you redirect, de-escalate, or exit without conflict. How to be firm without being rude.
Layer 4: Physical Escape
When words aren't enough: Understanding how to create space and get out — not how to fight, but how to escape.
If something feels wrong, it is. You don't need proof. You don't need to justify it. The cost of being wrong is an awkward moment. The cost of not acting could be everything.
What You Can Do Today
The Pre-Showing Text
Before every showing with a new client, text someone: the address, the client's name, and when you expect to be done. "If you don't hear from me by [time], call me." It takes 15 seconds. Make it automatic.
The Walk-Through
Arrive before your client. Walk the property. Know where the exits are. Notice anything that feels off. This isn't paranoia — it's professionalism.
The Positioning Rule
Never let yourself get cornered. Stay aware of where the door is relative to you. If they move toward you, you move toward an exit. It's subtle. It's effective.
The Exit Line
Have one ready. Practice it. "I need to step outside and take this call." "My colleague is meeting us here in five minutes." You don't need permission to leave.