How to Protect Your Home During An Open House
- Holly Sirois
- Aug 20, 2016
- 3 min read
If you watched the news recently, you may have seen the warning about the risks of holding an open house to sell your home.
What does this mean for home sellers? Should you allow your agent to hold an open house to market your home or are you exposing your home to possible dangers?
There are some agents who say open houses are a waste of time and don’t sell homes. Two Girls and A Key, feel that open houses are a valuable tool in selling a home for several reasons. An open house generates a sense of urgency with potential buyers. We have had buyers tell us they want to get an offer in before a pending open house and it does factor in on the amount they offer. Open houses that are properly marketed can also boost a home’s online presence and that is where most buyers look for homes. And yes! There are occasionally buyers who stumble upon an open house and end up making an offer. Not all buyers have top notch agents working with them who alert them the moment a new listing comes on the market that might meet their needs.
There are thousands of open homes held every weekend across the country without incident but that does not mean an agent should hold an open house without taking precautions and being prepared.
So, how do you protect your home when holding an open house?
First, hire a qualified Realtor to market and sell your home.
When Two Girls and A Key holds an open house at a homeowner's request there are always at minimum two agents present in the home during the open house in addition to a greeter at the front door for larger homes. We don't just allow visitors to wander through a home unattended. We are there to meet, greet and sell the features of the home we are holding open.
We ask the name of the agent potential buyers are working with so we can send information about the home to them. One of us then accompanies guests on a tour of the home pointing out the home’s features and gaining valuable feedback to pass on to the homeowners. So often it's hard to get feedback from busy agents who have shown a home and at best it's a second hand interpretation of their buyer's reaction to the home's prices, features and condition.
We have already advised our homeowners to remove or secure small items such as jewelry, expensive knickknacks, laptops and prescriptions during the time their home is on the market. We advise you always take precautions. Better safe than sorry.
Before we started our real estate business, Elisa and I held careers in private aviation. We flew with high profile clients, celebrities and dignitaries all over the world. Our client’s safety and security was our highest priority. When the keys to your home are in our hands our hands, your home and family’s security is our highest priority.
When deciding if an open house is right for your home, be sure to discuss with your agent what precautions they will take to protect and secure your home while it is on their watch.
We are Elisa Dichiara and Holly Sirois, the real estate team, Two Girls & A Key.
hands our hands, your home and family’s security is our highest priority.
Comments