Keeping Your Home Safe While It's For Sale

You have a lot on your plate when your home is on the market – from keeping it constantly clean to being prepared to take off at a moment’s notice for a showing. In the midst of everything else going on, it is easy to forget what is most important: home security. Homes on the market are ideal for burglars – especially with the Internet giving them a sneak peek at what is inside. If your home is on the market or about to be, there are a few things to keep in mind so you can keep your home safe.

Precautions to Take While Your Home is on the Market

Between the extra foot traffic and your online virtual tour, these are a few precautions you can take to keep everything secure.

• Be Aware of What You Photograph – When you sell a home, your realtor will take photographs and possibly compile a virtual tour of the home. Remove items of value, such as flat screen TVs, computers, and gaming systems so that they are not pictured. By having these included in your photos, you are giving burglars a peek at what items you have inside your home to steal.
• Know Who Enters – You will have a lot of people coming and going while your home is listed. Know who visits by keeping a list of the real estate agent’s name and the potential homebuyer they bring with them. Do not allow potential homebuyers to enter your home without their own real estate agent or your agent present. If you have a home security system, give real estate agents their own alarm code – not the main one – so that you can track when they enter and for how long they stay. The Cascade Team's Automated Home Feedback System keeps an accurate log of every agent that shows your home right down to the day, time, and even minute!
• Inspect Your Home After Each Showing – After a showing, walk through your home and see if anything is missing. Also, check all doors and window locks. Some burglars will come to a showing in order to map out the floor plan, but also to unlock windows for future entry.
• Lock Items – Do not leave around extra keys, cash or other valuable items that are easy to pick up while you are showing the house. Instead, lock them away in an inconspicuous area – such as a safe under your bed, a locked desk drawer or filing cabinet.
• Turn On Cameras – Residential security cameras can help you keep an eye on who enters and exits your home during a showing. You can also keep an eye on the perimeter to see if anyone comes back. Also, you can install cameras inside your home to monitor buyers and their agents while they are in your home – and to make sure your personal property is secure.

If you have a home security system, notify your provider that you plan to move. They may be able to offer additional tips for protecting your home while it is on the market, and also help you relocate your security system once you do move.

To learn more about how to protect your home while it is up for sale, contact your local Cascade Team Broker. We have done this thousands of times and know how to effectively market your home while providing you with the greatest security and service!