REALTORS® often work alone and can sometimes face more on-the-job risks than many other business professionals. Michael Kelley, with Keller Williams Realty Platinum Partners, recommends an upcoming self-defense training for female REALTORS® that will help them recognize and hopefully avoid potentially life-threatening situations.

The Kansas City Royals, 98.1 KUDL and the Ali Kemp Educational Foundation are offering a free T.A.K.E. Defense self-defense class on the field at Kauffman Stadium from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept, 19. To date, the T.A.K.E. defense training has educated more than 26,000 women in self-defense. 

The T.A.K.E. program represents a living legacy in honor of Ali Kemp, a 19-year old Leawood, Kan. resident who was murdered while working as a lifeguard at a neighborhood pool in Johnson County. The goal of the program, which offers free classes throughout the area, is to raise awareness and to give women ages 12 and older the self-protection skills they need to avoid becoming the victims of violent crime.

For more information about the free training and how it can help you as a REALTOR®, visit www.takedefense.org, www.royals.com/takedefense or call Michael at 913-515-2598.

The free training comes at an especially good time, as the sixth annual REALTOR^® Safety Week falls on September 13–19 this year. To get you started on building your safety awareness throughout the year, KCRAR will share some safety tips with you in Realeyes Online Update throughout the month of September.

Here are this week's tips:

Tip #4

Open House: it ain’t over till it’s over. Don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors. Be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary.

Tip #5

“My next client will be here soon…” At the beginning of the showing, mention to the client that you have another appointment to show the house within a short time.

Tip #10

Bring up the rear. When showing a home, always have your prospect walk in front of you. Don’t lead them, but rather, direct them from a position slightly behind them. You can gesture for them to go ahead of you and say, for example, “The master suite is in the back of the house.”

For more safety information, visit www.realtor.org/safety.