In Wake of Real Estate Agent Killing, Man Hopes Training Will Help Protect Others In Industry
Jan 22, 2019, 11:21 PM | Updated: Jan 23, 2019, 12:40 am
ROY, Utah – Real estate agents never know whether the prospective buyers, sellers and renters they encounter will have sinister intentions.
The recent killing of David Stokoe in Salt Lake City only deepened Michael McPhie’s conviction to put his training and knowledge from a prior career to good use to help keep those in the industry safe.
“As a police officer, I can see a lot of areas where a motivated criminal could really exploit our habits,” said McPhie, a former West Valley City cop who was shot on the job in 2011 and eventually moved on to real estate. “(Real estate agents) don’t have to change how they work or how they operate. Look at things a little bit differently and some small changes can make big differences.”
McPhie said he has developed a safety seminar he hopes to share with realtors from around the Wasatch Front and the state, and was in the process of trying to partner with the Salt Lake Board of Realtors to make the training available to a wider audience of industry workers.
He acknowledged some training items are more a matter of common sense, though they are often overlooked during the hustle and bustle of the job.
“Always let somebody know where you’re going, what time you’re supposed to be there and what time they can expect you to be done,” McPhie said. “Let the person you’re showing walk in first. Let them go up the stairs and into bedrooms first and follow, so that you always have your back closest to the nearest exit.”
McPhie said he is interested in hearing from other realtors about their questions and interest in the training, and recommended he be contacted by phone at 801-556-4513 or through the website, RightMoveUtah.com.
Related: ‘The Danger Is Real,’ Murder Of Utah Realtor Sparks Safety Discussions
