Five security measures to take when selling

Technology has made it possible for prospective buyers to "see" inside and learn much about the homes that interest them while online, but the great majority still want to visit and view the property in person before committing to a purchase.

"And that is always advisable," says Gerhard Kotzé, MD of the RealNet estate agency group, "because it really reduces the potential for any differences of opinion or disputes at a later stage about the condition, size and layout of the property, or any repairs or improvements which might be needed. It also gives buyers the opportunity to evaluate the surrounding area.

"However, it also means that home sellers need to be safety conscious and take some extra security precautions - the most important of which is to never, ever show your home alone."

Most home sellers in SA, he says, choose to work with a qualified property professional for a number of reasons, including access to national marketing platforms and more exposure to potential buyers, and the ability to pre-qualify those buyers. "However, another very important function that full-service estate agents perform is to schedule viewings and to always accompany potential buyers to those viewings.

"Discount or flat-fee agencies, on the other hand, will often expect home owners to conduct their own viewings, and in such cases case, sellers must make sure that there is always more than one person present to show the house whenever an interested buyer comes around. There is definitely more safety in numbers."

For this reason, says Kotzé, sellers should also never just open up their home to someone who claims to be responding to the for-sale sign on their front gate - or someone claiming to be an agent from a different company who might have a buyer for their home. 

"A for-sale sign is a great marketing tool, but it is not a permission slip for anyone just to walk into your home on demand, and there is always a chance of someone feigning interest just to gain access to the property for criminal purposes. 

"Such people count on the fact that sellers, keen to see their property sold, will probably be reluctant to turn away anyone who appears to be a potential buyer. However, what sellers should do in such instances is to give the visitor their agent's business card and ask them to set up an appointment to view the property at a convenient time. Genuine buyers and agents, it must be said, will usually not have a problem with this, and will also be happy to provide their own names and contact details to facilitate communications."

Other precautions to take, he says, include:

- Securing any valuables, prescription medication and sensitive information (on work phones or laptops, for example) before allowing anyone into your home, even when they are accompanied by your agent. It takes just seconds for someone to steal money, credit cards or jewellery left lying around, or to get their hands on bills, bank statements and other documents they could use for identity theft, while your agent is distracted. You should remove any of these items from your home and lock them in a safe or even in your car during viewings.

- De-personalizing the home by also removing family photos, fast food receipts, awards, ornaments and anything else that a criminal posing as a buyer might use to gain insight into your family's life.

- Installing a security system with good CCTV. This will ensure that there is video footage if a crime does occur. Some models and programs will even allow you to view your home remotely. Use this added feature to watch over people during viewings if you can't be present in person, or check it at night to ensure your home remains safe from vandalism and theft.