Selling your home – whether you’re downsizing, upsizing, or relocating – is an exciting time. It can also be nerve-racking: not only are you preparing for a move, but you’re also opening your home to strangers, who will likely view your home when you are not there. Luckily, your REALTOR® is in your corner, keeping you, your investment, and your possessions as safe as possible. For additional peace of mind, check out these safety tips that TRREB Past President Lisa Patel and Women in Real Estate Task Force Members Jasmine Lee, Rayissa Palmer, and Ricky Rathore shared on a recent episode of the Ready to Real Estate podcast .
1. Guard your lockbox . . . even from yourself.
Your REALTOR® will likely use a lockbox to keep the house keys safely accessible for viewings. You may want access to the lockbox, whether it’s to take the keys inside at the end of the day or even to use in the event that you forget your own keys. The reality is, the fewer people who know the lockbox code, the better. If you do have access to it, make sure to scramble the code each time you open it, and never give the passcode to anyone else, even fellow family members – you could face insurance issues if you do.
2. Scan the perimeter.
Once you return home after a day of viewings, do a quick scan of any entrances to your home – doors, windows, etc. Make sure that all of them are locked securely, in case someone left one open for access later on.
3. No REALTOR®? No entry.
You may have a sign on your front lawn that advertises your house is for sale, but that doesn’t mean it’s an open invitation for strangers to stop by the house. If someone comes to your property and says they’re interested in buying, give them your REALTOR®’s number to call. Never, ever let someone in and show your property without your real estate professional present.
4. Use caution with email.
You have to keep safe online, too. Scammers have grown increasingly savvy in impersonating people you may have in your contacts list. So, if you get a suspicious email or text message from your brokerage asking for personal information, financial details, or anything else you wouldn’t normally give over email, follow up using your REALTOR®’s known phone number to make sure it’s legitimate.
5. Communicate.
Let your REALTOR® know about any safety concerns you might be anxious about. They’re there to keep you safe and make the selling process as comfortable as possible, and can address your concerns accordingly.
For more safety tips, and to learn about how REALTORS® keep you, your family, and your property safe, listen to the episode .
The post When Selling Your Home, Keep Safe with These Five Tips appeared first on TRREB Wire .
