10 Ways To Protect Your Home And Family While Your Luxury Home Is On The Market

10 Ways To Protect Your Home And Family While Your Luxury Home Is On The Market

Listing your luxury home for sale is a big step. Most homeowners in the higher-priced brackets also own higher valued possessions. They have a higher net worth and must take safety and security even more seriously than the average home seller. All home sellers need to take care when they list their home to protect not only their belongings, but also their family and assets. In this age of cyber-crime and identity theft, it’s not just grandmother’s necklace that needs safeguarding. These tips can help ensure your family and valuables stay safe during the listing period.

1.      Online/Print Marketing
   
   First and foremost, take care what you display in your online/print marketing. Avoid showing valuables which make your home more attractive to thieves. Don’t show access points to your home, such as windows or sheltered doors, which could allow burglars to plan in advance.
   
   
2.      Protect Personal Information
   Hide family names and calendars. Don’t make it easy for a thief to see when the home might be empty. Protect your identities and activities.
   
   
3.      Mail and Bills
   Don’t leave anything in plain view that can be used for identity theft. Bills left in the trash could provide bank or credit card numbers, mortgage information and other identifying data that could be used by identity theft.
   
   
4.      Electronics
   Small electronics can be easily picked up during a showing. Laptops often contain private information such as passwords and other information which can be used to access private files and accounts.
   
   
5.      Jewelry
   Hide your valuable or sentimental jewelry. It’s so easy for a ring to be picked up and hid in a pocket. Real estate agents do their best, but especially in an open house, they can easily become distracted for just a moment and that’s when most thefts occur.
   
   
6.      Prescription Medications
   Prescription drugs are extremely valuable on the black market; hide all your medications before showings.
   
   
7.      Holidays
   The holidays are behind us, but it's still important to remember that any special occasion with presents or treats can be tempting to burglars. When your home is on the market, it’s better not to tempt a thief by showing what a bounty is waiting.
   
   
8.      Home Safety
   Not all theft happens during home showings, make sure your home does not seem easy to penetrate at a later date. Trim hedges and trees to eliminate the opportunity to hide. Add exterior lighting which not only highlights your home, but protects it from invaders.
   
   
9.      Security Systems and CCTV
   If you have a security system already, use it. While it might seem like a hassle for agents, they are used to turning off security systems when showing, so make sure it’s armed when you’re not home.
          
   
10.  Protect Your Pets
    Pets are at risk when a home is listed for sale. Don’t rely on agents and buyers to close doors to keep kitties and puppies in the house.

Listing your home can be a stressful time. Not only do you need to keep your home clean and allow strangers to disrupt your schedule, but you also open your home and family to strangers. Giving some thought up front to the ways you can protect your house and family can lessen the chance of theft of valuables or identity.