Hosting an open house can be an important aspect when selling your home because they bring in so much more foot traffic from potential buyers. But, the thought of letting strangers wander throughout your home can be a bit overwhelming and nerve wracking for many people. There are concerns for your safety, theft and even being judged by these strangers.
Don't let the fear of what
could happen stop you from hosting an open house and possibly selling your home. Read on for ideas on how to keep your home safe during an open house.
Prepare your home for a showing
One of the first steps for keeping your home safe during a showing is to
prepare your house. You'll need to clean and organize your items anyway, so now is a good time to start.
If you haven't already done so, you should begin paring down your belongings. Moving is a perfect excuse to de-clutter your household of unwanted and unneeded items. Why pay to have those items moved if they're not being used in the first place?
Check with your insurance carrier to find out what your homeowner's insurance policy covers. Are you protected against theft or property damage? Both are possible during an open house. Is it enough to cover any valuables that aren't packed away yet?
The night before your showing, start
stowing away your valuable items that are commonly stolen, such as:
- Money
- Jewelry
- Office Equipment
- Clothing/furs
- Electronics
- Firearms
When you're removing any personal items like knick-knacks and photographs, you should also take down any family calendars -- strangers don't need to know your drop-off and pick-up schedules, vacation plans or anything else like that.
As you're going through your home stowing away valuables, you can take this time to create a checklist so that if you have multiple showings, this process will become much easier and smoother.
Day of the open house
On the day of the
open house, stay at your home until your real estate agent arrives so you can walk them through the home if need be. Also offer to come back and lock up at the end of the open house so you can both walk through and make sure all windows and doors are secured, and you can double check the home for any security issues including the backyard.
General safety tips
You should let your neighbors know ahead of time that you'll be hosting showings while you're in the selling process--that way they can also be on the lookout for suspicious characters. It's also just a common courtesy since shady characters could also check out their homes as well.
- Never let a stranger into your home, especially when you're alone. If a potential buyer shows up to your home unannounced, have them call your agent to schedule an appointment. Identify your visitors by keeping a log. You can ask for a driver's license or photo ID. Make sure the picture matches the person standing in front of you. Get their phone number, address and jot down a brief description of the person and their car. Don't make an appointment with a potential buyer without getting their contact information first and be sure to call them back to verify the number.
- Identify anyone claiming to be a real estate agent as well. Anyone can print up fake business cards and try to pass themselves off as an agent. Call the agent's office and verify who they are. Don't let them directly into your home, instead have them open the lock box placed on your door by your own agent.
- Be wary of anyone who comes to your home at odd hours, both early morning and late at night. No matter who they are, ask them to make an appointment with your agent. If someone says they can only view your home at this particular moment, don't believe them.
- Keep bank statements, personal letters, credit cards or keys on your person, don't leave them lying around. It's too easy for a thief to just stash them in their pockets. The same goes for prescription drugs. Lock them up or bring them with you.
- When you are having people in your home, pay attention to the questions they're asking. If they're asking increasingly personal questions or unusual questions that have nothing to do with the house, be wary of them. You should also pay attention to the way they are viewing your home. Burglars tend to linger in rooms looking for things that can easily be taken or ways to get in and out easily.
TIP: Shady couples viewing your home will often split up so one can case your home while the other keeps you distracted.
While these tips may seem overly cautious, it's better to be overly prepared than to become a victim. Even if you only implement one or two of these tips you'll be able to safely host an open house.