November 6, 2008 OPEN HOUSE SAFETY

An open house can be an opportunity to invite prospective buyers to a home that is listed.  It can also be an invitation to trouble.

When you open your home up to complete strangers you have no way of knowing who will come.  I, as a Realtor, do not do many open houses for this very reason.  If I am in the living room showing the home to a potential buyer and another stranger is going through a different part of the house unaccompanied, there is a risk that the personal belongings of the homeowner are in jeopardy.

Open houses can be instrumental in bringing you a buyer, so why not prepare your home ahead of time.  Lock all valuables such as jewelry in a safe or store off site in a safety deposit box.  Keep all credit cards, unopened mail, statements, and documents with personal information such as tax returns, in a safe place as well.  All prescription drugs should be under lock and key. 

Each visitor should be asked to sign in (including their name, address, and phone number) before they are allowed to tour a home.  In the event they do not wish to sign in, they should be excused from the home and reminded that they are able to come back when they are either accompanied by a Realtor or are willing to sign in.