Selling your home is certainly one of life’s most stressful experiences. This can also be a time when your home is at its most vulnerable. There are strangers walking throughout your home and images of inside your property are up on real estate sites. Plus, if you are using a real estate agent, it also means trusting that your home is looked after and nothing goes missing during home opens.
Here are a number of ways that you can help protect your home and your privacy during this time:
1. De-personalise your home
The first step you should take before you put your home on the market is to remove your personal belongings. Items such as photos, private documents, prescription medication, jewellery and other personal items should be removed from the property. Consider storing these items in a locked safe, a self-storage facility or even at a trusted family member or friend’s place.
Removing these items is particularly important now, where virtual home showings are slowly becoming the norm because of COVID-19. Why? This is because anyone with internet access has the potential to see what’s inside the house. Not to mention, how to get to it quickly. By removing these items it decreases a potential thief’s opportunity of stealing your treasured belongings, along with your identity.
2. Make your house safe
When selling your home, it’s a good idea to have the lights turned on. This is regardless of whether the home open is occurring during broad daylight or during the evening. This enables the agent and potential buyers to move safely throughout the entire home. Plus it minimises the chances of accidentally tripping over or breaking something. Speaking of safety, don't forget to remove any potentially dangerous items out of harm’s way, such as the block of knives on the kitchen countertop.
If you are the one managing the home open then you’ll want to keep a track of those people going through. To prevent anyone from sneaking in and out without you noticing, consider upgrading to keyed window locks. Lastly, ensure the back gate is sturdy and locked securely.
3. After-hours security
This one is particularly important if you already live elsewhere and have the house sitting vacant. Check the door and it's locks are sturdy and secure. If you are concerned about the strength of your door lock, consider upgrading them by using a reputable Master Locksmith. Check the motion-activated outdoor lights work. Outdoor lighting is a great deterrence for thieves as they usually like the cover of darkness to scope out a property. As an added security measure, get some smart lights for the inside of the house, you’ll only need one. Schedule this so it can turn on and off whilst it remains unoccupied, as this will make it look like the property is still occupied. As a last touch, why not add a radio that can be played throughout the night?
4. Housekeeping
Here are the last few tips when it comes to improving security whilst you are selling your home.
Selling your home is never an easy task. Whether you’re doing this yourself or using a real estate agent to do it for you, maintaining good home security is a must. It can be the difference between slowing the sale process or selling your home without any incidents or delays. How have you managed to keep your home safe when it’s out on the market and during home opens?
