Keep Your Things Safe!

When preparing to put your house on the market, usually the biggest concern is making your home look as eye-catching as possible. Cleaning every corner, fixing what needs fixed, and making sure it’s a house others would want to buy. With all this on the brain, putting the safety of your home while it is on the market can fall to the bottom of your to do list until you are fully out of the home. Once you’ve moved in some place new, you may realize that you are worrying quite a bit about just how safe your home is. Between showings and being empty most days, there is a significantly higher chance that your house can become a target for theft. Here are some ways to protect your home while you wait for it to sell!

TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS

While we may think it’s obvious that your neighbors know you are selling your home, it may not be on their radar to keep an eye out for strange behavior. If you have a friendly neighbor, ask if they can swing by after showings to make sure your doors are locked and if they can alert you if they see anything out of the ordinary.

PREVENT ACCIDENTS

While theft is always a huge concern, you also need to keep in mind that you could be held liable for an injury on your property. Make sure you repair any uneven or missing flooring, secure all rugs, remove any clutter, and especially clear ice and snow during the cold seasons.

 

HIDE VALUABLES

The best way to prevent high-value items from being stolen is to make sure they are out of sight. If you can’t take them with you, make sure you have a safe and secure place to keep them. While jewelry and other expensive collectibles seem to be most important, don’t forget about anything with important information on it, like Social Security cards, blank checks, medications, etc.

GUN SAFETY

If you are a gun owner, it’s absolutely imperative that people touring your home cannot access your weapons. If you do not take them with you, make sure they are unloaded and locked away, completely out of sight. While theft is a concern, physical damage (or even death) caused by your gun on your property can have some serious consequences.