Member alert: Opening house events and homeowner’s medications by VARbuzz // // // // // //
Member alert: Opening house events and homeowner’s medications
23Mar2016
Posted by Christine Hodges, Chief of Marketing & Communications
The Chesterfield County Police Department has bought the following alert to the Virginia Association of REALTORS® attention. There has been a recent trend in the theft of prescription medications from homes that are for sale. Opportunists are attending open house events, locating the homeowner’s medications, and stealing these easy to conceal items.
Some tips to share with homeowners
- Organize and keep track of your medications.
- Keep your medicine separate from others.
- Install a lock-box on your medicine cabinet.
- Keep your medicine in the bottle or container it came in.
- Never mix medications in the same bottle.
- Keep lids tightly closed.
- Secure your medications when you have guests or when you allow someone else to access your home while you are away.
- Treat your medication like your other valuables.
Video: Real Estate, Safety, and You
In this video, consumers learn about the potential safety protocols they may encounter when working with a REALTOR®. It’s a great resource to share with clients to educate them about the importance of REALTOR® safety. Click here to watch the video or share this link with your clients.
Shared with Permission.
The above is a timely reminder of the dangers that can accompany Open Houses. Agents and homeowners need to work together to take as many safety precautions as possible when holding houses that are Open to The Public. Agents have no way of knowing who will walk in at an open house. With all the advanced marketing agents do to promote open houses, criminals have much more time to plan their crimes. Desperate drug addicts needing cash or more drugs will take many risks to get that cash and drugs. Open Houses have always been a target for criminals. Even if a criminal doesn't actually steal anything during the open house, he could be observing what is available to come back and steal later. They could unlock a basement window as a way to gain entry later. Maybe they saw a nice riding mower out back thay could sell for a few hundred dollars. They might have snatched a check or credit card left lying out. They could have snipped a wire to a basement door or window alarm. They might have removed a spare key to an owners car, or even worse, the owners house.
The point is, when houses go on the market, safety has to be part of the selling process whether or not you plan to do open houses or not. That includes sellers not opening their doors to , and letting in drive by door knockers. There is a statewide herion epidemic in VA that all buyers, sellers, and agents need to be aware of when putting together their plan for saafety.
Watch the video above for more safety tips!
Jeff Pearl
Remax Distinctive
703-727-4876
Homes | Land | Farms | Historic
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