As a seller, you face some dangers in allowing strangers into your home.

Connie Hettinga, 2018 President of the REALTORS Association of New Mexico, and a REALTOR from Las Cruces, offers the following tips to help sellers protect themselves against crime:

• Strangers will be walking through your home during showings or open houses. Hide any valuables in a safe place. For security’s sake, remember to remove keys, credit cards, jewelry, crystal, furs, and other valuables from the home or lock them away during showings. Also remove prescription drugs.

• DON'T leave personal information like mail or bills out in the open where anyone can see it. Be sure to lock down your computer and lock up your laptop and any other expensive, easy-to-pocket electronics, like iPods, before your showing.

• Do not show your home by yourselves. Not all brokers, buyers, and sellers are who they say they are. Predators come in all shapes and sizes. Refer all inquiries to your REALTOR.

• You are responsible for your pets. If possible, animals should be removed during showings. Buyers and REALTORS are sometimes attacked, and the owner will be held liable.

• Your REALTOR will take safety precautions such as vetting potential buyers prior to showings and making sure all windows and doors are locked following an open house or showing, but when you return home, immediately verify that all doors are locked and all valuables accounted for.

“Your REALTOR® has safety protocols in place to protect themselves and look out for you and your property,” says Hettinga. “Ask your REALTOR for their best practices for helping ensure seller safety. Help protect yourself against crime by following simple safety rules.”

(compiled from information available at REALTORSafety911.com; Realty Times; ThinkGlink.com)

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