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Safety Tips for Home Sellers
With or without a real
estate agent, when you are selling your house you are exposed to a parade of
strangers traipsing through your home. The vast majority of them are
perfectly safe, honest people and quite possibly home buyers. However,
security measures are necessary for the rare possibility that just one of
the visitors could see your home as an opportunity for crime.
For Sale Buy Owner
sellers (FSBOs) are particularly vulnerable because they often work alone,
conducting open house events and otherwise accepting visitors into their
home for a look around when they could in fact be casing the place.
Protecting your home,
its valuables and yourself from harm should be a vital component of your
marketing plan.
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Once you list your
home for sale, never leave a message on your answering machine informing
callers that you are not home. It’s better to leave a message that
says you are not available to answer the phone right now.
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Never set an appointment with anyone to
see your home unless you have their name and number and have called back
to verify that number.
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For security’s sake, before you conduct
an open house, remember to remove keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal,
furs and other valuables from the home or lock them away during showings.
Also remove prescription drugs. Some seemingly honest people
wouldn’t mind getting their hands on a bottle.
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Request that all visitors sign in a
guestbook. You are giving away a lot of information about your house
and you have a right to know who is getting that information. Feel
free to explain to protestors that it’s a security measure.
Certainly, some visitors will use a false name, but at least they will be
aware of your organized procedures and might think twice about victimizing
you. If at all possible, jot down license plate numbers.
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Request that visitors enter and leave
through one door only, except when you escort them to the back yard,
garage, etc. You should personally have quick and easy access to all
of your exits.
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Without hovering, escort prospective
buyers through your home by following them (never, ever leading them) and
keeping them within sight at all times. Keep a reasonable distance
between you and your visitor. Never enter a bedroom, den or other
room with a visitor. You could be trapped inside. Keep your
path clear for a speedy exit.
Although an unfortunate
topic to discuss, you and your family’s personal safety and security are at
stake. Chances are very slim that one would ever encounter such a
terrible situation, but please be careful when showing your home to
strangers.
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