Real Estate Investment 101: Getting Started

Tips To Keep Your Home And Belongings Safe When Selling Your House

When you hire a real estate agent to help you sell your home, he or she will likely place a lockbox on your home, and this box will contain a key for your front door. Any agent that shows your home will access the box to get inside. If you want to make sure your home and belongings are safe when selling your house, here are some important tips to follow.

Ask your agent how the lock box works

The first thing to discuss with your agent involves how the lock box works. Typically, agents have a key or use a code to open the box. They can then take the key out and use it to open your front door. The main question you should ask your agent is if there is a record of who accesses the box. If not, anyone who is an agent could go inside the box and get your house key anytime they want.

Never offer showings without an agent

There are times when people will knock on the door of a home that is for sale wanting to see it right then and there. If this happens, you should not let the person inside. Every showing should go through a real estate agency, and you should not even be there during the showings. It's just not safe to allow people inside your home without having an agent with you. This person could be a criminal, and you would not know that until it's too late.

Hide personal things and valuable things

Another step you should take is to hide things that are valuable or personal. This includes cash, jewelry, and medications. You should also hide financial statements, bank information, checkbooks, and anything else that you would not want anyone to see.

Remove family photos

One more way to protect yourself and your family is by removing family photos, and this is especially important if you have children. If a person is posing as a buyer and is actually just scoping out your house to see what you have or if you have kids, this could be dangerous. To protect your kids, remove all their pictures so buyers cannot see the faces of those that live in your home.

If you are ready to sell your house but have concerns with safety, talk them over with your real estate agent. Your agent might be able to offer more tips to help you keep your home and belongings safe while your house is listed for sale.


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