Thoughts on real estate agents carrying firearms...

Buying & Selling Real Estate
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Thoughts on real estate agents carrying firearms...

Account Closed
Statesboro, GA · Member since 2015 · 99 posts · 24 votes

Hello, all. I tried to look through the forums for a related topic to this, but couldn't find one. With all the news of mass shootings, more and more people are buying weapons for their own protection. This isn't to start a debate on thoughts of gun control, just to simply ask the question: Is it okay for a real estate agent to carry an unconcealed firearm (on the hip or somewhere noticeable) for their own safety?

I live in south Georgia, so guns are very common. To me, having an agent show me a home with a gun holstered on his hip wouldn't make me uncomfortable, and I would actually consider doing so myself with showing homes. What are your thoughts?

Side note: I did some research on the topic myself before posting this. I found an article that took a poll on whether or not local real estate agencies should offer gun safety training. 55% said yes, it could be helpful. 32.86% said no, that it should be left to other agencies. And 12.14% said maybe, that it depends on the local laws. The same article quoted, "...in the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2015 Member Safety Report, 12 percent of REALTORS® say they carry a gun in the field."

What are your thoughts?

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Chris Jurgens
Rental Property Investor · Dayton, OH · Member since 2015 · 25 posts · 16 votes
10y

I will always carry! Done right, with the right training no would ever know. I carry if im going to million dollar houses or 5k dollar house. The neighborhood is not a determination if I carry or not. I want to be in control of my life in every aspect, I carry insurance for my finances and a gun for my life.

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  • Daren H.
    Real Estate Investor · Desoto, TX · Member since 2013 · 560 posts · 528 votes
    10y

    @Colin ReidI am not here to take your guns and women so no worries, lol. I am all for people having the right to own guns and protect themselves. My "personal opinion" is we start going overboard with fear when guns are looked at as a solution to a area of business that is not overtaken by violence, relatively speaking. If the business we are talking about is crack dealing, I would say sure lets all have guns. The more the better! I would be willing to bet a small sum of money there are more incidents of traditional workplace violence than real estate agents being subject to violent acts showing/viewing houses. We don't send everyone to work with guns though. As for the fire extinguisher, I do keep one in my "personal home", but I do not carry one to see houses nor do I carry one around in my car. I am not going to hate on agents who are pro-carrying, but its not my thing.

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  • Colin Reid
    Investor · St Petersburg, FL · Member since 2014 · 231 posts · 221 votes
    10y

    @Daren H., fair enough. We have different philosophies on preparedness. I wouldn't try to force mine on you or anyone, either.

    0Reply
  • Guy M.
    Flipper/Rehabber · Williamsburg, VA · Member since 2008 · 144 posts · 105 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Colin Reid:

    I'm not an agent, just an investor right now (looking into getting licensed, but that's another discussion.) I carry concealed, everywhere it's legal for me to do so. I am also a certified Pistol Instructor and competitive shooter. A firearm is not the only tool I have at my disposal for defense, but it is definitely one of them.

    Open vs concealed has been covered pretty thoroughly except for one point. We all go to look at houses (either as agents or investors, or both) for BUSINESS. Guns are no more a part of that business than religious beliefs, political affiliations, or favorite foods are. Would you wear your candidate's campaign shirt to a business transaction? Probably not, because 1) it's irrelevant to the business at hand, and 2) it COULD alienate the other parties involved. I could go to a business meeting with a concealed handgun and no one knows so no one cares, but if I go with an exposed firearm and a "Make America Great Again" hat, I run the risk of alienating people who don't like guns, don't like Donald Trump, or both.

    Yup. I agree.

    I feel like some individuals who support agents open-carrying fire arms are doing so to make a statement that really has no place being made in the real estate business. This is just my opinion, and I understand that no opinion is fact. I just can't wrap my mind around someone thinking open-carry while working with clients is a good idea.

    There is a rule that military service has taught me... consideration of others. As an agent, you are a fiduciary (i.e. a person a client puts trust in). If an agent does anything to call that trust into question, they're not being a very good agent. 

    What's more, most agents rely on referrals sooooo.... would an agent really want to be remembered as the person with the gun, or be remembered simply as a good agent clients feel comfortable referring others to? 

    Being an agent really is a selfless career. You're thoroughly beholden to your clients and POTENTIAL clients. Everything about you should say "I'm here to protect your interests" instead of "I'm here to protect myself." Having a gun blazing off the side of your hip adds zero value to your work. You most certainly will alienate the very people you NEED to do business with.

    Now there are circumstance where I do think open-carry is helpful, but I'll leave that off the table.

    1Reply
  • Adam BartomeoBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Cape Coral, FL · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Always be prepared!

    Are you old enough to conceal and carry?

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  • David Begley
    Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2014 · 415 posts · 299 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    Hello, all. I tried to look through the forums for a related topic to this, but couldn't find one. With all the news of mass shootings, more and more people are buying weapons for their own protection. This isn't to start a debate on thoughts of gun control, just to simply ask the question: Is it okay for a real estate agent to carry an unconcealed firearm (on the hip or somewhere noticeable) for their own safety?

    I live in south Georgia, so guns are very common. To me, having an agent show me a home with a gun holstered on his hip wouldn't make me uncomfortable, and I would actually consider doing so myself with showing homes. What are your thoughts?

    Side note: I did some research on the topic myself before posting this. I found an article that took a poll on whether or not local real estate agencies should offer gun safety training. 55% said yes, it could be helpful. 32.86% said no, that it should be left to other agencies. And 12.14% said maybe, that it depends on the local laws. The same article quoted, "...in the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2015 Member Safety Report, 12 percent of REALTORS® say they carry a gun in the field."

    What are your thoughts?

     I am a realtor/investor and do have a concealed carry permit.  I would never, ever "open-carry" when meeting with a client and no one ever knows that I'm carrying concealed and wearing a bulletproof vest.  Just a sign of the times and the 'hoods I'm often working in.  I've had more than 5 situations where my workers had to skeedaddle because of nearby gunshots or gunfights and situations where bullets have been fired through the rehabs front door.  I'm not so naive as to think the gun will save my butt in an up-close-and-personal situation but it does give me the confidence to not be scared and a victim and serves as a constant reminder to be observant and vigilant about my surroundings.  

    2Reply
  • Tyrus Shivers
    Investor · Jessup, MD · Member since 2013 · 437 posts · 180 votes
    10y

    Just throwing in two cents on the issue. I WISH I could conceal carry in Maryland. The law makes it very difficult to obtain a CC permit here. Baltimore City is one of those block by block places where it could get dangerous quick. TONS of investors are here because of the entry price and rents. There is no open carry and hardly CC. So you are a sitting duck if you do not have some sort of martial arts training to at least fight your way out. Lots of vacant properties have squatters that you encounter. I usually just walk out and let them leave or call the police. 

    0Reply
  • Pete Krentz
    Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 59 posts · 20 votes
    10y

    I'm a licensed Realtor in SD and I carry to many of my showings as well as have another firearm in my vehicle. I don't however carry "openly" as some do. My holster is on my chest/side and the gun rests under my arm, and you'd never even know I had it on. I'm not by any standards a big guy but could probably hold my own if need be. But I never want to have to. I've only had to pull my weapon out once and that was more than enough for me. Had I not had it, things would have gone south quickly.

    0Reply
  • Andy Gross
    Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 145 posts · 65 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Matthew Christian:

    I agree with the others. I live in FL so open carry is illegal. I wouldn't open carry even if it was legal. If the bad guy sees your weapon, you won't have the chance to draw it. Concealed is the way to go and keeps the element of surprise. I also don't agree with open carry while showing properties, your clients may not like that. What they don't know won't bother them.

    On the other hand, drawing a concealed weapon is only feasible if you are not the target. If a mugger puts a gun to your face, you'll never be able to draw in time to make a difference.

    0Reply
  • Andy Gross
    Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 145 posts · 65 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Tyrus Shivers:

    Just throwing in two cents on the issue. I WISH I could conceal carry in Maryland. The law makes it very difficult to obtain a CC permit here. Baltimore City is one of those block by block places where it could get dangerous quick. TONS of investors are here because of the entry price and rents. There is no open carry and hardly CC. So you are a sitting duck if you do not have some sort of martial arts training to at least fight your way out. Lots of vacant properties have squatters that you encounter. I usually just walk out and let them leave or call the police. 

     If you are in the city, and you need to fight your way out, you're likely already dead and just don't know it. 

    I've lived in rough parts of the city, and the key is to know where you are, not be on your phone, and to know what's behind you. For vacants, a 3 C-cell mag lite turns into a club when necessary.

    0Reply
  • Colin Reid
    Investor · St Petersburg, FL · Member since 2014 · 231 posts · 221 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Tyrus Shivers:

    Just throwing in two cents on the issue. I WISH I could conceal carry in Maryland. The law makes it very difficult to obtain a CC permit here. Baltimore City is one of those block by block places where it could get dangerous quick. TONS of investors are here because of the entry price and rents. There is no open carry and hardly CC. So you are a sitting duck if you do not have some sort of martial arts training to at least fight your way out. Lots of vacant properties have squatters that you encounter. I usually just walk out and let them leave or call the police. 

     I grew up in NE Baltimore County. At 18, college and the military took me away. That was more than a decade ago. This is one of the many reasons I'll never go back there.

    0Reply
  • Matt Gomolka
    Real Estate Broker · Morganville, NJ · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 0 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Tyrus Shivers:

    Just throwing in two cents on the issue. I WISH I could conceal carry in Maryland. The law makes it very difficult to obtain a CC permit here. Baltimore City is one of those block by block places where it could get dangerous quick. TONS of investors are here because of the entry price and rents. There is no open carry and hardly CC. So you are a sitting duck if you do not have some sort of martial arts training to at least fight your way out. Lots of vacant properties have squatters that you encounter. I usually just walk out and let them leave or call the police. 

     I'm in the same boat as you, I wish I could conceal carry also. But I live in NJ and have no chance ever of obtaining one in this crappy state.

    0Reply
  • Justin Pillion
    Investor · Naperville, IL · Member since 2015 · 166 posts · 28 votes
    10y

    I wish Illinois was an open carry state. But I am permitted to conceal carry and it gives me piece of mind regardless if I'm in A properties or the rare occurrence I'm in a D class property. Glock 19 or 26 are my personal favorites. However I am known to conceal a 1911 from time to time.

    1Reply
  • Brie SchmidtBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    10y

    Good topic.  As a female agent, I would carry a gun.  I represent myself in transactions so a lot of times I am out alone in vacant or tenant occupied properties.  It is not customary in my area for the listing agent to be present.  So if it isn't vacant, I would say 75% of the time the tenant is letting me in, and I am alone.

    The areas I invest in don't scare me, but one time I was in a vacant property and I didn't lock the door behind me.  I was upstairs and I heard someone come in.  I yelled down and nobody answered.  After a few minutes I still heard noise so I came down the stairs, turned out to be someone hired by the bank to weatherize the property.  But it scared the sh*t out of me.  So now I carry pepper spray.  

    In the market I represent clients, I am almost always with someone, so I would not feel a need to carry a gun, but for sure if I am looking at vacant properties on my own.  

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  • Ward Adams
    Surprise, AZ · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    10y

    Several times my agents have been uncomfortable with a first buyer showing. A concealed weapon, AND knowing how to use it might be an appropriate edge. Too many initial meetings on site these days.

    0Reply
  • John Arendsen
    Homeowner · VISTA, CA · Member since 2015 · 727 posts · 340 votes
    10y

    Just bought my wife a 9mm Glock for Christmas. She starts a ladies shooting clinic in mid January.

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    In a few days this will be legal in Texas.  But I doubt any agents in Texas will wear guns openly.  If someone wants to do it, I would suggest they do it on every showing.  Otherwise it would look like they are making a negative statement about certain properties.  It could appear to be a form of red lining or part of a block busting practice.

    0Reply
  • Josh Nicolson
    Investor · Tucson, AZ · Member since 2015 · 50 posts · 18 votes
    10y

    I would imagine having an open carry may shun some customers away but having a concealed weapon should make no difference and I would recommend one of you show in bad areas or abandoned buildings. 

    I'm not a realtor, but I always carry my kershaw blur speed safe knife in my pocket when I look at vacant units.  I've ran into my fair share of bums/squatters looking at vacant units and was glad I had some type of protection.

    0Reply
  • Chris Sukala
    Rockford, IL · Member since 2015 · 343 posts · 95 votes
    10y

    Never show all your cards. Conceal carry is the way to go. Why would you want them to know what they might having to deal with. Element of surprise. Beware of your surroundings.

    0Reply
  • Colin Williams
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pearland, TX · Member since 2015 · 43 posts · 23 votes
    10y

    Concealed is the better option. Having a weapon in plain sight invites too many questions and can detract from the goal of showing a home to potential buyers, even if they are comfortable with firearms.

    0Reply
  • Mitch Dowler
    Investor · Tacoma, WA · Member since 2014 · 83 posts · 40 votes
    10y

    I'm one of those people that likes to be prepared. I maintain insurance policies on my home and all my rental properties. I keep a policy on my personal vehicles and even have uninsured motorist protection. I keep health, dental, and optical insurance on my family. I have life insurance. I have a Legal Shield membership and I purchase audit protection for my tax returns.
    It would be very uncharacteristic of me and irresponsible to not also protect my family, my person and my civil rights by being a responsibly armed Citizen.

    0Reply
  • Chris DawsonPro Member
    Real Estate Broker / General Contractor / Property Manager · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2010 · 395 posts · 425 votes
    10y

    As a real estate broker, I leave the decision to carry a gun up to my agents.  There are certain areas of Kansas City that we service where a lot of people feel more comfortable knowing that they have a gun on their hip.  I have never heard of an agent taking a gun to a showing in a high end neighborhood.

    Personally, I have never felt the need to carry a gun even when showing properties in the worst parts of Kansas City; however, I do wisely choose the time of day when i show these properties.

    1Reply
  • Samuel Sedore
    Real Estate Agent · Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, Ontario · Member since 2013 · 408 posts · 90 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Kris Mcfarlane:

    As the only Canadian to respond to this post and guns are no where as common in Canada as in the states, I believe the last article I read mentioned 93% of Americans own firearms, the sight of a weapon would make me feel very reluctant to buy in that area, trust that person nor would I want my wife entering a house with someone who had a weapon even if they had a permit. 

    I have spent a lot of time in the states, at least 50-80 days a year for the last ten years and the whole idea of weapons still make us weary and yes I do understand it is your second amendment, forgive me if I'm wrong on that. 

     I think there would be a little more difficulty getting comfortable at a showing if the realtor had gun. 

    0Reply
  • Nai Thao
    Winder, GA · Member since 2015 · 10 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    How about if I have a possible tenant wanted to rent my house and the tenant saw me carrying a firearm, would the tenant say if I don't pay his rent, he might use his firearm on me? And the tenant might not rent my house, and I might lose a good tenant or two.

    0Reply
  • Adam L.
    Rental Property Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2015 · 140 posts · 45 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Nai Thao:

    How about if I have a possible tenant wanted to rent my house and the tenant saw me carrying a firearm, would the tenant say if I don't pay his rent, he might use his firearm on me? And the tenant might not rent my house, and I might lose a good tenant or two.

     That's a pretty HUGE jump for a potential tenant to take.  "My Realtor has a gun so s/he will use it on me if I miss a payment" sounds like a pretty crazy statement.  If that were to happen to me (and mind you I am not a Realtor so...) I would be happy to not have that person in my house.  That would seem like a screw is loose to take that drastic of a jump.

    2Reply
  • John Thedford
    Real Estate Broker · Naples, FL · Member since 2013 · 9k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    10y
    LOL..many great responses. I like the one from other investors saying that if the neighborhood is too dangerous for your comfort..sell your property to them! Motivated are we??:) I wanted to show a little gadget. It appears to be a Maglite flashlight. It doesn't work as a flashlight, but instead holds and shoots a .410 shotgun shell. If all else fails, hit the attacker with it:)

    Disclaimer: no legal advice given. This item may or may not be legal in your state.

    1Reply
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