Things to Think About When Selling Your Own Home in Fort Wayne Indiana

Selling your own home can be a very gratifying experience. If you have the time and expertise I as a Realtor have no ill will against you. I personally don't prospect For Sale By Owners, unless my services are requested. With that being said I would like to try and educate those who do FSBO, so that they and their family members don't put themselves into unnecessary danger.

The sad but true world, that we live in today, makes it nearly impossible to extinguish friend from foe. We Realtors have the advantage of being able to pre-qualify potential clients, as well as having a record of whoever we do business with. For those of you considering or currently trying FSBO in Fort Wayne, please take every precautionary action possible to prevent you from putting yourself or family members into harms way. As a precaution, I recommend what I do at open houses and that is to verify and document anyone who will be looking at your home. In addition it is even more important to put into place rules for handling a situation when the woman and children of the home are alone. Please don't allow a stranger, no matter how trusting or unsuspicious they may seem into your home without your husband or another male adult at your home. I am not a sexist, nor do I think women are inferior in anyway, but statistics don't lie. The statistics show that physical assaults are far less likely to occur if a male is at home at the time of the incident. The threat doesn't have to be physical either; it could come in the form of vandalism. Buglers have been known to scout out potential target homes through FBSO properties. The key for the vandals is to get the basic layout of the home and valuables by doing a home tour. They may also unknowingly to you, bait your for helpful information such as work hours, the hours your other family members keep to better assist them with the crime to take place. So the question becomes, "what can you do to better protect yourself in the future, while trying to sell your Fort Wayne home."

First, if your home alone during a showing call and let a friend or family members know when and who you are showing the house to. While showing the home mention that you are expecting either family members or another potential buyer in a few minutes, this may give a criminal some pause in acting. Also, set up a time that you will call your friend or family member after the showing with a password to ensure your safety.

Second, ask all potential buyers for identification. Keep a clipboard handy and write down their name, drivers license #, and current address, as well as the date and time of showing. This will prove helpful in the event that something unlawful does occur. It may also prevent those who were thinking about committing a crime from acting.

Third, never discuss what time you will or won’t be home while making a showing appointment, instead just say that it wouldn't be a good time. Just remember the less information given the better.

Fourth, keep all of your valuables out of site. This may seem obvious, but believe me, its not. In addition if you’re showing your home to multiple parties, please insist that they all stick together and not loiter around your home at will.

Fifth, you may insist on seeing a mortgage pre-approval letter. If someone claims to be interested in your home enough to take a tour, then it shouldn't be a surprise if you first insist on seeing proof that they are first capable of producing the funds necessary to purchase your Fort Wayne home.

Lastly, just use your common sense, over your desire to sell your home. Nothing is worth the well being your you or family members.

I hope that the information I have provided will help those of you who prefer to go it alone. For those of you who have some further questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Selling your own home is hard enough as it is, please don't make it the wrong decision by putting yourself or family members unnecessary into harms way.

Courtney Bontempo
BKM Real Estate
260-341-5442
bontempo66@comcast.net
www.ListWithBontempo.com

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