Security is key during home tours
A recent New York Sun article about two women arrested for stealing ladies’ high-end fashion accessories during open houses brings an issue front and center. That of security when trying to sell your home. Surely this is a one-off situation, but on the other hand, what if they’re just one of the few who are caught in the act.
Video surveillance footage proved to be the women’s undoing. Video surveillance is certainly a first step in home security, particularly if the homeowner is wealthy enough to possess the Louis Vuitton handbags and Tiffany bracelets that were reportedly among the two women’s loot.
Here are some other tips to protect your security during the house showing phase.
If you are a realtor, discourage open houses altogether. Realtors have been attacked and even killed at these events. Bone up on your common-sense safety tips and consider taking a self-defense class.
Thieves often work in pairs - one distracts the realtor and the other raids the house, as in the aforementioned example. Realtors may consider buddying up and showing the house with a colleague in tow. This can also protect realtors against accusations of misconduct, like sexual assault.
If you are a homeowner and decide an open house is necessary, remove all valuables and personal items, such as photographs, from the home prior to the showing.
Keep a sign-in/sign-out log of visitors.
Enlist family and friends to help watch visitors.
Keep the property well-lit, both inside and out.
Stay aware, alert and never turn your back on open house visitors.
Keep insurance policies up to date.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:47 am
[…] ericbramlett wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptA recent New York Sun article about two women arrested for stealing ladies’ high-end fashion accessories during open houses brings an issue front and center. That of security when trying to sell your home. … […]
November 27th, 2007 at 11:55 am
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptA recent New York Sun article about two women arrested for stealing ladies’ high-end fashion accessories during open houses brings an issue front and center. That of security when trying to sell your home. … […]
April 15th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
[…] are also ample security concerns in this day and age with open houses, both to person and property. So why hold one? Well, it’s […]
June 6th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
[…] are also ample security concerns in this day and age with open houses, both to person and property. So why hold one? Well, it’s […]