Open House Safety Tips

An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines.

Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

Call the local police department and ask them to have a squad care drive by during your open-house hours. Check your cell phone’s strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. Carry an extra, fully charged cell phone battery.

Determine several “escape” routes that you can use in case of an emergency. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate a faster escape. Turn on the lights and open the curtains. These are not only sound safety procedures, but also great marketing tactics.

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.

When prospective buyers begin to arrive, jot down their car descriptions, license numbers and physical descriptions.

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. Try to keep all family members together in the showing.

Notify a friend or a relative that you will be calling in every hour on the hour. And if you don’t call, they are to notify the police immediately.

Inform a neighbor 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.

Source: National Association of REALTORS® Safety Week kit

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Bedrooms:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7+	Bathrooms:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7+
Property Type:	House Condo Land Townhome	Sq Footage:	< 1,000 1,000 - 1,500 1,500 - 2,000 2,000 - 2,500 2,500 - 3,000 3,000 - 3,500 3,500 - 4,000 4,000 - 4,500 4,500 - 5,000 5,000 - 6,000 6,000 - 7,000 7,000 - 8,000 8,000 - 9,000 9,000 - 10,000 10,000 >
Price Range:	less than $200,000 $200,000 - $300,000 $300,000 - $500,000 $500,000 - $700,000 $700,000 - $900,000 $900,000 - $1,000,000 $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $4,000,000 $4,000,000 - $5,000,000 $5,000,000 or more
When do you plan to sell?			Immediately 3 Months 6 Months 9 Months 1 Year 1 Year +
When do you plan to buy?			Immediately 3 Months 6 Months 9 Months 1 Year 1 Year +
Are you currently working with a realtor?			No Yes
Are you interested in areas other than Florida?			No Yes
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