If you are selling your home, hosting an open house is a valuable way of introducing your house to prospective buyers. Unfortunately, this also opens your doors to potential burglars.
“There is safety in numbers. Have someone on duty with you to manage events,” says Charnel Hattingh, head of marketing and communications at Fidelity ADT.
Estate agents need to discuss the option of putting security systems in place before a show day, she adds.
“This is not only to protect the sellers’ valuables and property, but to ensure the agents are safe as well.
“We advise sellers to lock all their valuables away and to ensure that your agent understands your concerns regarding the safety and the security of your property. Posting a guard on the premises and giving the agent access to a panic button is also a good idea.”
While you cannot plan for every eventuality, the following will help to discourage thieves from taking advantage of the situation:
- If there is a panic button, ensure that the agent has access to it, along with your private security provider’s emergency number.
- Alert your private security service provider that your home will be on show and ask them to stop by at some point during the afternoon.
- Do not leave spare keys for the home hanging on hooks that can be reached by visitors.
- Always lock away valuables that can easily fit into a handbag or pocket. Check that drawers and bathroom cabinets do not contain valuable items.
- Put away larger items of equipment to stop criminals from thinking they might have to return later when no one is home.
- Open curtains and blinds or switch on lights in each room to discourage would-be thieves from untoward activity.
- Position yourself where you can see prospective buyers’ vehicles as they arrive. Make a note of their registration numbers, as well as the make and model of the car.
- Ask your visitors to stay with you while you walk through the home together. This will avoid a situation where one person wanders off.
- While you are conducting a viewing, do not leave the front entrance of the home open. It is important to check that intercoms, buzzers and doorbells are in good working order.
- Consider a show day where you encourage viewings by appointment. This will avoid an overlap between groups of visitors. If visitors arrive while you are still busy showing someone else the home, encourage them to fill in the visitor’s book or take a look at the garden and outdoor facilities.
House-hunting
When looking for a new house, it is important to keep a level head when it comes to security issues.
“You are well within your rights to ask about crime in the area, what kinds of incidents have happened and whether there are security providers operating in the surrounds,” Hattingh says.
“While you might pose these questions to the estate agent, it is also good to speak to people living in the community to get a perspective.
“It is worth asking whether there are monthly contributions that will need to be made to a security scheme in the area. Also assess security aspects such as booms, road enclosures, guards, officers on patrol and access points to the suburb.
“If you are thinking about buying in a complex, take note of the security procedures when you enter and exit the complex. Also have a look at how easy it is for pedestrians to get in.”
Moving on to the actual house, have a look around and evaluate items such as burglar bars, security gates, electric fences, alarm panels and beams.
Another aspect is your perimeter security. Is the wall or fence, access gate and intercom system in a good state? As perimeter security is your first line of defence, this is an important question.
