Missouri Realtors urge members to use caution

The Missouri Realtors president said precautions need to be put in place to ensure the safety of the state’s realtors. This comes after an Arkansas realtor disappeared while on the job. Officials later found her body buried behind a concrete mixing plant.

According to the Columbia Board of Realtors, over 200 homes were sold in Boone County in August. In many of those sales, a realtor showed up alone to walk through the house with strangers. “Realtors put themselves in danger every day. They go into empty houses, they go into abandoned or vacation homes where no one lives,” said John Sebree, CEO of Missouri Realtors.

Missouri Realtors are asking its members to follow a few safety tips. They recommend checking identification and having guests sign in. Realtors should walk around the property looking for signs of activity and have an escape route. They also ask realtors to leave the front door unlocked for an easy escape. “While we always want to be trusting in our heart, we have to be conscious of the fact there are bad actors out there,” said Sebree.