For Sale by Owner or working with a professional Realtor while selling your home, you are exposed to a parade of strangers through your home. Majority of them may be perfectly safe, serious buyers but security measures are necessary to avoid any possible opportunity to invite crime at your door step.
For-sale-by-owner sellers 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 be casing the place.
Here are list of precautions a seller can take while selling their home:
1. Don't discuss personal routine with the potential buyers, if you work for home or extensively travel for work do not share your schedule.
2. No brainier, designate a spot to store you electronics...iPad, iPods, laptops, MPS, credit cards away from any intruder to quickly put it in their bag.
3. If your home is vacant or you are going aways buy a timer to turn the lights ON for the evening.
4. Read my previous post on "Use the Lock box" strategy while selling your home.
5. If you or your Realtor has hosted an open house check for all the doors and windows after the event.
6. On your home phone dont' leave a message you are not at home, update to say you are not available please leave a message. Most of my sellers are using their cell phone to schedule appointments.
7. Do not lit candles!!! Especially if you are going to go away for the buyers to preview the home.
8. Do not promote your home as vacant, pick up fliers, newspapers from the front of the door frequently.
9. For FSBO, If you have advertise on say Craigslist prescreen the caller, show your home only by appointment. Yes, there is a sign in the yard - but that doesn't mean you should open the door to anyone who drops by, especially at night. Take a phone number and set up a later appointment.
10. If you decided to withdraw/not sell your home change the locks, you never know who might have made a copy of your house keys.
If you have any safety tips or advise please feel free to add to this blog.
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