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Safety Tip #1 - Have all calls go directly to an adult’s cell phone. That way, all or most calls come in with caller identification and the caller can leave a message if they want to. We would also suggest that you consider using a google voice number specifically for the inquiries about the property, this would prevent any personal information being online. Google voice numbers are free!

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Safety Tip #2 – Require all showings to be scheduled. Don’t let someone come through that just comes and knocks on the door. Get their return number and call them back to schedule to ensure you have an actual phone number. Don’t schedule showings after dusk. Any legitimate showing should be able to take place before 8pm.

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Safety Tip #3 - Set aside one or two days a week for showing. Make sure your neighbors know when you are showing, so they will be aware of the coming and going traffic. During showing have more than one adult available and make sure if there are multiple people in the "buyers party" that they don't get scattered all over your home. Try to keep everybody together during the showing. Set up a Showing buddy, that will contact you or you contact them at the conclusion of each showing.

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Safety Tip #4 - This will be a hard tip to follow and you might see it as restricting your showing activity. Tell all potential buyers that you would like a pre-qualification letter by a lender and a copy of the potential buyer’s driver’s license. Why? Because of the safety issue. Otherwise how do you know who you are letting into your house? Quite a few of the agents in my office are now making copies of potential buyers driver licenses and giving them to the front desk before showing them property. Otherwise, how can you tell that you are showing the property to actual buyers with intent to make a purchase?

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Safety Tip #5 - Safely store everything of value, mementoes, etc. during the times of showing your home. We have simply suggested to "fsbo's" who asked to either take their small items to a safety deposit box or even put items in the trunk of their car.

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Safety Tip #6 - Never give out too much information over the phone. This is non-fsbo related but is a good example. A Fellow Agent’s neighbor Mike across the street received a call from a salesman offering a home security system. Mike told the salesman he didn't have any use for one. Yes, Mike was burglarized the very next day.

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Safety Tip #7 – When walking a prospective buyer through your home, always follow, never lead. Direct them through the house by walking behind them. Otherwise you don’t know what’s happening behind you and could be a serious vulnerability for you. Plan escape routes in advance. Make sure all dead bolts are unlocked and leave doors unlocked for easy access to the outside.

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Safety Tip #8 – At the conclusion of each showing, walk back through the house and physically check that each window and door is shut and locked. People can open a window, engage the lock and slide it shut yet the window is actually unlocked because it is not engaged in the locking mechanism.

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Best wishes with the sale of your house.

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