Reserve deputy, realtors to offer safety seminar

Selling homes can be a dangerous business; working with strangers during odd times of the day in unfamiliar settings. Realtor Ben Harang knows firsthand of the risk he and his colleagues take, from a unique perspective.

Harang has not only been selling homes for 12 years and a member of the Bayou Board of Realtors; he also pledges time as a reserve deputy for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“What people don’t know is that showing homes can be dangerous,” he said. “There have been cases where realtors have been beaten, raped or killed.”

The Bayou Board of Realtors wants to make certain that its members, and all realtors in the Tri-parishes, take the proper precautions and are aware of the potential risk. The organization will host a free Realtor Safety Meeting led by Harang on Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Quality Inn in Houma.

Harang will speak on important in office precautionary measures as well as in-home appointment safety with clients.

Unknown or unfamiliar surroundings have gotten some realtors in trouble in the Tri-parish area. Harang accounts for one incident that occurred in Thibodaux, involving a realtor in her car; someone tried to get in. Those are the incidents that the Bayou Board would like to prevent.

“You want to know who you are meeting beforehand. Get to know who you are meeting, get a license number and personal information,” he said.

Preparing for the unexpected, leaving itineraries with a reliable contact or family, scoping out a home are only snippets of precautionary information that will be shared.

All realtors are prone to these crimes, women are especially at risk, the realtor/reserve deputy said.

The free seminar begins at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to last about an hour, Harang said. This event is geared toward members of the Bayou Board and affiliates, but other realtors can call for more information on seating availability and reservations. For more information, call (985) 868-7877.