I’m a homeowner with a house for sale on a busy street. It is obvious from the listing photos that the house is unoccupied because it is staged with nice furniture and decorations. Someone cut the realtor lockbox off the door yesterday, got inside, and stole some items. I rekeyed the lock and now we are using a heavy duty lockbox, not a realtor lockbox. Any lockbox can be broken open with the right tools though. What else can I do to deter thieves from breaking in again?
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Lights, cameras, signs, and no lockbox of any kind. Old fashioned human contact for keys for access.
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Is handing over the keys in person a thing? I didn’t know if realtors would be willing to do that.
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Put some lights and the tv on timers. Might help if it looks like someone is living there.
Also garbage out on garbage day. I’m sure there’s people who roam looking for no cans out to know whose actually home or not.
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I was thinking Smart bulbs for the lights so they could be turned on from anywhere. No one can be sure if a person isn’t on the premises turning them on.
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Thanks, I will try that
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Install visible security cameras and motion-activated lights. Put up “Property under surveillance” signs. Consider a smart doorbell camera. Ask neighbors to keep an eye out and report suspicious activity. Might be worth hiring a house sitter or security service until it sells.
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Do the home alone thing and put cardboard cutouts of people on moving trains and let the trains go round and round with lights on
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Use smart lights likephilips hue for indoor and outdoor, control them remotely if you still have wifi
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