MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — According to an industry study, 41% of realtors say they feel unsafe while hosting an open house. It's a common fear for many realtors hosting an open house alone and not knowing the people who walk in.

What You Need To Know

  • According to a National Association of Realtors study, 41% of realtors say they feel unsafe while hosting an open house, 

  •  September is Realtor Self-Defense Month

This is what a normal workday looks like for realtor Gigi Krauser.

“I like meeting new people and working with people and helping them,” she said.

She's preparing for an open house. Krauser has open houses at least twice a month. It's an open invitation for anyone to walk through the door.

“I have had some situations where I’ve questioned some people's intentions,” she said.

Being alone in a house with no protection is her biggest fear, not sure of who’s really walking in.

“It can be stressful, tense to walk into a home,” she said.

So she turned that stress into power through self-defense classes.

Krauser was first introduced to this concept when the Pinellas Realtor Organization hosted a self-defense class with Weapon Brand.

Brian Anderson Needham is one of the owners and instructors. He's teaching Krauser skills that could one day save her life.

“Stronger, better, empowered to make myself safe,” she expressed.

Krauser's only been a realtor in the St. Petersburg area for a couple of years. She wants these moves to become like second nature to her to keep herself safe.

“You think you have an idea or a gut feeling, but this really puts it into focus on what to look for,” she explained.

She feels prepared and she said she refuses to let fear stop her from helping people find their perfect home.