Put The Valuables Away!

Put The Valuables Away When Selling

When you decide to sell your home there are some basic adjustments to be made to your lifestyle. Besides tidying up on a daily basis in case of a showing, it is important to protect your personal property. It is nice to have your cameras, guns, and jewelry handy for day to day living, but when you list your home for sale you should move those items out of sight from preying eyes.

An agent will protect your property during a showing, but if you have a new Agent and a seasoned thief who has more experience? Remove the temptation and put it all away. After all, they aren't buying your jewelry, they are supposed to be buying your house. You are moving anyway, pack some of your special things early to play it safe. You'll appreciate them more when you unpack at your new house ... and you will still have them. Well priced homes are selling quickly these days so your security efforts won't mean that you will be without the pleasure of your valuables for very long.

Marketing your home is a safe endeavor and experienced Agents have learned to be aware of protecting your assets. The MLS Lockbox systems are now technical marvels that not only record the entry of the Agent showing the house, they give the listing Agents the showing date, time and showing Agent information every time the lockbox is accessed. The keys must be updated so if one is lost it can't be used improperly.

Theft during a home showing is a rare event, but it is not unusual for us to show a home and see rings, watches, cameras and cash carelessly left in full view. This always gives us pause and creates great consternation when there are several people in the viewing party, i.e.- a family with kids running around, two couples looking together, etc. It places an unfair burden on your Agent to protect those assets when in fact they should be focused on presenting your home and qualifying the potential Buyers as to its fulfilling their wants and needs. The distraction to the Agent actually works against you.

While you're at it consider what else might be visible that you wouldn't want publicized. We've seen some very private items left in full display, some legal, some not, that the Buyers were uncomfortable viewing. This, too, is detrimental to the sale of your home. You can have your fun while selling your home, just put things away. While you may live your own lifestyle, it is important to make a potential Buyer comfortable with the idea that they will be living their lifestyle in your home. If they don't feel good in a home they will reject it without considering that the reasons they may be rejecting the home for will go away with the Seller.

Our advice: Don't leave your jewelry, cameras, wallet or guns where they can be seen. You will be having strangers through your house, and it is a distraction to their purpose, the purchase of your house, to be tantalized by vulnerable valuables. Put your small precious things out of sight. Big items are harder for a thief to put in a pocket. Be sure to have a video or photo inventory of your home in case of theft. This isn't a real problem, mostly because Agents are aware of the potential and help reduce the temptation to minimize the number of actual transgressions that occur. Our goal here is to help awareness so it doesn't become a problem in your life.

Your Agent can help you arrange your home and personal effects to maximize your home's presentation and the protection all of your assets.  

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs... Experience is Priceless!  

Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, CDPE, SFR, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781-5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com  

Put The Valuables Away