Safety First When Hosting an Open House
There have been reports in South Florida regarding open house thefts. As a reminder, Realtor® Safety is important. Here are some tips so you can ensure you and your clients are protected.
Hosting an open house for your client can be a great way to increase visibility on your listing. Sometimes, an agent and their buyer visit together, or house hunters within the community drop by out of curiosity. Every Realtor® should take precautions when opening their client's doors to the community.
Here are some Realtor® safety tips and best practices you may want to consider implementing at your next open house.
Ask for Help & Establish a Crew
Consider having multiple adults or staff present to help you manage the event effectively. If you are in a high-traffic area, you may want to consider setting limits to how many people can be on the property at once to regulate the flow of traffic. Designate one of your crew members to monitor the door and allow entry at intervals. Another method during the open house is to emphasize entry conditions by using a visitor sign-in sheet requiring full name, address, phone number, ID, and email.
Utilize Onsite Security Systems
Many homes already have security systems, and if not, you may want to consider bringing/installing cameras or panic buttons to help ensure control and safety. Monitoring visitor activity or recording your open house can deter theft during the open house or may lead to the culprit if something goes missing. Make sure that all windows and doors during the open house are locked except the main entry point door. Test the internet connection and run speed tests before the open house to ensure that you have strong signals and that your cellular connection is strong enough to make outbound calls.
Safeguard Your Client’s Assets
Have a conversation with your clients before the open house and ask them to lock up valuables. They may also want to consider moving certain things off the property. Sometimes, the homeowner may not realize that documents like bank information or documents with their last name are lying around or stuffed in top drawers. You may want to consider sweeping the property for a final inspection to protect your client’s possessions and privacy.
Hosting an open house is a great way to showcase your listing and attract more buyers. However, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety of you, your crew, and your client’s property. Add some of these best practices to your plan, but you must come up with your game plan before your open house.
By RWorld Staff
✉️ Email
Source: The National Association of Realtors and Reolink
