leave the driveway and sidewalk slippery with snow and ice. Arrange for snow removal so you do not become liable for mishaps to the visitors. • Beware of uninvited visitors. Be careful when unexpected visitors come to your doorstep. Ensure only real estate professionals with a confirmed appointment scheduled have control of the lock box and key 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 for you to paste a sticker on the door-front stating the property is not for rent. This will also give an indication to the viewers it is only for sale. The sticker can carry the phone number of the listing agent, the police, an 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 the batteries are fresh. Some security systems send automatic signals to local authorities. 62
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