• Beware of uninvited visitors. Be careful when unexpected visitors come to your doorstep. Ensure only the real estate professionals having control of the locker box should be able to access the home. Establish this as the minimum procedure to see the home. • Beware of rental fraud scam. This kind of tricky fraud is alarmingly growing these days. Some scammers remove the listing of homes for sale and then place them on the rental list in Craigslist. It is advisable that you paste a sticker on the door-front stating that the property is not for rent. This will also give an indication to the viewers that it is only for sale. The sticker can carry the phone number of the listing agent, the district attorney’s office, and a link to the internet crime complaint center. • Secure the viewings. It is a good idea to know who is coming and going at your vacant house. Allow only real estate agent-accompanied visits. Have your agent inform you of the scheduling and timing of showings and personally check-up to ensure doors have been relocked and the security system activated. • Check the status of smoke detectors. Make sure smoke alarms are positioned appropriately throughout the house and that the batteries are fresh. Some security systems send automatic signals to local authorities. • Check the weather stripping. Check the condition of your weather stripping for cracks or tears and replace them if warranted. This can help prevent the entrance of “critters” 63
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