Selling your home can and should be a rewarding experience for you and your family.
Making sure your family and home is safe and secure is a top priority to FlatFeeHouses.com. We have Five key points for staying safe when showing your home.
1. Use the “Buddy System”. There’ is something to be said for the saying”there’s safety in numbers”. Always have someone with you when you show your property. If you do not have a family member that can be present with you “buddy up” with a neighbor or friend to be safe.
2. Keep it together. In some situations you may have a group of people looking at the home at the same time. When this occurs, keep the group together as you go through the house so that you can keep an eye on everyone. Unfortunately, there have been circumstances where thieves use an opportunity to ” stay behind” in a different part of the house to steal valuables or worse. If someone does need to stay behind for some reason, ask your “buddy” to stay with that person until you return or split the group so there is no one singled out.
3.Make an appointment. Eliminate drop-by’s and potential “just lookers” by asking people to come at a scheduled appointment time. This gives you the advantage of having someone else available ,being in the right mindset to show your home ,and of course, ensure that the house is in good order to be shown.
4. Make your phone your friend. Always have a wireless or cell phone with you when showing your property in case you need help. Another great idea is to keep your key fob with you should you have one that is equipped with a panic button.
5. Ask and answer. Learn about potential buyers and their motivation. You’ll need your senses on high alert to make sure you ASK and ANSWER in a way that will help to keep you and your family safe. Consider these guidelines for talking to potential buyers:
Dos:
Ask if they are qualified or pre-qualified
Ask if they have a home to sell first
Ask how quickly they need to move
Ask how long they have been looking
Ask if they have a Realtor.
Don’ts:
Never say the house will be unoccupied
Never indicate that you are alone
Never give out vital security information
Never allow children to answer the door or phone