How to protect your home when it’s for sale

If you’ve recently put your property on the market, don’t let security go out of the window. Inviting potential buyers into your home could increase your exposure to security threats - from disappearing personal belongings, to identity theft. Here are all the ways you can protect your home when it’s for sale, to make the selling experience as stress-free as possible. 

Keep valuables hidden

Keeping your valuables hidden when they’re not in use is a vital part of home security - and this is especially important when your home is for sale. Before any viewings take place, make sure to lock away prized possessions so they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Pay particular attention to smaller objects that are easier to nab during a house tour, such as jewellery and money. 

For an added layer of protection, install Indoor Cameras where your valuables are kept. These are great burglar deterrents, and in the event that someone should attempt to steal something, they’ll collect valuable evidence. 

Looking for more information on how to keep your possessions safe? Our previous blog post tells you everything you need to know. 

Lock up 

It really goes without saying that you should always lock up your property - regardless of whether you’re inside or out of the house. If your home is for sale, make sure to lock all doors and windows, making sure that these are still locked once a viewing is complete. Otherwise, you could risk potential burglars unlocking entrances to your home during a viewing so they can come back at a later time. If an estate agent is hosting a property viewing and you can’t be present, you could provide them with a bespoke pin so you know when they enter and leave the property.

If you’re no longer living in the property that’s for sale, installing Entry Sensors makes it much easier to keep track of entrances and exits. When paired with professional monitoring, our monitoring centre will be alerted if the alarm is triggered. If they can visually verify suspicious activity, they’ll dispatch a guard immediately.

Prevent accidents

Before a viewing takes place, it’s essential that you make your home as safe as possible for any visitors. If they’re harmed during a viewing - whether that be slipping on the floor or falling over clutter - you may be liable for injuries. To avoid this, invest in slip-proof mats, never leave any spillages unattended, check for loose floorboards, and give your home a good tidy beforehand. Plus, if the property you’re selling is a new build, you’ll want to ensure there aren’t any building supplies lying around - such as nails and screws. Doing this will undoubtedly make your property more attractive to potential buyers, too! 

Don’t leave sensitive documents out 

If your home is for sale, you should also store sensitive documents away before a viewing - such as financial documents or medical information. Should these be stolen, a criminal can use your personal information to hack into various accounts - and, often, the damage caused isn’t easily repaired. Identity theft should be taken just as seriously as physical theft, and by being proactive, you can avoid any future problems. If your identity is stolen, you could end up losing money, and getting loans, credit cards, and a mortgage is likely to be difficult.  Whether you’re protecting a home that’s for sale, or you’re wanting to improve the security of a new property, you can rely on SimpliSafe’s home security system. Contact our team of professionals today and share your requirements to start building your very own!