Not listing your home with a Realtor may put you and your family at a much higher risk. Often times buyers will target For Sale By Owners(FSBO) because they are much more vulnerable. These 'potential buyers' may ask you seemingly innocent questions, such as; Is your house set back from the street?, Is it in a low traffic area?, and Will you be home on weekdays so that I can view your home? The answers to these questions let them know how vulnerable your home is and if it would be an easy target. Realtors are trained to always consider their own safety as well as the safety of their clients and their belongings. They also provide a layer of safety since buyers can't directly contact the home owners. The following 7 items are safety considerations for when you try to sell on your own.
1. Fully screen callers before allowing them an appointment for seeing your home. Ask all the questions: name, existing address, and telephone number. Where are they employed? Why are they looking to buy? Do they have a family in the area? Any children? Ask as many questions as you need until you feel comfortable with this person.
2. Do not let unannounced visitors into your home unless you have their information first. If you are alone in the house, have them come back later when there are others home. There is no reason why someone cannot make an appointment with you. Make sure there is more than one person in your home when showing your property. Remember, safety in numbers.
3. If you must show your home alone keep a cell phone with you and let someone know the time that you are showing it. If you are in danger from a potential buyer, you can easily call 911 for help. In the event in needing to get away from someone run out of the house and to your vehicle or neighbor’s house. Remember, your life is more important than property. Most criminals interviewed say they do not want to harm anyone when taking property, but if a person puts up a fight, they may do so. Property and things in your home can be replaced, your life cannot!
4. Tell your children, even if they are older, to not let anyone in the house unless you are there. Even teenage children should not let anyone into the house. More assaults are committed on young people from the ages of 15-25 years of age than any other age group.
5. Be very aware of virtual tours. If a virtual tour is an option for selling your home, make sure there are no expensive objects in the room(s). Criminals look for opportunities such as these to target homes to burglarize.
6. Let neighbors know you are selling your home. Check with them on a regular basis to see if anyone has been around the house when you are not there. Criminals will use an open house, or a walk-through to pose as a potential buyer to scope out properties to burglarize later.
7. Keeping the curb appeal not only adds value when you are selling a home, but adds to the safety of your home as well. Criminals say they look for high bushes near windows, low-lit areas of a home, and concealed entrances to gain access to a home. Keep bushes trimmed low, repair or add higher wattage light bulbs to existing lights, and keep entrances well lit as a prevention.