Reflections on the Beverly Carter Realtor Murder

Firstly, condolences go out to the Carter family. The news has already done an adequate job showing that Beverly Carter was a mother of a son and a wife of a husband; no doubt she was part of a social web where she depended on others and others depended on her.

“Be safe” is now the resounding message all Realtors seem to have for each other after this incident. That is true that we need to be safer, but the concept is rather vague and we need to say more about it. I will go into this further after I summarize what I know to be the facts of the case from news articles.

The facts of the case say that Carter was targeted because she seemed rich and worked alone. Realtors in general embody a successful persona and part of that may be looking or appearing in formalwear or appearing well-off. This persona is natural and expected in an industry where the stakes are high and purchases and sale of houses are typically the largest investments people will make in their lives. There is an equivocation, though, between looking well-dressed and being well-off. An assumption was made and Arron Lewis acted on such an assumption.

The second reason why she was targeted was because she worked alone, or at least this is what Arron Lewis thought. I think what Lewis ascertained is that if he called Carter, Carter would show the property by herself, and he ended up being right.

The main reason many Realtors feel for Carter is because it is a tragedy in its own right, but also that we all know how Carter may have felt before going to that appointment: As Realtors we adhere closely to the Realtor Code of Ethics which basically states that our clients come first; we look out for the well-being of our clients when we sell a house to make sure they are making an informed decision. So when Carter gets a phone call asking to be shown the property, it would be natural that she is excited to have a new client where she can make a new sale, but most importantly being able to touch the life of another person who will do business with her.

When Carter shows up to the house, she is likely in a kind of selling mode mentality but is also selflessly trying to make sure everything goes well so the client can feel at home and possibly want to purchase the house. It is an incredibly emotional juxtaposition to contrast Carter’s likely selflessness to help another and Lewis’ malice to allegedly kidnap and kill.

Another thing to not overlook is that Carter may have also been targeted because she was a woman. Female Realtors in my opinion have the advantage of being more approachable to new clients because they are not very intimidating (versus a male Realtor). Such a phenomenon works wonders when you go door knocking and your body type and gender sometimes make a difference when you prospect like this. When I go door knocking with a hat on and a suit, people wonder if they forgot to pay their bills (it’s probably not this bad but you get the idea).

Nevertheless, it’s a shame that women in our industry are being targeted because they are perceived as weaker or more vulnerable. The systemic objectification in movies, magazines, and pornography likely contribute to this image. Women are burdened by having to look approachable but strong to their clients and it is difficult to satisfy all the demands of appearance that society tells us is acceptable. One of my friends told me that she intentionally does not raise the pitch of her voice when she is angry because it makes her sound less in control.

The best message here is to love real estate and be yourself if you are going to enter this profession, but it’s a no brainer that women have to work harder in this industry than men. My hat goes off to all female Realtors out there.

So what does it mean to “be safe” for Realtors and other real estate professionals? Many things come to mind.

1. Carter made it a point to let her husband know where she was going to be. While that was not enough for this circumstance, it is something that we should all be doing: letting people know where we are through text or email.
2. Newer client appointments should be made in the office during office hours. If this is not possible, showings with new clients should be done with another person accompanying the listing agent.
3. Verifying client information through a variety of sources helps to make the new client a real person as part of a greater network. We can look the client up by email, phone, social network, and even check driver’s licenses to make sure the client has no issue divulging their identification to us. Clients should help us identify them. We get so involved with their personal information that identifying them should be easy and without much effort.
4. Knowing self-defense and carrying pepper spray or a stun gun might be useful, however keep in mind that in a fray that weapons can be used against you, so be careful.
5. If a property is vacant, maybe you should wait inside and lock the door instead of outside where your whereabouts can be ascertained immediately.
6. When confronted with someone who corners you, follow these instructions to try and escape
7. Pay attention to exits, scout locations, keep customer in sight, be careful with personal info

Realtors are servants of the public in my opinion and so we deal with the public frequently. Chances are that many of our clients legitimately want to do business with us and it is only the minority that wants to do harm to us. The news and its constant reminders will overstate the incidence of this happening and we need to keep that in mind. What is most important is that we stay smart with how we conduct our business from all perspectives, whether it is financial, professionals, and safety.

For our clients: it is important to remember that Realtors are also parents, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, etc. of a social web and that being a Realtor is a vocation that pays the bills for the people they love. We also love what we do and our needs are often secondary or tertiary to the clients’. This is not exclusive to this profession but extends to all professions. What I hope is that we Realtors continue to exercise the appropriate amount of safety when conducting business and that clients also help us by identifying themselves when prompted as well as following our safety procedures in all aspects of the real estate transaction.

As a Realtor, I am genuinely concerned about the welfare of my clients during showings. I am concerned about loose tiles or uneven surfaces that could make my clients trip and fall. I am concerned about cats and dogs that may be in the house during showing that may cause harm to my clients. I am concerned about a myriad of factors when showing property and I really want to keep not just Realtors safe, but everyone safe.

I hope these reflections have clarified that Realtors and clients all want to remain safe when engaging in real estate and I suppose this is something we take for granted. But I know that when my job is done at a particular property that our clients will continue to appreciate our service to them as Realtors but also as friends who keep friends safe. Rest in peace Beverly and I hope your family finds closure and that the defendant finds rehabilitation and reflects on the actions that have forever changed the lives of the Carter family and all Realtors everywhere.