Keeping Your Personal Items Safe While Your Home Is For Sale

When preparing to put your house on the market, usually your main concern is making your home look as appealing as possible. Cleaning every corner, fixing what needs fixed, and making sure it is a home others would want to buy. With all that in mind, prioritizing the safety of your home while it is on the market can fall to the wayside until you are fully out of the home. Once you are moved in somewhere new, you may realize that you are worrying quite a bit about just how safe your home is. Between showings and being empty most days, there is a much higher chance that your house can become a target for theft. Here are some ways to protect your home while you wait for it to sell.

TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS

While you may think it’s obvious that your neighbors know you are selling your home, it may not be their first thought to keep an eye out for strange behavior. If you have a friendly neighbor, ask if they can swing by after showings to make sure your doors are locked and if they can alert you if they see any strange behavior.

PREVENT SLIPS AND FALLS

While theft is always a concern, you also need to keep in mind that you could be held liable for injury on your property. It is a good idea to take preventative measures to keep an unnecessary lawsuit from happening. Make sure you repair any uneven or missing flooring, secure rugs, remove clutter, and clear ice and snow during the cold seasons.

HIDE YOUR VALUABLES

The best way to prevent high-value items from being stolen is to make sure they aren’t visible. If you can’t take them with you, make sure you have a safe or a secure place to keep them. While jewelry and other expensive collectibles are important, don’t forget about anything with important information on it, like Social Security cards, blank cheques, medications, etc. 

STORE ITEMS OFFSITE

Consider the idea of packing up your valuable or fragile items and storing them at a friends house or possibly a storage locker.  That way things like artwork, favourite furniture, antiques, etc  won’t be moved, damaged or touched during showings.  Large items aren’t easily tucked away so it may be worth the time and effort to pack them and store them outside of the home.