Protect your possessions during an open house
If you were a burglar searching a home for valuables where would you look? Without sounding paranoid, that may be the mentality of some of the “buyers” viewing your listing. So, what can you do to minimize the probability of having an unscrupulous visitor pocket some of your belongings?
Think about the most likely target spots: jewelry boxes in the bedroom, medicine cabinets in the bathrooms, tools and other valuables in the garage, and unique, small articles tastefully distributed throughout the house. Before ever entertaining the idea of having an open house, take inventory of the treasures you cannot live without, gather them up in appropriate fashion, and place them in a secure area on the property (perhaps in a locked closet) or take them to a trusted family member or friend’s home for temporary safe keeping.
After all, are you not granting theoretically unlimited open access to visitors – in some cases entering your home under the ruse of being a potential buyer – with the expectation that nothing is truly off limits. That will be especially pronounced to the visitors who feel no shame in opening dresser drawers, medicine cabinets and other semi-private sanctities. Even legitimate buyers with professional and personal courtesy may see a tempting item sitting out if not proactively stowed.
Use the following suggestions to proactively protect your vulnerable inventory when allowing visitors to tour your listing.
Certainly begin preparations with the obvious. Verify that your agent will use a sign-in sheet for anyone who comes into the house. If there is an upstairs in the home, ask your agent to bring an associate or assistant to monitor the upper floor to assure that the home is completely covered with vigilant personnel at all times.
At the most obvious end of the “to do” spectrum, you should certainly stow or lock up prescription medications, any access to physical notes or un-password protected computers with valuable or personal information readily accessible, miscellaneous personal paperwork, checkbooks and credit cards in desk drawers, and any type of jewelry – sentimental, valuable and/or both.
Additionally, never leave personal mail, paper bills, or bank statements where anyone can gain access when the hosting agents are not looking.
Further emphasis should be placed on securing tempting, small electronic devices such as iPads, iPods, smartphones, small laptops and other electronic devices that are fairly easy to slip into a pocket or purse.
Ultimately, be smart. Valuable possessions are things that you have earned through hard work and by definition are placed to accent your home to make it warm and personal. Do not leave out expensive trinkets or one-of-a-kind knick-knacks that you may naively believe are necessary to help stage rooms to present the most optimal showing. Tasteful décor and tidy rooms far and away outweigh personal displays of unique and expensive home design.
After all is said and done, make sure to do due diligence. After each open house time slot, either personally check the house or insist that your real estate agent checks for any obvious missing items, open drawers or closets that were initially closed, and locks all doors and windows. You certainly do not want after-hour visitors stopping by for an uninvited return visit.