This sponsored, biweekly Q&A column is written by Andrew Goodman, broker/owner of Goodman, Realtors. Based in Bethesda, Andrew serves clients in Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia. Please submit comments, questions, and opinions in the comments section or via email.
Question: What kind of safety concerns should I have about listing my home?
Answer: When selling a home, your agent’s main objective is to get as many people into the home as possible to view it. But when someone views your home, how do you know your home and the items in it are safe?
Unfortunately, you don’t — and you don’t want to be at the home when someone is viewing it, as it could hurt your chances of selling. So what can you do? Here are some things to keep in mind to help insure you and your home’s safety.
Keep tabs on who goes into the home. If you’re selling your home as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), you want to keep tabs on any agents that go into your home. Ask for names, cell numbers, companies they work for and their MRIS ID number.
The MRIS ID number is an agent’s access ID to the MRIS (the database of properties for sale) and it contains all pertinent information. If something were to happen, you’d be able to locate that agent pretty easily. If the potential buyer is not represented, you should stay at the home during the visit. Be sure you are not alone during the tour. If you have an agent that has listed your home, he or she has many systems and services at their disposal to be able to keep tabs on who visits.
I use a system called Centralized Showing Service (CSS), which sends me an email of every agent who has scheduled a showing with his or her name, company name and his or her contact number or email. I also receive an email from Sentrilock when an agent uses the electronic lockbox to gain access to the home.
Remove personal belongings. Whether you’re selling your home as a FSBO or with an agent, please be sure to hide or remove all valuables. Unfortunately, a buyer’s agent doesn’t know what items are in the home and can’t always keep tabs on all of the people on a particular tour. So be safe and make sure those valuables are not in sight. (Make sure that all spare keys to the home and vehicles aren’t out in the open.)
Don’t answer the door for strangers. DO NOT answer your door to any strangers. If you’re selling your home as a FSBO, be very careful who you let in to view your home. There are many chances to let in the wrong person. If you’re selling your home with a Realtor, don’t let anyone into your home who wasn’t announced or doesn’t have an appointment set up. There are some people who act as agents, however if they were agents they would have followed the steps outlined by the listing agent to show the property. If they’re actually agents and did not follow those steps, that is their fault and should still not be able to view your home.
Keys for the lockbox. I recommend that sellers provide only a key to the lower lock, if possible, to be put in a lockbox. That way, the seller can lock the deadbolt when home. If an agent tries to gain access when he or she wasn’t scheduled, that agent wouldn’t be able to gain access. Also, in the event that someone finds a way to break into a lockbox, that person has access only to the bottom lock, not the deadbolt.
Alarm code. Change your alarm code from your normal alarm code and provide that to your Realtor. Or, make an alternative code that can be provided. Most individuals don’t change their alarm codes and since that code needs to be given out to Realtors, the code will be in a lot of people’s hands. In the event you take if off the market, you don’t want that code still in someone’s possession.
Using a Realtor tends to be the safest way to list a home. Realtors have access to systems that can help protect your home, not to mention the fact that we have to follow a code of ethics. With that being said, Realtors are still human and not all of them follow the rules. So make sure you choose your Realtor wisely and be sure to protect your family and your home when listing it for sale.
