The Safety Series: Are Apps Effective in an Emergency?

Safety apps, such as Forewarn and Life 360, can be helpful when trying to reach emergency contacts during a dangerous situation. But they alone will not save a real estate professional’s life if he or she is attacked on the job. You must pair your use of safety apps with strong, common-sense practices to protect yourself and your business. So, what does that look like? Host Tracey Hawkins speaks with two practitioners who delve into the promises and shortcomings of safety apps.

Get more real estate safety tips at nar.realtor/safety.

Meet the Guests

Craig Grant is the CEO of the Real Estate Technology Institute, which offers online technology education for real estate pros. He is the lead subject matter expert for NAR’s upcoming relaunch of the e-PRO® certification course. Grant is considered one of the most sought-after technology, marketing and cybersecurity speakers in the real estate industry, whether it be at industry events, in the classroom or online. He says he helps practitioners “get over their fear of technology.”

Matthew Rathbun, ABR, CRS, is the executive vice president of Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Va., and has coached more than 300 agents and staff. He’s a licensed broker in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. A self-described “geek,” Rathbun has traveled across the United States and abroad to bring the latest information about technology trends, techniques and tools to agents looking to upgrade their careers.

This episode is sponsored by Forewarn:

About the Host

Tracey Hawkins, also known as “Tracey, the Safety Lady,” is a former real estate agent who founded her own safety education program, Safety and Security Source, in 1995. Hawkins is a content creator who teaches 12 interactive safety classes that she wrote herself. She teaches agents to stay safe and build their businesses by protecting the consumer. She teaches brokerages how to reduce liability. Hawkins has written expert safety content for REALTOR® Magazine and other national real estate publications, including RISMedia, Inman and The Close.