Recently in the local newspapers, it has been reported that quite a number of house owners were robbed when they tried to put up their properties for sale or for rental. In Malaysia , a lot of property owners try to dispose off their properties on their own, just to save the 2.75% professional fees payable to the real estate agents who sell their properties for them.

Most of the property owners are not aware of the alarming fact that many robberies are occurring due to their own negligence to security and safety precautions. They will easily disclose important security information through the telephone to complete strangers. For example, when a caller asks for the best time to view the house, the owner would explain that they are working from Monday to Saturdays until 8pm except on Sundays. Or when a caller asks if the house comes equipped with an alarm system, the owner would disclose in great detail about the security features of the house in the hope of securing a purchaser for the house, without realizing that they are being targeted by the robbers.

During my training seminars to negotiators, I always emphasize on the safety measures especially for property owners and sales negotiators as there are many instances where even the sales negotiators were robbed, raped and murdered.

If you would like to sell your property by yourself, the following tips are important to you and your family members:

1.  Never allow any stranger to visit your house, especially when he is claiming that he is from outstation and he needs to view the house immediately.

2.  Always ask for the caller’s office and house telephone numbers. Call back to verify the name and the number. Mobile phone numbers cannot be trusted because it may be registered under another person’s name.

3.  Never let the caller know your property address before your obtain their contacts. Inform the caller that you will call to fix the appointment after discussing with your family members.

4.  Only talk about the house features and never disclose information on the house’s security system.

5.  Always make a list of the people who have viewed your house. Important details that should be included in the list are such as their name, contact details, address, car plate number, type of car and any other additional information. All these information could be very helpful if your house has been robbed.

6.  Do not allow the stranger to be alone even for a moment. Always keep an eye on the stranger’s movement while in your house.

7.  It is advisable to get a reputable real estate agent to sell your property for you because they can screen through the prospective buyers before bringing them to view your house.