We often provide tips for preparing your home for sale that involve de-cluttering, sprucing up and staging a home. Those items are definitely important steps in the process, but there is one step that is often missed in the time leading to the listing of a home for sale: Safety.
It is important for sellers to take the steps to keep themselves, their home and buyers safe when a home is listed for sale. This is a quick listing safety checklist to help you to create a safe environment before your home hits the market:
No Unannounced Showings – Once there is a signing the yard and your home appears on real estate websites, you will notice more vehicle traffic in front of your home. Buyers want to see your home in person and get an idea of its location. If any of the buyers ask to tour your home, you can refer them to their Realtor or your listing agent to schedule a showing. It is simply unsafe to let buyers in your home unaccompanied by a Realtor that has pre-qualified them as buyers.
Lock Up All Prescription Drugs – While it is convenient to store your prescription drugs in a medicine cabinet or drawer in your bathroom, that is the first place that someone with the intention of stealing or abusing them will look. It may be best to purchase a locking medicine cabinet and storing it out of sight or you could take them with you during home showings and open houses.
Secure Firearms – Studies show that 44% of U.S. adults live in a household where a firearm is present. It is absolutely necessary for any firearms in a house that is listed for sale be secured and out of sight. A locking gun safe is a great way to ensure that any firearms are inaccessible by visitors.
Clean Your Desk – Having a clean desk in your den will not only help your home show better, it will also help to keep important information out of view from visitors to your home. Mortgage statements, utility bills and credit card statements may contain personal information that you do not want others to see at an open house.
Secure Valuables – Heirloom jewelry, watches and cash should be stored out of sight or locked away during all home showings. Any items with sentimental or financial value should be treated like firearms and prescription drugs and be completely inaccessible to visitors.
Check Your Locks – A quick check of all of your door locks to insure that they are working is a good idea before listing your home. We not only want easy access for Realtors via your front door, but we want your house to be secure after the showings as well. Remember, your home will be advertised for sale online where it can bee seen by anyone on the internet.
By taking the time before your home is listed for sale to make sure it can be shown safely, you can help to make your home sale a smooth one.
Susan Brewer Service First Real Estate (636)936-8600
Published on 2023-03-07 14:54:43
