Safe Tech Tips for Real Estate Pros With Kids

NEW YORK — Real estate agents often juggle a busy schedule. You run from one appointment to the next and stay in touch with clients around the clock. Add parenting to the mix, and the challenges can multiply.

Technology can be a double-edged sword. It can put your kids at risk, but it also can help protect your family. What do you need to know about setting up parental controls, managing screen time, or securing your home Wi-Fi? Here are some tips will help you keep your family safe and connected with the bonus of creating less stress.

Parental controls made easy

Managing what your kids can access online doesn’t have to be complicated. First, set up parental controls on all devices. Fortunately, most smartphones, tablets, and computers have parental control settings. These allow you to block inappropriate content, set screen time limits, and even monitor online activities.

One busy real estate agent shared how they use Apple’s Screen Time feature to limit their kids’ social media use to just an hour a day. They also enabled downtime during family meals to keep everyone engaged in conversation. This small change helped reduce distractions and improve family bonding, even during a busy work week.

Pro tip: Use a password manager or create a password protected file to securely store family login credentials.

Secure your home Wi-Fi

Your home Wi-Fi is the gateway to your family’s online world. Protect it with a strong password and regularly update your router’s firmware. Consider setting up a guest network for your kids’ devices to minimize the risk of hacking. One agent mentioned setting up a separate network for their home office and another for the family. This separation ensures that work documents are safe even if a kid’s device gets compromised. It also helps maintain a professional workspace while keeping the rest of the family’s devices secure.

Pro tip: For tech-savvy folks, using a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi adds an extra layer of security.

Limit screen time without arguments

Balancing screen time can be tricky, especially when you’re busy at work. Setting clear boundaries helps. Start by monitoring smartphones and tablets to gauge average daily use, as most devices offer this built-in tracking feature. Next, use the built-in tools that most devices feature to establish screen time limits. You can also formalize the process by creating a family screen time contract to help set expectations and minimize future conflicts.

 It’s impossible for an agent to monitor their children’s screen time when they are hosting an Open House. However, parental controls can help your kids and allow you to focus on clients without worrying about excessive screen time. When everyone knows the rules in advance, it will reduce arguments when the time limit kicks in.

Pro tip: Involve your kids in setting screen time rules to encourage cooperation.

Teach safe social media habits

Social media can be a minefield for younger users. If your kids are using social media, teach them about privacy settings and the importance of not sharing personal information. Make it a family rule that they only connect with people they know personally.  As a tech-savvy parent with teenagers, you need to regularly review their friend lists and explain the importance of avoiding friend requests from strangers, even if they seem harmless.

 Normalizing these conversations will help make the kids more comfortable discussing their online interactions.

Pro tip: Set a standard schedule to regularly review your child’s friend list and privacy settings to ensure they are protected, and mix in a “surprise” inspection, just like a pop quiz at school.

Explain the importance of online safety

Kids are curious and may not recognize online risks. Teach them the basics of internet safety, like avoiding suspicious links and never sharing personal details with strangers. Stay involved by occasionally reviewing their online activity together. An agent mentioned using role-playing scenarios to teach their kids how to respond if someone online asks for personal information.

Practicing these conversations in a safe environment helps children feel more confident about making the right choices online.

Pro tip: Make internet safety a part of regular conversations and show your kids how you also stay safe online with real-world examples.

Set dinner time limits

As a real estate professional, you’re likely fielding calls and texts all day. This is a rule you will need to follow as well. Set boundaries for device use, especially during family time. For example, put away all devices at dinner time and make sure they are on silent. Better yet, turn on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature. Tell your clients about your family time window in advance, tell them when you will be available, and keep that promise.

The clients you want to work with will appreciate this reasonable boundary, and it sets an example for your kids, helping you maintain a balance between being available for clients and being present with your family.

Pro tip: Set automatic responses to let clients know when you will get back to them.

Be consistent

Parenting in a digital age comes with its own set of challenges, but even super-busy real estate pros can balance family safety with a hectic career by being consistent. Keep a lid on the boundaries you establish and don’t waive the rules. Take a proactive approach to using technology and mirroring the habits you want your kids to echo. With this approach, you can keep your family safe while maintaining your professional commitments.

Finally, if you need help figuring out where to find parental settings – either on a phone or other device – the Tech Helpline has your back. Trusted by over 730,000 real estate professionals across North America, it gives associations, MLSs, and brokerages easy access to unlimited chat, email, or phone support.

Source: Tech Helpline

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