
Take precautions to ensure your safety by following these open house tips:
Preparation
- Schedule the open house only for daylight hours. In the winter, you’ll need to close before dark, which could be quite early.
- Have at least two people to help you. If your spouse can’t attend, ask your mortgage lender, vendor, or business partner or accompany you.
- Charge your cell phone fully. Use safety apps and emergency contacts who know your back-up plan.
- Check in with your spouse or buddy to let him/her know where you plan to be, and what times you will be there.
Setting Up the Open House
- Call your spouse or buddy to let him/her know you are in the house safely. Ensure your phone has a strong signal or there is a landline available.
- Open curtains and turn on the lights.
- Become familiar with the house. Walk through potential escape routes in case of emergency.
- Set up a Guest Log and require that each guest register their name, phone, and address. Require them to show ID.
- Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out during the open house.
- When guests arrive, write down descriptions of their car and them.
- If you don’t feel safe, call the police and ask them to drive by the house and check out the neighborhood.
During the Open House
- Set up your guest sign-in log right at the front door.
- Sit at the front door where you can see each person coming in and monitor the cars coming and going.
- When showing the house, let them walk in front of you. Don’t go inside of bedrooms or bathrooms; in fact, stay near the front door.
- Your partner can escort one family through the house at a time while you wait in the front room with the other guests.
- Keep your cell phone in your hand, not plugged in across the room from you.
- Make sure the front door is always kept open and in plain sight of the neighbors.
After the Open House
- Ensure that every guest has left the property before locking all the doors and shutting the curtains.
- Call your spouse or buddy to let him/her know that you are leaving the house.
- If you notified any neighbors, let them also know that you are leaving.
- Write a brief note to the residents, thanking them.
It’s simple to ensure your safety at open houses by planning ahead. Make it a habit to take basic steps each and every time you host an open house to ensure success for you and your sellers.