REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Home Showings Can Lure Thieves

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Daily Real Estate News | October 25, 2004 | Home Showings Can Lure Thieves Homeowners who put their property on the market find themselves in the vulnerable position of opening their residence up to stranger after stranger, which brings with it risks for theft and other crimes. Although theft during home showings is rare, there have been reported cases of thievery. Teams of criminals may use one partner to provide a distract while the other swipes valuables, for instance. Meanwhile, robbers may be difficult to trace if they provide false identities and contact information when attending a property viewing. Taking steps to deter theft is a tricky situation, however, as some actions—such as stripping the interior down to the bare necessities or stationing a guard during show events—could prove to be a turnoff for prospective buyers. However, real estate experts suggest that homesellers keep financial records and prescription drugs out of sight, ask their agent about ideas to improve security, and consider barring access to anyone unwilling to provide identification and sign in or to anyone who shows up without an appointment. Sellers also may want to consider restricting the number of people viewing the property at any given time and contacting their agent and possibly even the police if they come in contact with anyone acting in a suspicious manner before, during, or following a home showing.

Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (10/24/04); Friedrich, Alex