For Immediate Release:
September 5, 2007

NJAR^® Makes REALTOR^® Safety a Priority

September 9-15 marks national REALTOR^® Safety Week, a time to promote safety during the home buying and selling process

EDISON, N.J. - The safety of its 55,000 members is a top priority for the New Jersey Association of REALTORS^® (NJAR^®). NJAR^® is joining forces with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR) to offer safety resources to its membership in recognition of REALTOR^® Safety Week, September 9-15. The safety materials include ways for REALTORS^® to help protect themselves during the home buying and selling process.

"REALTORS^® have unique safety concerns that should be at the forefront of their thoughts when out on the job, at home and on the road," said NJAR^® President Bill Hanley. "Safety Week is a great way to draw attention to ways of avoiding potentially harmful situations that REALTORS^® may not think about during the home buying and selling process. There are many ways they can incorporate safe practices into their personal and professional lives."

This year marks the fifth anniversary of national REALTOR^® Safety Week. In order to help REALTORS^®, NJAR^® has made safety materials available for its members at www.njar.com. NAR is also providing materials for REALTORS^® at http://www.realtor.org/about_nar/safety_week/index.html such as an online safety course, safety videos and presentations.

Following are a few safety tips for REALTORS^®:

• Let someone know where you are going and who you are meeting with.
• Check in with your office on a regular basis. Create a code word that may be used to indicate a distressed call.
• Keep a detailed list of all visitors during an open house.
• Make sure your cell phone is always charged and you have a signal at all times.
• If working at the office late, make sure the doors are locked and other colleagues know you are working late.
• Keep your and your clients' personal information private. Use a paper shredder when finished with documents.
• Familiarize yourself with a home, its property and neighborhood before showing it to others. Introduce yourself to a neighbor or two and let them know you are having an open house.
• When traveling in unfamiliar neighborhoods, keep car doors locked, make sure to park in well-lit areas and be observant when approaching your car.
• When showing a home, park in front of the property rather than in the driveway when possible.
• Use common sense. When in doubt listen to your gut instinct and follow the safety advice you would give to a loved one.

"Safety is a year-round priority," said Hanley. "While we encourage everyone to be cautious all the time, REALTOR^® Safety Week is especially important to remind people to stop and think about how they can better protect themselves and those with whom they're working."

The New Jersey Association of REALTORS^® is a non-profit organization serving the professional needs of approximately 55,000 REALTOR^® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE^® members in the state. 2007 marks the association's 90th anniversary year. REALTOR^® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who subscribe to the REALTOR^® organization's strict Code of Ethics and are members of the national, state and local REALTOR^® organizations. For more information, please visit www.njar.com.

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Danielle Alpert
Media & Public Affairs Coordinator
Phone: (732) 494-4730
Fax: (732) 494-4723
E-mail: dalpert@njar.com