Safe Home Selling Tips
Safe Home Selling Tips
I am sure you have heard about people being robbed and attacked when they have placed ads in the paper for everything from puppies to vehicles. Why do you think this cannot or has not happened to people selling their homes?
How many strangers have you given your home phone number or invited into your home?
This is what you do when you put your home phone number on a sign and place it on your front lawn or at the corner of your street. Then you invite a perfect stranger or strangers into your home where anything can happen.
Here are a few tips on protecting yourself in the event your would be buyer is not who you think he or she is.
FOR YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY REASONS
* Use your cell phone number on any for sale signs and indicate that it is a cell phone.
* If someone calls to set up a showing, NEVER tell them you will not be there at a certain time. This just sets you up for a burglary. Make an excuse that does not take you away from the residence such as you have company coming.
* Get as much information as you can over the phone from the “buyer” before you set up a showing.
* While your home is on the market remove your valuables and place them in a safe deposit box, a diversion safe or at the home of a trusted friend or relative.
* If you have a room or area full of valuables you cannot move, think about setting up a hidden camera.
* NEVER show the home alone. A “buyer” could bring several people with him/or her and you cannot keep tract of what they are doing. They could enter other parts of your residence and take small items or view personal papers.
* Which brings to mind, keep any checking account or other personal information out of sight.
* An inconspicuous self defense product such as a pepper spray pen, a stun gun cell phone, or at the least a personal electronic whistle would be a good idea just in case the “buyer/s” turn out to have criminal activity in mind.
* DO NOT sign anything without the advice of a good real estate attorney.
CONSIDER YOUR BUYERS INTEREST
- DO NOT BE EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE
It is beneficial to detach yourself from your home. Being detached helps you look at the deal from a financial perspective rather than an emotional one. It is also a good idea to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. If you think of your house as a dream rather than a piece of property, you will stage your home better.
2. DON’T SET AN UNREALISTIC PRICE:
Most owners tend to price their houses on the higher side. This discourages buyers. However, an accurate price can be set by analyzing the market. Sometimes setting a low price does help in attracting buyers.
- BEING STRICT ABOUT TIMINGS WITH BUYERS :
It is beneficial to be flexible with your timings when you are dealing with buyers. You should try to make yourself available when the buyer wants to view your home or meet you.
- BEING RIGID ABOUT THE PRICE:
Any buyer will look to negotiate and buy the property for a price lower than the quoted price. If you are rigid about your price, it will be difficult for you to sell. It is a good strategy to price it such that there is a margin to bargain.
Personally, I think it would be more prudent to leave the sale of probably your most valuable asset to a professional real estate agent. In any event, use caution and common sense.