Safety Tips for Showing Your Home
Thom Abbott sent us some safety tips for showing your home or condo.
If you choose to sell your home on your own (For Sale By Owner or FSBO) or manage renting your home or condominium, you place yourself, and your property at risk. In light of recent events in Midtown, we’ve prepared a list of a few tips for you to remember to protect your safety and your property.
Don’t just post your address on any Internet posting. Wait to give out the address when you have spoken to a person to schedule a viewing of your home or condo. This way, you have some control on who knows where you are.
When scheduling a viewing, don’t do it alone. If you are hosting your own Open House, have a friend or family member with you. Alert a neighbor, or two, about what you are doing so they can keep an eye open.
Have visitors show you a picture identification, to make sure they are at least the same person. Anyone resisting this should be suspect. If you live in a multi-family building, meet the visitor in the lobby (if you have one.) Ask that they leave their driver’s license with the Concierge or Security Officer before taking them to your home. (Not just signing a sign in sheet – leave the physical license).
When showing your home, never walk into a room first. Follow behind the individual and point out the features. “To your left is the master bedroom. And through it is the bath.”
Don’t allow people to separate in your home or condo. Keep them together. One could be the distraction to see what valuables they can steal now, or later.
Put away simple things – laptops, jump drives, personal information like bills, bank statements, jewelry. Remember, a thief with a jump drive can steal files off your computer in a matter of a few moments if it’s not password protected.
Always know your escape routes. Have doors or windows unlocked so you can quickly exit.
Always have your cell phone and car keys on your person. Have your cell phone programmed to easily call 911.
If you simply MUST host an Open House by yourself, have a “buddy call system” with a friend that they call you every 30 minutes. If they call you and you don’t answer, have them call 911.
If you feel threatened in anyway, get out, and call 911.
The Thom And Ray Team | Thom Abbott & Ray Benitez, Associate Brokers | 800 Peachtree Street, Suite E |Atlanta, GA 30308 |770-713-1505 | ThomAndRayTeam.com
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