During Realtor Safety Month in September, the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors issues safety tips for Realtors and their clients. Sellers, in particular, face some risks in allowing strangers into their home during a showing or open house.
"With the shortage of homes for sale and mortgage rates down to more comfortable levels for more buyers, open houses have been very busy. During showings or open houses, remember that strangers will be walking through your home," said Eileen Giorgi, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. "Take the necessary steps to ensure that your open house will be successful and that your family and your home will be safe."
Below are safety tips from SILVAR and the National Association of Realtors that can help sellers protect their home against crime:
• Hire a licensed, reputable real estate agent. Check with the state to make sure the agent is properly licensed and inquire with the Better Business Bureau or Department of Real Estate to see if there have been any complaints filed against the agent.
"People use the terms Realtor and real estate agent interchangeably, but they are not the same. Although both are licensed to sell real estate, a Realtor is a member of the National Association of Realtors and must subscribe to the Realtor Code of Ethics. As such, a Realtor is held to an even higher standard of conduct than other real estate professionals. Your Realtor will show your home in a professional manner," said Giorgi.
• Remove spare keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal, computers and electronics and other valuables, including prescription drugs and all personal information like mail and bills from your home, or lock them away during showings. This includes firearms and important art and other collections.
• Remove family photos, calendars of events, addresses and anything labeled with names of your children or their schools, including personalized artwork, banners or blankets.
"It's safer and best to help buyers visualize themselves living in the home. Buyers can get distracted seeing personal photos and may have difficulty imagining the home as their own," said Giorgi.
• Not all people are who they say they are. Do not show your house to strangers that come knocking at your door and say they are agents or buyers. Refer all inquiries to your Realtor.
• Take responsibility for your pets. If possible, remove animals during home showings. Buyers and agents are sometimes attacked, and when this unfortunate situation happens, the owner will be held liable.
• While your Realtor will take all safety precautions to keep your house secure when the open house or showing is over, home sellers should immediately verify that all doors and windows are locked, and all valuables accounted for. Thieves commonly use open houses to scout for valuables and possible points of entry then return after the agent leaves.
"The majority of the people who tour your home will be legitimate buyers who are in the market to purchase a home, but by taking these precautions, you will make the situation uneventful and stress free," said Giorgi.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.