Recent news reports about burglaries of vacant homes for sale in the Bay Area are troubling and a good reminder for REALTORS® and their clients to take precautions to prevent this crime from happening to them. Majority of recent burglaries have occurred in homes with "For Sale" signs in the front yard, or homes that are easily identifiable as being vacant.
For your safety and that of your client, please consider taking the following precautions and share them with clients who plan to sell their home or leave their home vacant for an extended time:
• Make your home look occupied. Use automatic timers on lights, a TV, and/or radio and set them to go on and off at different times to make your house appear occupied. Install motion detectors on the exterior of your home and garage/shed.
• Keep curtains/blinds closed and lock all doors and windows. Use wooden stakes inside door/window frames to prevent them from being opened from the outside.
• Keep your property maintained, grass mowed, and leaves raked. Trim trees and shrubs so they can't conceal burglars.
• Inform the police and trusted neighbors that your house will be vacant for an extended time. Police may be able to patrol your neighborhood periodically and keep an eye on your property. Ask neighbors to keep an eye on the property and call 9-1-1 immediately if they see or hear any suspicious activity.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up flyers or newspapers that may be left on the front porch or driveway. Consider asking a neighbor to park their vehicle in your driveway while you are gone.
• Install an alarm system and/or security cameras.
• Consider renting your home or hiring a house sitter so your house won't be vacant.
• Know the risks of putting "For Rent" or "For Sale" signs in front of your property.
• Never leave a spare house key under doormats, flowerpots or other hiding places.
• Don't place posts on social media informing others that your house is for sale or that you are away on vacation.