Staying Safe When Selling your Home

“Safety first” is one of the most important rules to live by, especially when selling a home. You are inviting dozens of strangers into your home, which is enough to make some people uncomfortable. In the spirt of staying safe when selling your home, I’ve put together some safety guidelines that will help protect you and potential buyers.

Remove Personal Information and Valuables

Identity theft is a major problem these days, so it’s important to do everything you can to prevent it. Make sure to safely stow away any bills, credit card statements or other documents that could be used to compromise your identity. This is especially true of anything containing your social security information or personal passwords.

But identity theft isn’t the only type of theft you should look out for. Any valuable or sentimental items that may be easily stolen should be stored safely out of sight. Also, if your medicine cabinet contains any prescription medication, make sure to remove them before showing the home.

Secure Your Pets

Pet owners sometimes find it challenging to sell their homes, largely due to lack of preparation. Many buyers are put-off by viewing a home with a dog or cat present. Even if your pet is usually calm and friendly, animals can be extremely territorial and agitated when strangers enter their home. It’s a good idea to make sure your pets are safely put away when showing the home. If at all possible, you may even want to make arrangements for them to be out of the house entirely.

Sweep the Home for Hazards

Once you have finished cleaning and preparing for potential buyers, do one last sweep of the house to look for potential hazards. These can range from an exposed nail that could cut guests, loose floorboards or banisters, and making sure surfaces are clear and free of water or debris. Above all else, you want to ensure the safety of all who enter your home.

These tips will give you a good starting point to ensure that you and your visitors stay safe while selling your home. For further information, I have included a useful infographic of safety guidelines courtesy of The California Association of Realtors.

 

 

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