Two woman were busted recently stealing more than $73,000 worth of belongings from open houses they attended.
One woman would distract the agent, while the other stole the booty, i.e., expensive designer handbags, jewelry, clothing and even an expensive bottle of champagne.
Some condo associations are demanding open-house attendees show picture identification, but how many agents are going to add that to their open house to-do list?
If you simply must have an open house, and especially if it's an upscale home, have another person with you who can keep an eye on attendees while you assist prospective buyers.
A few more suggestions:
Make sure home owners lock-up or remove from the home valuable items and prescription drugs.
Make sure you do not take interior photos that include prized possessions and post them for the public.
Frisk all your attendees. (Just kidding)
Statistics show that an open house bears more fruit for the agent gaining more prospects than gaining qualified buyers who complete the purchase of the home.
Having another person with you when you do your obligatory open house is good protection for the agent as well, especially females.
Thanks for stopping by.
DelNorteCountyREOForSale.com & REOAgent95531.com
Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009 and 2010--*both in number and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!
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SHOCKING! Great advice for Open Houses...
Konnie,
Me either, at least not for my client.
Fran,
Makes a good case for staging! Thanks, Fran
Gary,
Thanks for the comment. I checked out your blog today and really enjoyed our most recent post.
Fran - You said a mouthful.
I would go further with this and say watch out for real estate agents, too. I had just purchased a highly anticipated Disney DVD, watched it once the without fail I returned it to it's proper place (all my dvd's are alphabetized in order).
2 days later an agent came through with a prospective buyer and just so happened that very same night I wanted to watch my new DVD again and couldn't find it. Went through everything searching, I am methodical house keeper by the way...Kind a like "Monk" OK no DVD and like the detective "Monk" I went over the evidence hmmmm??? who else was in my house that could of taken the DVD (My children are grown and live across the country, husband is out of state working ) Well, the only people here was the other real estate agent and the "prospective buyer".
Now who would had a better opportuntity to help themselves to my brand new Disney DVD ...the agent of course...she could of easily escorted the buyer back to her vehicle waved good-bye and then returned to my home and could pilfer anything she wanted.
Did mention this was all happened just 2 weeks before Christmas 2010, I am sure my new DVD made a very nice Christmas Present for someone, hope they enjoy it! I told my agent about this and well I have NO proof so there you go...Word to the wise HIDE everything and hire security guards and/or put in Nanny cams throughout! Yea!
Jenny,
Sorry to hear of your experience.