Six Ways to Keep Your Home Safe When It’s on the Market
When you’re trying to sell your home, you want prospective buyers to explore a bit during showings, right? You want them to look around, get comfortable with the space and even imagine themselves making memories there. But how comfortable is too comfortable?
Because buyers often open closets, cabinets and other nooks and crannies when they’re touring through a home, sellers should take some precautions to protect their homes and personal belongings throughout the sales process.
Here are 6 ways that sellers can keep their homes—and themselves—safe during showings:
1. Be Wise About Your Wi-Fi
When you created that witty Wi-Fi password, you may have thought it would be easy to remember. If it hasn’t been so easy, so you’ve written it down somewhere on your router or in your home, you’ll want to hide it before buyers start strolling through. If someone memorizes your password, they may have easy access to any personal information you store online.
2. File Away Your Financial Information
Your banking info is certainly something that should stay private. If you’re in the habit of leaving bills—or even spare money—laying around on countertops, break that habit before buyers start strolling through. Your personal information may be completely safe, but you do not need anyone rooting through it.
3. Seal and Store Prescriptions
As we mentioned, buyers may open cabinet doors or drawers. This may include medicine cabinets too. To prevent snooping or even worse, make sure to properly seal and store any prescriptions before buyers have the chance to see or take them.
4. Lock Up Firearms
This tip pretty much goes without saying, particularly if you have children at home. If you own firearms, be sure they are safely locked away when your home is for sale. Frankly, they should be safely locked out of reach even if your home is not for sale!
5. Remove Valuables
Like your financial information or firearms, any jewelry or other valuables that are in plain sight could be enticing to someone—prospective buyers or even someone posing as a prospective buyer. Lock your valuables in a safe or ask a trusted family member or friend to keep them until your home sells.
6. Check Doors and Windows
Each time a prospective buyer tours through your home, you’ll likely be excited to trace their steps to see what parts of your home they may have found most intriguing. While you’re walking through trying to determine what prospective buyers liked best, check to make sure they closed and locked each exterior door and window.
Selling a home is stressful enough without worrying about having to protect it. If your home is on the market, take a few sensible steps to ensure that it and all your belongings remain safe all the way through your sale and closing.
