When you’re listing your home for sale or lease, showings are a crucial part of the process. They provide an opportunity for potential buyers or renters to view the property, imagine themselves living there, and make a decision about making an offer. However, opening your doors to strangers can be nerve-wracking, especially if you have valuable items inside your home. Showings can also leave your home vulnerable to theft, damage, or other security risks.
To ensure that your home remains safe during showings, it’s important to take precautions and establish a set of guidelines to protect your property and your personal belongings. From locking up valuables to setting up security cameras, there are various steps you can take to keep your house safe and secure during showings.
By taking these precautions, you can focus on selling or leasing your property with peace of mind, knowing that your home and possessions are protected. Let’s take a closer look at my top 11 tips to keep your house safe during showings.
Let’s begin.
1 - Work With An Experienced Real Estate Agent
Working with an experienced real estate agent like Marco Pedri, Broker with Shoreline Realty Corp., Brokerage can greatly enhance the security of your home during showings. An experienced agent has the knowledge and resources to help you take the necessary precautions to keep your home safe and secure. They have a deep understanding of the local market, the latest security technologies, and the best practices to protect your home during showings.
An experienced agent can also offer guidance on staging your home to minimize the risk of theft or damage, advise you on the best times for showings, and handle the scheduling and logistics of the showings themselves. Furthermore, an experienced agent can provide you with a detailed report on the condition of your home after each showing and help you make any necessary repairs or updates to ensure that your home remains in top condition.
By working with an experienced real estate agent, you can have peace of mind knowing that your home is in good hands and is being shown in the safest and most secure way possible.
2 - Hide Valuables
Hiding valuables is an effective way to protect your home during real estate showings.
By hiding your valuable items, you reduce the risk of theft or damage and ensure that your most important possessions are secure. Hiding valuables can be as simple as locking them in a safe or hiding them in a discreet location that is not easily accessible. You can also consider removing small items of value, such as jewelry, cash, or electronics, from your home during showings. This minimizes the risk of theft and helps you feel more secure about opening your doors to potential buyers or renters.
Additionally, hiding valuables can also help minimize distractions during the showing, as buyers will be able to focus on the features of the home rather than being drawn to valuable items on display.
By taking the time to hide your valuables, you can help protect your home and your possessions during real estate showings and ensure that the process of selling or leasing your home goes smoothly.
3 - Remove Personal Photos & Documents
Removing personal photos from your home during real estate showings can help protect your privacy and secure your personal information. Personal photos and documents can contain sensitive information, such as the names and addresses of family members, which can be used to commit identity theft or other types of fraud like title fraud. By removing personal photos from display, you reduce the risk of this information being accessed or misused by individuals who attend the showings.
Also, removing personal photos can also help create a neutral and appealing atmosphere in your home, making it easier for potential buyers or renters to envision themselves living there. By presenting a clean and neutral environment, you can increase the chances of a successful sale or lease and help ensure the security of your personal information. To further protect your privacy, consider storing personal photos and other sensitive items in a secure location during the showing.
4 - Encourage Buyers To Sign In
Encouraging potential buyers to sign-in at a real estate showing can provide a level of security and accountability for your home. By requiring buyers to sign in, you can track who has been inside your home, which can be useful in case of any theft or damage. It also provides a record of the individuals who attended the showing, making it easier to follow up with them later or resolve any disputes that may arise.
The sign-in process can also help screen potential buyers and eliminate those who are not serious or qualified to make an offer.
By knowing who is in your home during the showing, you can feel more secure and confident about opening your doors to potential buyers. Furthermore, by having a sign-in process, you can also ensure that only authorized individuals are allowed inside your home and that the number of visitors is kept to a minimum, which can help reduce the risk of theft or damage. Overall, encouraging potential buyers to sign-in can help protect your home during real estate showings and provide peace of mind.
5 - Use Security Cameras
Note – this tip depends on where you reside. Please take further steps in confirming whether the use of security cameras – for both audio and video recordings – is permissible in your area.
Using security cameras during real estate showings can provide added protection and peace of mind for your home. Security cameras can act as a deterrent against theft or damage, as well as provide visual evidence in case of any incidents.
By having cameras in place, you can monitor activity in your home during showings in real-time or review the footage later if necessary. This can help you quickly address any security concerns or issues that may arise during the showing.
Security cameras can also provide added security for your personal belongings and valuable items, as they can be monitored from a remote location or stored for future reference.
Furthermore, security cameras can also provide a record of the conditions of your home before and after the showing, which can be helpful in resolving any disputes that may arise regarding the state of the property. Just be mindful of local laws and recording footage of your home. You may need to disclose the property is being recorded and monitored – including disclosure of audio recordings.
6 - Use Smart Home Technology
Using smart home technology during real estate showings can help protect your home and increase security.
For example, smart locks can allow you to remotely lock and unlock doors, giving you control over who enters your home during showings.
Smart lights can be programmed to turn on and off at specific times, creating the illusion of activity and deterring theft.
Smart cameras can also be set up to provide real-time monitoring, allowing you to keep an eye on your home from a remote location.
Additionally, smart home systems can be integrated with other devices such as motion sensors and smart alarms, providing an additional layer of security. With these technologies in place, you can have peace of mind knowing that your home is secure and can respond quickly in case of any security incidents.
Furthermore, smart home technology can also provide a record of activity in your home during the showing, which can be helpful in resolving any disputes that may arise. By incorporating smart home technology, you can help protect your home during real estate showings and ensure a safe and secure process.
7 - Secure The Home
Properly securing entrances to your home during showings can help protect your property and ensure the safety of your belongings. Here are a few steps you can take to secure your entrances:
Lock all doors and windows: Ensure that all doors and windows are locked before and during the showing.
Install deadbolts: Consider installing deadbolts on all exterior doors for added security.
Check locks and hinges: Make sure that locks and hinges are in good working condition and replace any that are damaged.
Use security systems: Consider installing a security system that alerts you in case of unauthorized entry.
Consider installing smart locks: Smart locks can be controlled remotely, allowing you to lock and unlock your doors from a distance.
Secure sliding doors: Sliding doors can be a security weakness, so ensure that they are properly secured and consider installing additional locks.
Remove hidden keys: Hide-a-key containers and other methods of hiding keys should be removed from the property.
By taking these steps to secure your entrances, you can help protect your home during showings and ensure that your property remains safe and secure.
8 - Remove Prescription Drugs
Removing prescription drugs from your home during showings can help protect your property and personal information. By removing prescription drugs, you can prevent the potential theft of these items, which can be valuable and easily sold on the black market.
Additionally, by removing prescription drugs, you can also protect your personal information, as they often contain your name, address, and other sensitive information. Furthermore, having prescription drugs visible in your home during a showing can also be a safety hazard, as they can be accidentally ingested by children or pets. By removing these items, you can help ensure the safety of everyone in your home and potential buyers.
Removing prescription drugs can also help maintain your privacy, as it reduces the risk of personal information being disclosed to others during the showing. By taking these steps, you can help protect your home, your personal information, and your privacy during real estate showings.
9 - Don’t Overshare Information
Sharing certain information during a house viewing can put your privacy, security, and personal safety at risk. Here are a few pieces of information that it is best to avoid sharing:
Personal details: Do not share personal information such as your full name, phone number, email address, or other contact information.
Financial details: Do not discuss financial details such as your salary, mortgage payment, or other financial information.
Schedules and routines: Do not discuss your schedule or routines, such as when you leave for work or when you typically leave your home empty.
Home security details: Do not discuss details about your home security systems, such as alarm codes or hidden key locations.
Valuables: Do not discuss or display expensive items or valuables in your home, such as jewelry, artwork, or electronics.
By avoiding the sharing of these types of information, you can help protect your privacy and security during a house viewing. It is important to be cautious when discussing sensitive information during any real estate transaction, as it can be easily misused by individuals with malicious intent.
10 - Beware Of Unexpected Visitors
Having a sign on your property is a great marketing tool, however, some people may use this information and use it for malicious intent. Beware of unintended visitors when your home is for sale or for lease, as it is important to ensure the safety of your home, family, and personal belongings. Unintended visitors can pose a variety of risks, such as:
Theft: Unintended visitors may be seeking to steal valuable items or information from your home.
Trespass: Unintended visitors may try to enter your home without your permission.
Safety hazards: Unintended visitors may pose a safety hazard to you, your family, or potential buyers.
Damage to property: Unintended visitors may cause damage to your property or disturb the order of your home.
Privacy violation: Unintended visitors may seek to gather personal information or spy on your home, which can be a violation of your privacy.
By being aware of unintended visitors and taking steps to protect your home during showings, you can help reduce these risks and ensure the safety and security of your property. This can be done by using security cameras, smart home technology, security systems, and other measures to monitor your home and limit access to those who are authorized to enter. Remember to never let anyone in your home if they aren’t authorized to do so, especially when it comes to last-minute visitations.
11 - Never Show Your Home Alone
Most real estate agents have a vetting process for potential buyers before they go out and do any showings. However, if you’re selling your home by yourself and it’s a For Sale By Owner, never show your home alone. This is because showing your home alone can put you at risk in the following ways:
Personal safety: When showing your home alone, you may be vulnerable to theft, violence, or other forms of personal harm.
Legal liability: If a potential buyer is injured on your property while you are showing it alone, you may be held legally liable for the injury.
Unprofessionalism: Showing your home alone can give a poor impression to potential buyers and detract from the overall professionalism of the sale process.
Lack of experience: Real estate agents are trained professionals with experience in conducting home showings, and they can provide valuable insights and guidance during the process. When showing your home alone, you may miss important details or opportunities that could affect the sale of your home.
By avoiding showing your home alone and working with an experienced real estate agent, you can help ensure the safety and security of your home and family, while also improving the overall professionalism and success of your home sale.
Final Thoughts On Keeping Your Home Safe During Showings
Keeping your home safe during showings is crucial to ensure the safety of your property, personal belongings, and family. To protect your home, you should take a comprehensive approach that includes: hiding valuables, removing personal photos, encouraging sign-ins, using security cameras, smart home technology, limiting access, and properly securing entrances. You should also be mindful of unintended visitors and be cautious during showings. It is also important to work with an experienced real estate agent who can provide valuable guidance and support during the process. By following these steps and being vigilant, you can help keep your home safe and secure during showings and ensure a successful sale.
