HOME PROTECTION DURING THE SELLING PROCESS

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Even though Santa Barbara is considered a safe community, known for its beautiful neighborhoods and community-oriented atmosphere, it’s essential to prioritize the safety and security of your home and belongings when it comes time to sell. Taking precautionary home protection measures for safeguarding your property and belongings should begin once you list with a trusted Realtor®. To help you navigate this, I've compiled 9 home protection tips that will secure your property and may also enhance its appeal to potential buyers.

A lbeautifully furnished uxury living room with a fireplace and lots of natural light streaming through the windows and open doors.

1. Secure All Your Valuables and Declutter

The first step in protecting your home is safeguarding your valuables. Start by removing personal items, like the sellers of the enchanting Spanish Colonial Revival-Style Estate pictured above have done. Items like jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should be tucked away in a safe, secured, out-of-sight location. Additionally, medications should be secured to prevent unauthorized access. Before any showings, take the time to go through your medicine cabinet and remove all prescription medications.

2. Declutter & Depersonalize

Decluttering and depersonalizing your space is essential when preparing your house for sale. This process not only helps prospective buyers envision themselves living there but also minimizes the risk of theft. It's crucial to keep in mind that not all potential buyers have good intentions—some individuals may use home showings to scout for valuables.

3. Keep a Record of Visitors

To enhance security, maintain a log of everyone who tours your home. This can be as simple as a sign-in sheet at the entrance, where visitors can record their names, contact information, and the visit date. If something goes missing, having a record of who entered your home can be invaluable in tracking down any potential issues. While it may seem excessive, this simple step can provide peace of mind.

A female realtor, Cristal Clarke, sitting behind a desk on the phone looking at her laptop.

4. Partner with a Reputable Realtor

One of the most effective ways to ensure the safety of your home during the selling process is to work with a well-established and trustworthy Realtor. A knowledgeable agent like me will have established screening protocols for potential buyers, minimizing the risk of encountering individuals with less-than-honorable intentions.

As your Realtor, I prioritize safety by vetting all prospective buyers. I only allow showings for individuals who are pre-approved for a mortgage or who have the means to make a cash purchase. Furthermore, once your home is listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), agents of potential buyers can only bring clients screened through my office.

5. Consider Individual Showings Over Open Houses

Open houses have become less popular in today’s real estate market, accounting for less than 6% of home sales. While they may seem convenient, they also open the door to potential security risks. Consider this: during an open house, your home is accessible to the general public, which includes people who may simply be looking for a free snack or a glimpse into your lifestyle. Some may even have ulterior motives, scouting your home for future thefts.

Instead, I opt for individual showings scheduled in advance. This allows for greater control over who enters your home. Prioritize home protection by conducting a thorough walk-through with your agent before opening your home to potential buyers.

Three surveillance cameras on the roof of a home. — Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

6. Ensure Security Cameras Are Operational

In today’s digital age, security cameras provide an excellent layer of protection for your home. With a variety of options available, installing security cameras can help you monitor your property, whether you’re at home or away. If you already have them, make sure they work properly.

Positioning cameras is vital so they cover all of your home's entry points and key areas. A simple sign at the entrance will inform Realtors and buyers that they are being recorded. Knowing they are under surveillance will likely deter inappropriate behavior, giving you added peace of mind. For more info on the best security monitoring companies, please read my recent blog post, Home Security Tips From a Montecito Luxury Realtor.

A large safe open inside a luxury home's office. — Image courtesy of Guardian Safe & Vault

7. Secure Personal Information

When preparing your home for showings, secure any personal information. This includes financial documents, family photos, calendars, and anything else that reveals personal details about you and your household. You might consider keeping them locked up in your home safe, like the one pictured above.

By keeping your home impersonal, you protect your privacy and allow buyers to envision themselves living in the space. An impersonal environment helps buyers focus on the property rather than the current homeowners’ well-being.

8. Lock Doors and Windows After Showings

Once a showing concludes, don’t forget to lock all doors and windows. This may seem like a basic step, but it’s often overlooked in the excitement of the home-selling process. Also, make sure your Realtor or their representative is present during all showings to maintain security.

9. Be Wary of Unscheduled Showings

If someone approaches your home requesting an impromptu showing, saying no is perfectly acceptable. Have your Realtor’s business cards on hand so interested parties can schedule a proper appointment.

Feel free to reach out if you’re considering selling your home in any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities. Call me at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I would be delighted to add your listing to my portfolio of fine homes and ensure the safety of your family and belongings throughout the selling journey. Together, we can make your real estate experience and home's protection as smooth and secure as possible!

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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch