According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2020 Member Safety Report, many agents fear for their safety while hosting open houses and during showings. In fact, the use of smartphone safety apps among agents has reached an all-time high, with 58% of agents surveyed relying on these apps to track their location and signal for emergency assistance.
If you're a real estate agent looking for an extra layer of safety and security, we've got you covered. In this article, we've compiled a list of the top nine real estate safety and security apps. Let's dive in and discover your new safety tools.
Best App for Real Estate Agents Who Want Real-time Monitoring: AgentSafeWalk
- Price: $2.00 per agent, per month
- Available on: iOS and Android
With AgentSafeWalk, real estate agents are never alone. This app allows agents to virtually introduce prospective clients to their "safety partner," who appears live on the screen in real time. This eliminates the need for lone showings and open houses. Agents can also upload client IDs for a record of who they're meeting, even if they don't activate the "safe walk" feature.
What sets AgentSafeWalk apart is its live video and two-way talk-back features. Agents can have face-to-face conversations with their safety partner, increasing visibility and deterring criminals. The app also enables mass broadcast messages, allowing brokers, managers, and owners to notify agents of any emergency or dangerous situations. According to Steve Dinerman, co-founder of AgentSafeWalk, they developed these features to meet the specific safety needs of the real estate industry.
Best App for Showing Safety: SafeShowings
- Price: $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
- Available on: iOS and Android
SafeShowings is a verification app that allows agents to request prospect IDs before showing a property. This information is securely stored, putting potential wrongdoers on notice that they can be identified if any harm comes to the agent. SafeShowings mirrors the pre-showing process in the apartment leasing community, where ID verification is standard practice.
In case of an emergency, SafeShowings allows agents to activate a distress alert, which sends a message to three preselected emergency contacts or directly to 9-1-1.
SafeShowings was developed by a real estate agent who had a close call during a showing. Helen Hudson, the CEO and founder of SafeShowings, created the app to help fellow agents feel safer in their work. By requesting IDs upfront, agents can meet new prospects while maintaining personal safety.
Best App for Community Safety Alerts: Kinetic Global
- Price: $500 per year
- Available on: iOS and Android
Kinetic Global takes threat intelligence seriously on a global scale. This app informs real estate professionals about various issues that can impact their safety, including climate, transportation, traffic, terror, crime data, and even COVID-related updates. Kinetic Global not only notifies you about major community events but also ensures your personal safety.
If your emergency alert is triggered, Kinetic Global will call you to confirm your safety, alert emergency services, and notify other designated parties, such as your broker or the head of your association.
One standout feature of Kinetic Global is its geo-tagged threat and danger alerts. As a Kinetic Global user, you receive alerts on your phone when you come close to any community-identified threats or emergency situations. This real-time information keeps you one step ahead and ensures you have the support you need when it matters most.
Best Location App for Real Estate Agents: Google Maps
- Price: Free
- Available on: iOS and Android
While everyone knows about Google Maps, not everyone realizes its potential as a safety app. With Google Maps, you have the best GPS app on the market, and it's completely free. You can enable location sharing with chosen contacts for a specified time frame, allowing them to track your real-time location. In case of danger, you can send a special notification to your contacts with your current location.
One great feature of Google Maps is the Google Street View. This allows you and your emergency contacts to have a visual image of your location, providing a full 360-degree view. Additionally, Google Maps can help locate lost or stolen phones by enabling location sharing on your device.
Best Screening App for Real Estate Agents: Forewarn
- Price: $20 per month
- Available on: iOS and Android
Forewarn is a quick and easy background check app that provides comprehensive information about potential buyers and clients using their phone numbers. With Forewarn, you can access criminal history, verify current vehicle and property ownership statuses, identify financial risks like bankruptcy, and obtain a complete address history.
Forewarn allows you to meet new people with confidence, ensuring that the information they provide is true and making informed decisions from a personal safety standpoint. The app's mobile compatibility allows you to access all the necessary information on the go, making it incredibly convenient for real estate agents.
Best Lockbox App for Real Estate Agents: SentriLock
- Price: Free with purchase of SentriLock lockbox
- Available on: iOS and Android
SentriLock offers a smart lockbox solution that syncs with their smartphone app, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to a property. A key feature of SentriLock is its Agent Safety App, which allows agents to mark the start of a showing. The app periodically checks in with the agent to verify their safety. If the agent feels unsafe, they can immediately alert their designated emergency contact. In case the agent is unable to respond to the safety check-in, the app sends an alert as well.
SentriLock combines the security of a high-functioning lockbox with a personal safety app, providing real estate agents with peace of mind during property showings.
Best Auto Safety App for Real Estate Agents: CarLock
- Price: $9.60 per month
- Available on: iOS and Android
CarLock offers a small electronic beacon that can be installed in a real estate agent's vehicle. This beacon serves as a super-accurate car locator and movement tracker. CarLock sends notifications if someone is tampering with the vehicle or if it's moved without authorization. This app is especially useful for agents working in areas with a high risk of auto theft.
With 24/7 monitoring and GPS positioning worldwide, CarLock ensures that you stay informed about any unauthorized activity related to your vehicle. Notifications are sent even if your phone is on silent mode, and the app offers an SMS notification option that doesn't rely on your cell phone's data plan. It's an ideal app for both individual agents and real estate teams.
Best Home or Apartment Security App for Real Estate Agents: Brivo
- Price: $10 to $15 per month + hardware and installation
- Available on: iOS and Android
Brivo is a powerful property security app that offers keyless entry to units via smartphones. It's a convenient solution for real estate agents with property management duties. With Brivo, you can see who is coming and going in real time, thanks to its connection to on-premise security feeds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brivo's digital key-sharing feature has become essential for maintaining safety with minimal physical contact. You can grant access to properties for showings and monitor the activity of those with access. In case of an emergency, Brivo also features a lockdown option that secures the premises and alerts the authorities.
Best App for Real Estate Agents Working Virtually: Zoom
- Price: Free
- Available on: iOS and Android
While Zoom is well-known for virtual meetings, it can also be a valuable safety tool for real estate agents. Virtual meetings provide an opportunity to connect with prospects and evaluate their suitability without meeting in person for the first time. Additionally, Zoom's mobile app allows agents to conduct showings and complete transactions entirely online.
Tomas Satas, founder and CEO of Windy City Homebuyer, explains how Zoom provides safety by enabling home tours without face-to-face interaction, eliminating the risk of COVID exposure.
Zoom's user-friendly interface and free option make it an ideal choice for real estate agents looking to enhance safety and efficiency.
Your Turn
Now that you know about these incredible real estate agent safety apps, which ones are your favorites? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Stay safe!