Keeping Your Home Safe While Selling

Amber RandhawaHome Staging, Homeowner and Homebuyer Tips

You’ve decluttered, organized and stowed away all overly personal possessions. You’ve made basic repairs and spent time cleaning up your flower beds and outdoor living space to give your home that extra pop of curb appeal. You may think you have thought of everything when it comes to selling your home, but have you considered home security measures that may be needed to keep your home and it’s contents safe during the sales process.


When you are selling your home, you will have likely have dozens of strangers entering your home for tours and showings, and later inspections and potential repairs. While most of them will have only the best of intentions, it’s still a good idea to take your home’s security into consideration. We have a few suggestions for how to safeguard your family and belongings while welcoming potential buyers and other necessary visitors into your home.

Schedule Showings by Appointment Only

A “for sale” sign in your yard should not be an invitation for unannounced visitors. When you sit down with your realtor to craft your listing, make sure the phrase “showings by appointment only” is included. Anyone who would like a tour of your home will then need to go through their own real estate agent to schedule a time, and will be accompanied by their agent. Never allow anyone into your home who simply shows up unannounced and unaccompanied.

It is good practice to have your home in “showing ready” condition at all times, and flexibility in schedule is one of the keys to a quick sale. However, it is standard practice to schedule showings, at least within a window, and for you to have advance notice of anyone who would like to see your home, in the company of their real estate agent.

Safely Store Valuables

During the decluttering and organization process as you prepare to sell your home, go ahead and separate out items that are of significant value. Things like jewelry, collectibles and family heirlooms should be stowed away out of site at this time. While your home is on the market and visitors are expected, these items should be safely stored in a locked safe or even a safety deposit box at your bank. Also be sure to hide all items that contain sensitive personal information in drawers or out of sight. This includes bank statements, social security cards, credit cards and important documents.

Install a Security System

If your home does not already have a security system, now is a great time to purchase one, or if the one you have is an older model, consider an upgrade. Current systems can be controlled remotely via app, so you can disarm them for showings and repairs, then put them back online once a visit has concluded. This not only protects your home, but is a wonderful selling point to highlight in your listing. The peace of mind you purchase can be passed along to a potential buyer so that their family also benefits from the extra security.