FALL PREVENTION TIPS
When getting a house ready for sale, it may seem like a good idea to do a lot of home repairs by yourself to save money, but what if you have an accident, fall, and get hurt? Hiring the right person who has been in the business for a long time, has insurance, been trained, and has a lot of experience with the right ladders and tools may free up your time to do something else.
SAFETY & SECURITY
There are many things you can do indoors before putting your house on the market that revolves around safety and security. Here are some suggestions and things to avoid:
- Secure electric cords or cables so others do not trip
- Keep pets safe in crates or take pets with you when you leave
- Use night lights and keep them on during showings
- Use proper illumination in walkways, staircases, hallways, and dark areas
- Watch for wet floors before you leave the house
- Remove Prescription Drugs or store them away from the public
- Hide valuables (jewelry, weapons, financial records, money)
- Avoid throw rugs in bathrooms and unsecured rugs or carpets
- Repair interior and exterior handrails on staircases
- Repair stairways
- Repair doors, locks, and weatherstripping
- Maintain a clutter free environment
- Fix broken sidewalks and driveways
- Repair wood trim and protruding nails
- Sweep away fall leaves, acorns, and tree nuts
- If you have slippery floors, post warning signs
- Repair cabinet shelves and drawers making sure nothing falls out
- Reduce potential injury from prospective and curious buyers
FALLS ARE PREVENTABLE
When looking to buy a home with a real estate agent, wear practical clothes and footwear that doesn't hurt your feet, won't slip off easily when wet or sweating, and be prepared. You never know what the ground or floors are like, if something is under construction, if sunny weather turns to sleet or rain, or how far you have to walk or climb stairs.
FLOORS CAN BE TRICKY - WATCH OUT FOR
- Wet floors, greasy floors, or sticky floors
- Uneven walking surfaces
- Polished or freshly waxed floors
- Loose flooring, carpeting, or mats
- Missing floor tiles
- Transition floors types
- Damaged flooring
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The soles of your shoes may trip you up on some types of floors
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Check the weather forecast and be prepared for weather hazards such as rain, flooding, sleet, ice, hail, dust storms, wind, or snow. Wear appropriate apparel.
OTHER TIPS
Know your surroundings. Pay attention to the areas where you are driving and where you're being shown properties. Now is not the time to be talking on phones if it isn't real estate related. Avoid distractions and concentrate on what you are doing. Buying a home is the most expensive investment most people will ever make. Slips and trips occur due to a loss of traction between the shoe and the walking surface or an inadvertent contact with a fixed or moveable object which can lead to a fall.
When looking to buy or sell a home, hire a REALTOR®, use Best Practices, due diligence, and don't fall into Fall with a fall.
Other FALL blog posts:
October Is Time For Work - Can You Dig It?
Why Fall in Love with Cats in October or Any Time?
Spice Up Your Life by Falling in Love with Fall
It's Time To Fall In Love
October Thrills! R U Looking for a Fun Place to Live?
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