open house safety tips
Ideas to stay safe during open house season
HOLDING AN OPEN HOUSE CAN BE A GREAT SALES TOOL
— but hosting one also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Taking the proper steps can ensure safety for you and your prized possessions.
communication & partners
If possible, always try to have at least one other person working with you at the open house, such as a mortgage broker/lender, your significant other, friend, associate from your office, etc. Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. Keep your cell phone in your hand at all times. Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several “escape” routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape. Make sure that if you were to escape by the back door, you could escape from the backyard. Frequently, high fences surround yards that contain swimming pools or hot tubs.
be aware & safe
If possible, have all open house visitors sign in and ask for full name, address, phone number and email— you might want to consider taking a picture of their ID. When showing the house, always walk behind the prospect; direct them, don’t lead them. Say, for example, “The kitchen is on your left, ”and gesture for them to go ahead of you. Do not let visitors get both in front and behind you. Always be careful and avoid attics, basements, and getting trapped in small rooms. Notify someone in your office, your answering service, a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. If you don’t call, have them call and check in on you to make sure everything is all right.
check surroundings
Neighbors can be very helpful, so inform them that you will be showing the house and ask if he or she would keep an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary. When the open house comes to an end don’t assume that everyone has left the premises at the end of an open house. Check all of the rooms and the backyard prior to locking the doors just to make sure every room is empty. Always be prepared to defend yourself, if necessary and make sure the seller has locked up valuables like money, jewelry, small collectable items and medication.