Selling Your Home - A FSBOs Guide to Keeping It Safe

Sellers need to keep their safety in mind when prospecting potential buyers. The real estate industry has seen a problematic climb in assaults towards realtors, and so is the concern for those who are selling their own homes.

Here are just seven ways designed specifically to protect you, your family, and your home, from being victimized:

1. Fully screen callers before allowing them an appointment for seeing your home. Ask all the questions: name, existing address, and telephone number. Where are they employed? Why are they looking to buy? Do they have a family in the area? Any children? Ask as many questions until you feel comfortable with this person.

2. Do not let unannounced visitors into your home unless you have their information first. If you are alone in the house, have them come back later when there are others home. There is no reason why someone cannot be professional and make an appointment with you. Make sure there is more than one person in your home when showing your property. Remember, safety in numbers.

3. If you must show your home alone keep a cell phone with you. If you are in danger of a potential buyer, you can easily call 911 for help. In the event in needing to get away from someone run out of the house into your vehicle or neighbor's house. Remember, your life is more important than any property. Most criminals interviewed say they do not want to harm anyone when taking valuables, prescription drugs or money. But if the home owner puts up a fight, so will they. Let it go. Property and things in your home can be replaced, your life cannot!

4. Tell your children, even if they are older to not let anyone in the house unless you are there. Even teenage children should not let anyone into the house. More assaults are committed on young people from the ages of 15- 25 years of age than any other age group.

5. Be very aware of virtual tours. If a virtual tour is an option for selling your home, make sure there are no expensive objects in the room(s). Criminals look for opportunities such as these to target homes to burglarize.

6. Let neighbors know you are selling your home. Check with them on a regular basis to see if anyone has been around the house when you are not there. Criminals will use an open house, or a walk-through to pose as a potential buyer to scope out properties to burglarize later.

7. Keeping the curb appeal not only adds value when you are selling a home, but adds to the safety of your home as well. After searching a home during an open house, criminals interviewed say they look for high bushes near windows, not well-lit areas of a home, and concealed entrances to come back and gain access to a home. Keep bushes trimmed low, repair or add higher wattage light bulbs to existing lights, and keep entrances well lit for theft prevention.

Don't hesitate. If you're serious about selling your home yourself, just make sure your safety plan is just as serious to protect you and your family's future.

Michelle Annese is a 3rd degree black belt with 15+ years experience teaching industry specific self defense and safety for women and children. She is author of 'the Realtor Survival Guide", 'Protection for Women', and 'The SafeGuard System for Kids'. For more information on how to protect yourself and your family go to http://www.michelleannese.com and check out other articles and sign up for a free safety tips e-newsletter.

---

Do I Need A Real Estate Survey?

Getting a survey before you close on any real estate... Read More

Look Past the Bottom Line for a Propertys Potential

It's unfortunate that many real estate investors tend to look... Read More

Refinancing Your Home Loan? When Should You Refinance Your Home?

If you have a current mortgage and are unhappy with... Read More

Questions To Ask The Landlord Before Renting His Apartment

Apartment hunting is not the easiest thing around. You may... Read More

Closing Costs When Buying A Home

Closing costs are often the last thing a person thinks... Read More

Buying Houses at Discount Prices

Buying a house is the best way you can create... Read More

Stay Motivated With REI Till The Deal Comes

I know many investors step into the game of real... Read More

Real Estate Web Design - 3 Items You Must Include on Your Site

Real estate web design requires you to do things a... Read More

The Irish Property Market - Expensive But Worth It?

Lying on the edge of Europe facing out to the... Read More

Real Estate Website Marketing - 5 Steps to Crushing Your Competition and Doubling Your Business

Getting your real estate website more traffic is easy if... Read More

Why it is Important to Hire Just One Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home

In our fast paced and frantic real estate market, buying... Read More

Where is Florida Investment Property

Florida Investment Property ? Why Investing is a Wise Decision... Read More

Real Estate Bubble: Sophisticated Musical Chairs?

The real estate bubble is a hot topic today; annual... Read More

Selling Your Home? A Warning About Attachments

Before you list you home for sale, determine what you... Read More

The Nose Knows

If you plan on getting the most from the sale... Read More

Cashing Out of Preforeclosures - Exit Strategies for Maximum Profit

One of the quickest ways to real estate profits is... Read More

Real Estate Investing: Infomercial and Mentoring Scams

Flipping through late-night infomercials recently, I saw two real estate... Read More

Why Canadian Real Estate is Such Good Value

Real estate agents, Canadian citizens and foreign investors interested in... Read More

Boom or Bust

For those looking to invest in the real estate market?keep... Read More

Real Estate Investing Works In Your Area Too!

I hope you had a spectacular weekend!Things have been going... Read More

Let the Broker Show the House

Of course you're curious, and you'd like to see what... Read More

Boston Real Estate - Interest Rates and Inventory Must be Analyzed when Selling Your Boston Home

When selling your Boston home, it's good practice to be... Read More

Residential Income Property Financing: Part 2 of 3

Welcome to the second segment of a three-part series about... Read More

The Value of Foreclosed Property

The discount on a foreclosed property is not as great... Read More

Evil Gains Entry

When we open our doors to strangers, we can never... Read More

The Value of Building Home Equity

There are numerous advantages to owning a home. One of... Read More

3 Tips to Help You Sell Your Timeshare - For More

The values of timeshares are constantly changing. There are numerous... Read More

Customer Service ? The Real Estate Revolution

Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a sales industry.... Read More

How To Realistically Get Started As A Real Estate Investor

When it comes to real estate investing, most beginners find... Read More

How to Use Color Psychology to Prepare Your Home for a Top-Dollar Sale (Part 1)

You've decided to prepare your home for sale. Whether you... Read More

Houses For Sale By Owner - Negotiating Tips

Houses for sale by owner, also known as "FSBOs," are... Read More

Foreclosure

Foreclosure under a mortgage requires a court ordered sale conducted... Read More

Vacation Homes Are Becoming A Reality For More Homeowners

Whether it's a lakefront cottage or a log cabin in... Read More