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In a few weeks, my house will go up for sale. So I was wondering can someone provide me some suggestions on how to best secure my house during an open house?
Long story short, I live in Los Angeles, California. I live in a gated community (with 176 single detached homes) in a somewhat higher crime area.
Since I’m in a hurry to sale, but want to get the best possible price for my house, my Realtor said I need to have an open house. My main concern is since I live in a somewhat higher crime area, plus I’m sure a lot of my lookie-loo neighbors are going to come to the open house just to look in every drawer, cabinet, and closet in my house (just only to be nosey, as they would not be in the market for a house since they already have a house in my gated community) , what are some of my best options to stop people (in general) from looking in every drawer, cabinet, closet, along with ways to mainly cut down on any theft during the open house (since I can’t be present for the open house)? Without going into a lot of details, unfortunately, I'm not in a financial situation to move out of the house and just have an open house. I must sell my house first, before I can move out of it, thus I must leave all of my personal belongings in the house, but I will be removing my valuables for the open house.
I would not mind hiring 2 security guards (for 2 to 3 hours) for the open house (i.e. have one up stairs and one down stairs) to better cut down on people being nosey and to mainly cut down on any type of theft . . . yet I’m not sure if sellers have gone through these type of extremes to better secure their home for an open house.
Your thoughts and or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
1 - NEVER allow lockbox. That enables strangers to enter your house when you aren't there.
2 - ALWAYS be present when somebody is looking at your house and follow them around wherever they go. Nothing prevents you from limiting the amount of lookers at any one time.
Why can't you be present? Open houses are usually scheduled on weekends. My advice: do what it takes to be there.
Or, if you are going to hire security, hire attractive women who can look like modern real estate agents.
Often there are two agents at an open house, for their personal security. I've even gone where there are maybe four with three sitting at the dining table when I arrived, acting like they are learners. Otherwise, put your sensitive stuff in a box and hide it under the bed.
Pack valuables away. Even without the open house, once on the market, you will hopefully have lots of buyers go through the house with agents. Lookers should not be looking in dressers, but it is perfectly acceptable for them to look in cabinets and closets.
For the open house, if a crowd is expected, ask that there be a couple agents working to help guide people through and make sure people aren't unattended in back rooms.
Will everyone be allowed to just come in? That's not uncommon but many times a buyer has an agent with him. I don't know if you want to consider only realtor-escorted customers permitted. And then have one of those security guards at the door to look at or take the agent's business card.
Do you have a camera at the door that takes pix?
Store away (away from the house...bank safe...) all important info as well as the jewelry, handbags, etc...devices, info, pretty much anything on office desk, etc. Maybe have the security guard give it a once over in case you are so used to seeing something you forgot.
Someone could do a walk around outside the house to see if they get the sense someone is checking out access.
After the open house have the security guards inspect for any security breaches. Let LE know about these. (These would be because 'lookers' were really looking for what to unlock and leave open for later.)
Lock up the house, double checking so you don't miss anything someone who came in may have unlocked, broken, moved aside for easier access later.
Be sure to have your Ring or whatever security cameras and alarms on afterwards. You could have a neighbor keep an eye on the house every so often afterwards or make surprise visits to the house during the days after.
Store any valuables or anything that looks expensive in a safe place. Not a portable lockbox.
Put any prescription meds in a shoebox and put in a clotheshamper at bottom with clothes on top. Even meds that wont get someone high. People will steal prescriptions and then look at what they are later, and throw out non opiod stuff. Can get expensive to replace.
Getting a camera system for each room can help, and post signs all over that there is video surveillance.
In a few weeks, my house will go up for sale. So I was wondering can someone provide me some suggestions on how to best secure my house during an open house?
Long story short, I live in Los Angeles, California. I live in a gated community (with 176 single detached homes) in a somewhat higher crime area.
Since I’m in a hurry to sale, but want to get the best possible price for my house, my Realtor said I need to have an open house. My main concern is since I live in a somewhat higher crime area, plus I’m sure a lot of my lookie-loo neighbors are going to come to the open house just to look in every drawer, cabinet, and closet in my house (just only to be nosey, as they would not be in the market for a house since they already have a house in my gated community) , what are some of my best options to stop people (in general) from looking in every drawer, cabinet, closet, along with ways to mainly cut down on any theft during the open house (since I can’t be present for the open house)? Without going into a lot of details, unfortunately, I'm not in a financial situation to move out of the house and just have an open house. I must sell my house first, before I can move out of it, thus I must leave all of my personal belongings in the house, but I will be removing my valuables for the open house.
I would not mind hiring 2 security guards (for 2 to 3 hours) for the open house (i.e. have one up stairs and one down stairs) to better cut down on people being nosey and to mainly cut down on any type of theft . . . yet I’m not sure if sellers have gone through these type of extremes to better secure their home for an open house.
Your thoughts and or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Items I would fret about getting nosey-parkered, damaged or stolen I'd remove or hide. Then accept reality. If you can't handle the thought of an open house, don't hold one.
I've had worried owners do open houses with me. I asked them to wear professional clothes and they helped to monitor people. They looked like my assistant and helped to give tours of the home. That only works if you don't get offended if people say negative things though.
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, what are some of my best options to stop people (in general) from looking in every drawer, cabinet, closet, along with ways to mainly cut down on any theft during the open house (since I can’t be present for the open house)? 
Without going into a lot of details, unfortunately, I'm not in a financial situation to move out of the house and just have an open house. I must sell my house first, before I can move out of it, thus I must leave all of my personal belongings in the house, but I will be removing my valuables for the open house. 
