App developed for real estate industry includes driver’s license recording among other safety features
April 15, 2019
Real estate professionals can now securely capture and validate the identity of those they bring into a home. SafeShowings is a new app and the first of its kind, created to deter crimes committed against real estate professionals and homeowners. SafeShowings was created by, Helen Hudson who as a Realtor in Charleston, has feared for her safety on numerous occasions. After learning of the increase of real estate professionals who have been assaulted and even murdered on the job, Hudson decided it was time to advocate for safe guards for the real estate industry and listing clients. SafeShowings makes it easy to request and securely record driver’s licenses while out in the field prior to entering a home.
In addition to securely recording a driver’s license, there are several additional features, to include: an open house option which enables the real estate professional to quickly and easily capture images of everyone who crosses through the door during a set time. There is also a feature that enables the user to alert emergency contacts as well as dial 911 with just a click of a button.
“When we allow strangers to enter homes we could be showing a property to a person with a criminal background. My mission is to create a law, policy, or procedure for our industry that requires real estate professionals to capture a secure image of a driver’s license of each person that crosses the threshold of a home,” said Helen Hudson, Founder of SafeShowings and Realtor based in Charleston. S.C. “The SafeShowings app is a tool that will facilitate this mission.”
According to the 2018 National Association of Realtors Member Safety Report, 38 percent of Realtors have experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or safety of their personal information. In addition, more than 100 real estate professionals have been murdered while on the job. While the real estate industry does not currently have a mandate for capturing images of driver’s licenses, there are several industries that do have that safe guard, for example, the apartment rental industry.
“One of the most terrifying things about being a 22-year old female real estate professional is meeting clients that I do not know,” said Abbey Bumgarner, Realtor in Charlotte, N.C. “Thank you SafeShowings for creating a quick and easy app that gives my family and me peace of mind when it comes to meeting new clients.”
There are several different pricing options that include unlimited use, while plans range from $9 per month to $99 per year, there are enterprise level plans offering discounts to offices, teams, and associations. For more information, visit, www.safeshowings.com or call 800-268-8437.
About SafeShowings
SafeShowings was created by a female who has feared for her safety on numerous occasions. After learning about the increase of real estate professionals who have been murdered on the job, she decided it was time to advocate for safety among real estate professionals. SafeShowings is the first app to capture an image of the potential buyer’s driver’s license. The app not only notifies the user’s emergency contacts and 911, it securely captures the driver’s license of the perpetrator. This approach deters criminal behavior because the person intending to do harm will be trackable or will be deterred all together. For more information, visit safeshowings.com or call 800-268-8437.
