Protect Your Open House

June 3rd, 2009

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The Toronto media has been buzzing the past few days about thefts in open houses. And yes, if done poorly we can expect more of these horror stories. Sellers, it’s important to talk to your realtor about the procedures used while your home is shown.

Here’s a few golden rules I use at my open house:
1. Hide or remove ALL valuables…cameras, jewellery, game consoles etc. Leave the valuables at a trusted friend/families house for the time being. Your selling the house and not the possessions, so there’s no reason to have them in plain sight!
2. All visitors, MUST fill in a sign in sheet.
3. I have NO more then 2 parties in a house at a time AND I personally guide them through the home. It allows me to point out the selling features as well as preventing any funny business from happening.

Open houses, if done right, are a great way to show off your home and I always encourage my sellers to have one. For those who feel open houses are a waste of time…the last 3 of 4 homes I sold, the buyer bought as a result of the open house!

If you’d like to have me host and open house at your home, give me a call… i’d love to help!