Holding an open house is a great way to show your home to a large number of prospective buyers at once and potentially sell your home faster. However, allowing strangers to walk through your home while you’re not there can be a little unnerving. Here are some things you can do to lessen any concerns you have about the security of your home during an open house.
- First and foremost, speak to your Realtor about your concerns and set expectations with them about keeping your home secure during the open house. Ask them to ensure all rooms are empty and doors/windows locked before they leave, escort guests at all times, and bring an assistant with them if they expect a large audience coming through. Your Realtor has likely done this hundreds if not thousands of times before, and may have some tips of their own.
- Hide valuables, prescription medications, and important documents out of sight. Make sure they are in a secure place, such as a safe, storage locker, or with a friend or family member. Keeping them in the top drawer of your dresser or nightstand is not a good idea, as it’s the first place thieves will look for valuables.
- Take pictures of rooms and belongings beforehand for insurance purposes. More importantly, make sure you have adequate insurance coverage on your home and property to cover theft.
- Consider installing home cameras or a security system if you don’t have one already. Not only will visible security cameras deter would-be thieves, they may be a nice selling point for potential buyers as well.
- Keep track of guests using a sign-in form that requires their name, contact information, and a piece of ID (such as a driver’s license). This gives you and your Realtor a record of everyone who comes through the home and makes it easier to follow up if you suspect something may have been stolen – or in the more likely scenario, to find out if they are interested in buying your home!
- Ask that all shoes and large bags kindly be removed and left in the reception area of your home while guests take a tour. Most guests will not come to an open house touting a large backpack, but if they do they should have no qualms about leaving it at the front while they take their tour.
- Ensure that all other entrances to the home and windows are locked, so guests can only enter and leave one way. This makes it easier for your Realtor to keep track of who is coming and going, and touch base with guests before they leave.
- Don’t leave your pets at home. Cats and dogs might feel stressed or threatened with strangers in the home, and may try to run out of open doors. To avoid losing your pet, take them with you for the duration of the open house.
In most cases, open houses go off without a hitch so there is little to worry about. While all of these tips can help alleviate the discomfort of having strangers in your home, if you still feel very concerned, consider whether holding an open house is right for your listing. Again, speak to your Realtor, who should be able to guide you and provide advice on the pros and cons of holding scheduled showings only.
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