Vital Security Guidelines for Home Sellers

By: Bryan Hough

House owners who have just put their home up for sale soon understand that it can be a demanding time. This process seems to take longer and longer, adding to the worry felt by home sellers. Even though this might not seem like the best time to add on to your 'to do' list, there is one important step that you should take when advertising your home, and that is defending your home and yourself from crime.
Many homeowners don't think about it, but when you put your house on the market, it means that your home's facts will become publicized through real estate ads. This release of personal information can put you in peril, as well as making home security a top priority during this time. If you are listing your home for sale, steer clear of posting a virtual tour or widespread home photos. Even though such information might be helpful to potential buyers, it can also aid criminals scope out your home and your belongings in preparation for a break-in.
Open houses, although common in the real estate market, pose another security risk. Dozens of strangers will be walking through the home. Each time get their contact information before letting them inside, and if possible, institute a screening process for potential buyers. Whether you've listed your home For Sale By Owner or are working with a realtor, you must face these concerns to minimize the danger posed by selling a house.
As an option to the open house format, many home sellers are selecting to offer appointment-only viewing. This minimizes the amount of people allowed inside at any one time. As a result, you can keep an eye on them better. Accompany potential buyers by following them, rather than leading them all through the home, so that you don't get trapped within a small room such as a bathroom. Pepper spray pens and comparable devices are a especially important purchase for those who plan to show their home by themselves.
Whether you are hosting open houses or showing the home to one or two prospects at a time, remove all valuable belongings from the home for the length of the sale process. Even if you think you'll be able to keep an eye on everybody who enters the home during an open house event, this ensures that nothing will get stolen. If they can't be removed in advance, install security cameras and other devices nearby to deter theft.
There are additional dangers posed by vacating the home before it has been sold, although this may become a necessity during the sale process. While unoccupied, your house is at a higher risk of burglary, especially if you have left some possessions inside the home during this time. Even a totally empty house is not immune from this possibility. Even when you're not living there, it is your job to look after your home. Install door and window alarms and other safety products around and inside the home. Many homesellers opt for portable alarms and other wireless devices that can be uninstalled once the house sells.

Article Source: http://home2garden.co.za

About The Author
Did you like this article? Bryan Hough is President of UBackOff.com a leading company in the Self Defense industry providing state of the art Pepper Spray products at wholesale prices. For hundreds more informative articles on how to protect yourself see www.UBackOff.com/Articles.php. Also see our pepper spray blog @ Pepper Spray For Self Defense. Contact @ ubackoff_sales@ubackoff.com or 317-254-1760.