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might not be the norm, but I personally have bought two of my own homes because I saw them during an open house. In this case, one of the open house goers had his agent make an appointment to get in to see the house with his wife ..so perhaps the open house might bring a buyer..but yes, I know this is not usually how it happens. 
to be making up a list of things that they should be doing and noting the risks and have them sign it..such as locking up there jewelry, drugs, personal bills, etc that might be laying out. I already mention this when signing the listing documents though, but it needs to be reiterated before an open house. 
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45 Comments on Who Stole The Piggy.. Dealing With Open House Theft
I am amazed as I walk through homes with Buyers the items that are left out in plain site that really should be put away/locked up. Teaching sellers to secure valuables will help.
Cindy - It is most difficult trying to man an active house opening by yourself, especially when there are numerous groups in at the same time. I have constantly told my sellers to remove all valuables. A fellow agent found someone opening the drawers during a showing and caught them in the act. Needless to say, we always have to keep our guard up. In some of our condo developments, the Concierge makes everyone register and even takes their licenses in order for them to gain access.
We typically only do broker opens and do not generally open up a house to the public. But it's more of a cultural thing than anything else.
OR, there was no piggy bank. Buyers are liars and sellers are worse - so, I've heard.
Hi Cindy, that is awful. I am sorry for your sellers. I am sure they feel violated (as I am sure you do!)
I've made a habit of telling sellers to take valuables with them. Not hide them, take them. Or put them in a safe deposit box at a bank for the entire listing period. That would include piggy banks, jewelry, etc. Anything easy to take and worth money that could be sold/pawned, or used immediately (cash).
At the time of an open, they should take prescriptions with them as well.
I'm so sorry to hear this happened. Hopefully the Piggy Bank was not very full, and if it is a child's, that another can be gotten to replace it.
We always tell the seller to remove valuables and if they don;t we do. Another thing is to work in pairs. If it's slow you have someone to talk to and if it's busy you have 2 more eyes watching.
Most professional Stagers will also advise their clients , as Kathy S. points out, to remove/secure valuables, bills, meds, etc. I'm all about removing those knife blocks also - as well as anything in a child's bedroom with their names on them! Also, remove framed discharge certificates for US military service - many contain Social Security numbers on them! Log off computers!
If you have good traffic it is impossible to be with every person in every room. You did your best but some things may slip thru the cracks. How to explain to seller? That's the hard part.
Hi Cindy, I always tell my sellers about the risk that go along with open houses and if it's a great location we will be busy and it's hard to keep an eye one everyone. So they need to remove the tempting easy to pocket items before the open.
Good advise.
I think you need a team approach: Have a team of people with you at the open house. Get the visitors signed in as usual. Then, each party visiting the house gets escorted by one of your team members for the entire time they are in the house. Do not let anyone look at the house unescorted. Perhaps to build a team, you and other agents can be on each other's teams, taking turns helping at each other's opens. Safer for all of you as well.
Hi Cindy, Sorry this happened to you. You can't steal what is not there. That is the only sure-fire way. My house was tented for termites, then painted, then new carpet installed. Dozens of workmen over a 3 week period. After that there will be an open house. I have no worries and no second thoughts because my valuables are not here. It is an inconvenience for sure, but only for a short time. Better an inconvenience for a short time than never seeing the item again.
Cindy, who'd take a piggy bank? I mean, there's usually a lot of change in them and they'd rattle. My bet is on a child. That being said, have one adult in each group show you their drivers license. Take a picture of it with your phone.
Whoa..nothing like a five day delayed Feature, but hey, I'll take it!
Hi Kevin, Two people are always better than oen....but sometimes it's just not that easy to get another agent to hang unless it was a newbie that wanted to get a bit of open house knowledge.
Hi Rajeev, Thankfully they were most understandable..but bummed. I got the clip art from Iclipart.com. I pay a yearly fee ($40) down from the $50 the first year at renewal and the choice of grahics is pretty good and can then be edited however you want. I thought they fit the post perfectly too!
Hi Evelyn, that's what I do as well but probably thought the piggy bank was more a statue than a bank as I don't think it had that typical "Piggy bank" look.
Hi Sharon, those are good options, but I won't let this deter me from doing them. I did get a good checklist from my Broker when asked, so will use it going forward instead of just stating the safety issues at listing.
Hi Praful, I'm sure many have gone that route..but that opens up the issue of wether they need to disclose that everyone walking through the home is being watched. I know I certainly would like to know. Then again, I always kinda assume that I am.
Hi Cheryl, I was just looking at the apps for this for the I-Pad. I still wonder if anyone that is intent on taking something would put their actual contact info down.
Hi Ed, I have that discussion, but will new remind them each time I hold and open house. Not a pleasant discussion, but it just might make those that really want you to hold them think again. I was just chatting with a seller during an initial walk thru before the listing presentation, and she said that she figures anyone wanting into the house that will make an actual offer will be with an agent..so really didn't want opens. Refreshing actually!
Hi David, me too! I think many are diligent in the beginning, but like anything else, start letting their guard down. I once had a guy come into an open saying that he needed to get something..as he was the owners son. I asked him to show me ID..LOL. He complied happily. It would have been a bit harder for a daughter with a different last name though.
Hi Pat, We have that as well in the downtown condos. In fact, many require an agent stationed in the lobby to bring guests up while one stays in the condo.
Hi Richard, we usually do both...but it would probably be better to have more broker opens. You still get people coming in from the signs, but less because they're not advertised to the public.
Hi Gregory, I know the seller well...so I believe em.
Hi Marney, It fortuately didn't have much money in it..it was a gift so had more sentimental value.
Hi Chris and Dick, There are certain areas that you just know are going to be busier than others. That's when it's great to have another agent with you...that and rural homes.
Hi Kathy, those are all great tips. Hmmm..I wouldn't have thought about the knife blocks!
Hi Julia, now that is a new one for me as well...the military pics with SSN on them. I will make sure I mention this if I see any such photos on the wall!
Hi Erica, That is the hard part. I guess the best way would be to let them know how you typically handle them. Do you walk each and every person through every room? Do you request sign in info? I typically will meet and greet and depending on how many people are there chat with them as they move through the rooms. I know I don't like it when and agent is right there over my shoulder..so I don't do this. It's up to the seller to make the decision then to have the opens or not. Even if you did follow people through, some are very good at these things.
HI #36, that's actually a great idea!
Hi Sandy, a good attitude for sure..and just smart practice as well!
Hi Eric, Ya know you are just so smart! There was a neighbor girl....about 7 or so that walked her elderly grandma up and into the house. She was came back alone and walked through the house until I told her to head home. I've got a strong feeling that she probably hid it on the side of the house or something. That makes the most sense. If I see her while I'm there, I just might have to ask her if she saw a piggy bank to see her expression.
Hi Joy, sigh..so true. You do have to be on alert as much as possible, but it's so easy for two parties to be working together to distract you. I hate that I now have to think about that kinda of deviousness though.
The same thing could have happened if a buyer's agent had walked them through the home. So, I wouldn't blame the open house, I would blame the people that stole it. Distracting and agent or another person isn't that hard to do when there is more than one person looking at homes.
Hi Todd, I agree! I just had a conversation in a CE class and other agents were mentioning that it happened to them in a Broker open...so someone intent on doing this will find a way. They are few thank goodness, so I know I won't let those bad apples spoil it for the others..myself inclueded :)