Saving yourself from Open House Liabilities

Selling a house requires owners to hold an open house in order to give the most opportunity to potential buyers to assess the house. However if someone is injured while on your property, you may be liable. There are ways to keep your house safe so that you can successfully sell your house.

Fix walkways: Before opening up your house to buyers, be sure to fix loose tiles, both inside and outside your home. A stumble over loose flooring could result in major medical dental bills that you could very easily avoid.

A clean house will attract more buyers, and you may be tempted to wash your floors or hose off your deck before they come through, but this needs to be done the night before so that there is ample drying time. There is no telling what kind of shoes your visitors will be wearing and wet surfaces could increase the risk of injury.

Keep less furniture: Keep only the most necessary furniture, as this will make your home more attractive, and also reduce the safety hazards. Staging can help open up your home, hiring a professional is an option.

Fasten cabinets and shelving: Potential buyers like to look as well as touch your home and its contents. Securely fasten cabinet doors and shelves to reduce risk of injury when visitors begin opening and examining them.

Check smoke detector batteries: Make sure your smoke detectors are in good working order.

Secure pool fences: Secure your pool with a safety fence.

Secure your pets: Pets can react badly to strangers so to avoid dog bites or injury to your pets, take them out to a park or a pet hotel.

You may be tempted to wash your floors or hose off your deck before buyers come through, but you need to do that the night before so that they have time to dry. There is no telling what kind of shoes your visitors will be wearing and wet surfaces could increase the risk of injury.