Would you allow strangers to come into your home, walk through every room, and peek into your medicine cabinets, closets and drawers? Sure you would if you allow agents do to OPEN HOMES. An Open House allows strangers to roam around on their own through your home. Yet thousands of Open Houses are held each week, and YOU are allowing it to happen. Why?
Since the early days of real estate, Open Houses have been popular ways for AGENTS to capture BUYERS. It’s common knowledge in our industry that less than 2% of the homes sell directly through an Open House, but it’s always been an excellent way for Realtors to find Buyers!
Today, we have the Internet to help expose your home to the marketplace. More than 90% of the buyers are now SHOPPING the INTERNET before they contact a Realtor, yet a few of these “buyers” are also “casing the joint” as they used to say, from the comfort of their own homes….so it is very important when you have pictures of your home on the Internet, that you do not show them your expensive art pieces, wine collection, or anything of great value.
Our world today is a lot different than the world many of us grew up in when it was safe to keep your doors unlocked or your car keys in your car. Those days are gone forever! Today, SAFETY and SECURITY should be your # 1 concern when selling your home.
Here are a few suggestions when putting your home on the market.
- Never allow a stranger into your home without a Realtor. If someone knocks on your door wanting to see the house, give them the name and telephone number of your Realtor. Usually this information is on the sign advertising your home for sale.
- Keep all valuables OUT OF SIGHT. Keep medicines in a plastic bag hidden safely away. You’d be amazed how many drug addicts visit Open Houses and they head right for the bathroom! Today it’s hard to tell the addicts apart from the beautiful housewife who’s addicted to narcotics.
- Do not leave extra house keys lying around. Theses should be well out of sight.
- Do not leave your Flash Drives out in the open. You may have copied valuable data from your computer to your Flash Drive that you do not want others to have access to.
Basically, just use common sense and don’t leave anything out in the open of value when your home is on the market. When inviting strangers into your home, don’t make you or your valuables a tempting target!
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IMPORTANT: If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home in the Palm Desert Area, try searching properties on the same Desert Area MLS Realtor’s use, or give me a call….or visit my website at Palm Springs Homes and Estates. I will be happy to give you or your referral my “red carpet service.” After the sale, I will send you a $50 Gift Certificate towards dinner in a fabulous Palm Springs Area Restaurant so you can celebrate!
Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin