It’s funny how the Open House has become a staple in real estate marketing despite the fact that less than 2% of homes sell as a result of an open house. Although I have sold a few homes by someone attending an open house that I hosted, those people would have most likely scheduled an appointment to see the house if the house had not been held open, thereby giving me an opportunity to qualify them before taking them into the home.
In any event, it is not that I am against holding open houses. In fact, I enjoy open houses because it is a great way to meet people and get their impressions of the home; however, I am concerned about the risks involved in hosting these events.
How many of you would invite complete strangers into your home to walk through it and see all of the expensive things you own? Well, that’s exactly what you are doing when you have an open house. The people coming through your home are not necessarily serious buyers, they may or may not be qualified to purchase a home, and they might just be looking to see if what you own is worth stealing.
So how do you lessen the risk?
- Remove things from the house that are easy to steal such as jewelry, collectibles (i.e., figurines, signed baseballs, coin collections), credit cards or cash that are lying about or kept in a drawer.
- Remove prescription drugs from the house. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for thieves to steal medication during open houses.
- Remove items from the house that someone might come back to steal later such as expensive artwork, silverware, or sports memorabilia.
- Make sure that your insurance would cover theft of anything you value.
- Gently remind your realtor to make sure that all doors and windows are locked before leaving your home after hosting an open house.
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Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri
