What Should Be Removed When Selling A House?

Dear Phyllis,
I find your real estate questions and answers very informative. My 82-year-old mother will be relocating from Long Beach to La Crescenta. She lives alone and I am concerned about her safety when selling. What do you think should be removed when selling a house? Nancy

Dear Nancy,
Ask your mother’s Realtor to not hold open houses and only allow buyers who are pre-approved in her home. This helps in keeping her valuables secure.

Things to hide or remove when selling a house:

• Identity theft: Personal papers, tax returns, account numbers, bank and credit card statements should be hidden.  Although, I have yet to come across any overzealous buyers rummaging through my client’s drawers, personal papers should be in a locked filing cabinet.
• Money: I once had a client leave money on the counter for his cleaning lady. Fortunately, it wasn’t stolen. But it should have been tucked away or at least put in an envelope with her name on it.
• Jewelry, coin collections, silver:  They should be relocated to a safety deposit box or at a minimum removed from the home.
• Designer items: Some designer handbags cost thousands of dollars. If your mother has a collection, consider removing them.
• Prescription drugs should never be left in the bathroom medicine cabinet, on a counter or bedside. The last thing any of us want is a drug addict rummaging through the bathroom medicine chest finding something and then wanting to come back for more.
• Computers: Have them turned off.
• Weapons: If there is a gun safe in the home it should be relocated to the garage. Keep in mind while in person showings are monitored, listing photos are all over the internet.

Best of luck on your mom’s move!