Local Association of Realtors responds to recent sexual assault allegations at home viewings

A posting from the Calgary Police Service, detailing an alleged sexual assault (Calgary Police Service on Facebook)

Late last month, Lethbridge Police Service charged 42-year-old Maneesh Kumar Khokar of one count of sexual assault after a female sales associate was reportedly assaulted.

Khokar is scheduled to appear in court on July 16.

READ MORE: LPS charge local man after alleged sexual assault of female sales associate at show home

SAFETY TIPS

Maxwell said they do have a publication given to sales associates, which contains safety tips and covers certain protocols.

She shared some of those types as they pertain to the recent incidents in Lethbridge and Calgary.

“Keep your cell phone at your side ready and programmed with 911 on speed dial. Some of our lock box key codes have a distress code that you can activate, and you would have told somebody – kind of a like a buddy system – and say, ‘I’m going out to show (a home) and I’ll be by myself, I’m going to press this code if I’m in distress’,” she said.

She also suggested associates make sure coworkers know where exactly they’re going to be showing a home, and what their general schedule looks like.

“Something else we run into is, don’t necessarily publicize all of this information. We’re in the social media world, so that kind of information is all over the place, but you kind of want to be a little discreet with that,” she said.

“Know who you’re dealing with. If you’re entertaining a new client, have them come into the office, interview them, look at their I.D. and know who you’re dealing with.”

She added that before an open house, it’s important to scope out the residence and plan an escape route in case of an emergency and make sure clients enter a room before you.

“Let them look around (with) you being able to make a quick turn if you had to. There are many protocols, but that’s a few of them.”

NOT UNCOMMON

Maxwell said every year; they see some form of sexual misconduct towards a sales associate.

“We’ll hear from our female realtors, ‘oh, I went to do a listing and there’s just something not right, my gut’s telling me it’s not right,’ and that’s an important thing to consider – your gut reaction,” she said.

“Fortunately, so far nobody’s been hurt, notwithstanding these last two (incidents).”

She said that years ago, realtors would occasionally bring clients to a show home in their own vehicles, but remarked they’re seeing that less and less, even with clients driving themselves to show homes.

“I see a trend going away from that now, where people are driving their own cars – and maybe going both ways, they (the client) feel more comfortable in their car and the realtor feels more comfortable not carrying the client anymore,” she said.

Maxwell added that a lot of private vendors are using recording systems in their homes.

“Legal authorities suggest that you need to advise people if you’re recording, but that could help because you would have them on camera, so they can be easily identified. I think that is an area that could be looked at more,” she said.

“Really having practices in place and a buddy system … those are things that can really help because usually, if you’ve got somebody with you, nobody else is going to try to hurt you. The brokerages also have to play a part in realtor safety and having protocols that they mandate for their realtors.”

Maxwell offered one last piece of advice.

“They (realtors) need to have a good level of awareness, not so that you’re so scared, but a high level of awareness.”

by Justin Goulet

Local Association of Realtors responds to recent sexual assault allegations at home viewings

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