A Spring Valley police officer works to educate real estate agents about the dangers they face while on the job.
Detective Matthew Galli is an officer by trade, but also owns his own business, Been There Inspected That, as a building inspector. He decided to start a real estate agent safety program after hearing about an increase in the number of uncomfortable situations home sellers face.
Galli said some of the most important tips to know are to check online inquiries from potential buyers who provide limited information up front, let the customer into the home first, and make sure the we have a clear place to leave in case of an emergency.
“They want all the lights on. They want the apartment, the house, and the condo to look good. Now you’re the first in, your exit point is blocked, and that could become a problem,” Galli said.
According to the 2022 National Association of Realtors Membership Report, a quarter of female realtors and 15% of male realtors nationwide said they had experienced a situation that made them fear for their safety in the past year.