If you’re considering putting your home on the market, you know that one of the most important steps is to prepare for an open house. It’s a piece of cake, right? Not so fast. Open houses can attract unintended visitors as well as interested buyers. That’s why it’s essential to have a plan in place to protect your home and belongings during what can be a vulnerable time. Enter Operation Security – a series of steps you can take to safeguard your home during an open house and give you peace of mind.
1. Locking Up Before Opening Up: Securing Your Home for an Open House
When it comes to preparing for an open house, many homeowners overlook the crucial step of locking up. By making sure everything is securely locked up before opening up your home to the public, you can rest assured that nothing will be accidentally left open or stolen during the showings. Here are some tips for locking up your home before an open house event:
- Be sure to lock all doors and windows, both inside and out. You may want to doublecheck just to be safe.
- Make sure to lock (and secure) all your closets as well. This is especially important if there are valuable items stored in them.
- Secure any jewelry or valuable items that are out in the open. A secure place like a safe or hidden drawer would be best.
- Turn off any electronics, lights, and other devices before the open house.
- Don’t forget the garage. Make sure to lock up the garage door and hide any expensive items that may be stored in the garage.
- Put away any weapons or anything else that could be considered a security threat.
- Don’t forget to double check that all locks are functioning properly. It may also be a good idea to invest in home security systems, like video cameras or alarm systems.
A secure home is a happy home. An extra few minutes of effort before the open house can save you lots of trouble later. Securing your home before the event will put your mind at ease and make the open house experience a much more pleasant one for all involved.
2. Taking Precautions During Your Open House
Organizing an open house can be the perfect opportunity to attract potential buyers, but you must take the necessary safety precautions to ensure the event runs smoothly. Hosts must do their due diligence to ensure all guests feel safe and comfortable in a clean and secure environment.
A great open house experience starts with a few simple steps:
- Clean: Thoroughly clean your home before the scheduled event. Place hand sanitizers in common areas like the entrance and exits. Additionally, disinfect frequently used surfaces such as door handles, tables, and banisters.
- Security: Before your open house begins, secure your property. Make sure all windows and doors are locked, particularly those leading outside. If necessary, hire a security guard for the duration of the event to look out for any potential security threats.
- Social Distance: Make sure to ask your realtor to spread out guests a couple of feet apart from each other during the event. Consider marking off the spaces on the floor as visual reminders. Also, add visible signs to remind everyone to keep a safe social distance.
Being proactive and taking the proper precautions during an open house will help ensure the safety and security of all attendees. Additionally, genuine care and attention to safety concerns will create an excellent first impression that will make buyers more likely to engage with your property.
3. Upgrading Your Home Security for Increased Peace of Mind
We often take the security we have in our homes for granted and don’t think much about it, until something goes wrong. Taking proactive steps to improve your home’s security, can provide a great sense of relief and security for you and your family.
The following provides a quick guide on some quick and easy ways to upgrade your home security:
- Update your locks: Consider swapping out your old locks which could easily be tampered with and replaced with ones with the most up-to-date security features. This way you can rest assured knowing your house is safely secured.
- Use a monitoring system: Installing a home security system such has cameras, motion detectors and an alarm system, can help secure your home, deterring people from breaking in. You can also have the system setup to alert the authorities, in case of a real emergency.
- Lighting: Bringing in more natural light into your home can be good for both your physical and mental health, but also has security benefits. Adding more lighting around your entryways and dark areas, can ensure people are not loitering or breaking into your home.
By taking steps to upgrade your home’s security, you can sleep soundly knowing your home and family is being looked after and safe. No one should ever feel at risk in their own home and your safety should always come first.
4. Investing in Home Security for a Lasting Sense of Safety
Investing in home security is a great way to help ensure the safety of your family and possessions. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to find one that works for your specific needs. There are many ways you can secure your home, beginning with the basics of installing a deadbolt and security alarm. These two components can go a long way towards keeping your home protected.
If you need additional layers of protection, there are other options available:
- Motion-sensing lights – Installing motion-sensing lights around the exterior of your home provides an additional layer of security. If someone is on your property at night, the lights will turn on and alert you. This can scare away any potential burglars.
- Surveillance cameras – Setting up surveillance cameras around your home will help you monitor any activity that’s happening. You can also connect the cameras to your smartphone or computer, which is great for when you’re away from home and need to check in.
- Security systems – Smart home security systems include a range of devices such as alarms, motion sensors, and cameras. They are designed to monitor any activity both inside and outside your home, and send alerts when there is suspicious activity detected.
Investing in a home security system is a great way to improve your home’s security and give you a sense of peace knowing that your family is protected. With the right measures in place, you’re much less likely to experience an intrusion in your home.
Congratulations – you’ve ensured that your home is as secure as possible during this open house! As you can see, keeping your home secure is easy; it only takes a few simple steps and precautions to protect your valuable assets and ensure the safety of all those around you. By following our advice, you can rest assured that your home and all within it is properly safeguarded.
