Are you reluctant to host an open house but people you’ve consulted said it’s the fastest way to sell your home? When people experience your property first-hand, it does give them a big nudge to decide on it faster. While this is one of the biggest benefits of holding an open house, it does come with risks. If you’re feeling a little bit stressed about your upcoming open house or home viewing due to privacy concerns, know that we understand how you feel and that there is a way to keep all your belongings intact and complete after the event.
Here’s what we recommend:
Store Important Stuff in Locked Areas
Wallets, cellphones, laptops, tablets, classified documents, and other important stuff should be sealed away in a locked container. When the house you’re showing is your current home, it might be very hassle to bring everything out, including your personal stuff. Investing in a high-security storage box will give you more value than you know. We recommend going for boxes or vaults with automated or smart security features, so you can monitor them remotely and avoid manual lock pickers.
Schedule Showings During the Day
Even if your home is abundant with artificial light at night, conducting a home showing during the day is still the best option. This is because some security cameras don’t work well without natural light. In addition to your prospective buyers not being able to see the full magnificence of your property, potential thieves (posing as buyers) can easily slip away from your home, especially when it’s dark outside.
On the flip side, we do understand that not everyone has the luxury of time to tour their prospective buyers during the day. If you are one of these people and could only show your home at night, try to entertain one prospective buyer at a time — never do groups.
Avoid Walk-Ins
When you allow walk-ins, as many other open houses do, you expose your property and belongings to strangers you don’t know anything about. You can tell your real estate agent to make the open house by invitation only or that prospective buyers must set an appointment before viewing your home. This way, you can screen all your visitors beforehand and gather legitimate details about them before interacting with you or your house.
Install a Security System
Regardless of the size of your house, it doesn’t hurt to have extra sets of eyes. Closed-circuit television cameras are the go-to equipment for extra security, and you’ll be able to utilize them even when you relocate. When choosing a CCTV cam, we recommend going for dome-type cameras. Domes are famous because onlookers won’t be able to see where the camera is facing.
Apart from that, you can also explore the following:
- 360o cameras
- Night vision cameras
- Movement detecting cameras
Don’t Leave Your Prospective Buyers Alone
The rule of thumb is that there has to be an agent or assistant on every floor or wing of the house (as much as possible). If you’re entertaining a couple of prospective buyers at one time, each guest must have company most of the time (don’t let anyone out of your sight for a long time).
As much as your visitors would want to absorb being in your home on their own, don’t let them be for a long time.
Let All Visitors Sign-In
Apart from setting an appointment and inviting guests through a formal invitation, tell your agent to prepare a sign-in form or an attendance form. You can request your buyers to show you their I.D. for security purposes. Buyers who are telling the truth will not think twice about providing their name, contact information, and I.D. to you.
Find a Trustworthy Agent
Some agents don’t give much attention or concern to their client’s belongings. If you find and work with a reputable agent, they will guide you through the entire home viewing process, including the things you need to do to prepare. Part of their job is to make your home presentable, so you can expect that great agents will be meticulous with everything they see in your home. They will tell you to secure your belongings and recommend ways to protect your stuff from disorderly guests.
Sell Your Home Off the Market
Lastly, if you’re really uncomfortable with letting plenty of strangers into your home, you can consider selling your home off the market. Selling off the market means you will not list your property on listing services. While listing your property online does increase your visibility, it doesn’t always mean that your home will sell as fast.
Off the market, you have investor buyers like us — Spire Property Solutions. We are a professional home buying company that buys houses in Georgia for cash, directly from the owner. You don’t have to work with a real estate agent because we will take care of the entire process for you with our lawyers, and you won’t have to worry about entertaining so many other prospective buyers and inquiries.
We can give you an offer for your home in as fast as 24 hours.
Call us today at (678) 318 – 1801, and let’s talk!