Selling your home as a single woman? Here’s how to stay safe
With single women now making up the biggest percentage of homebuyers and owners in South Africa, they also account for an increasing number of home sales and should know how to stay safe during that process.
That’s the word from Denese Zaslansky, CEO of leading Johannesburg property company FIRZT Realty, who says that while selling a home is a big undertaking for anyone, navigating the process can be especially difficult for single women owners, and that they need to make their personal safety a priority.
“According to property data company Lightstone, just over 60% of first-time homebuyers in SA are currently single women, while among existing homeowners, 39% are single women, 31% are single men and just 30% are couples. So it stands to reason that there are more and more single women among home sellers.
“And in our experience, many such sellers also have children or elderly parents in their care, so it is even more important that they work with a trustworthy, experienced estate agent who takes their safety seriously. A professional agent will screen prospective buyers, schedule and supervise viewings and generally act as a buffer between them and the public. It is also preferable to deal with an agent they know or who has been personally recommended by a friend, family member or work colleague.
“In addition, to protect themselves financially, sellers need to ensure that their agent is registered with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and has a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate.”
Next, she says, single women sellers and their agent should agree on some protocols for home viewings and show days, so that they always have someone they trust with them while prospective buyers go through the property. “All private viewings should be strictly by appointment only and sellers should never feel pressured to accommodate anyone who just turns up on their doorstep in response to a For Sale sign on the property, for example, or who calls them and says they were told about the property by a friend and would like to see it right away.
“Sellers should immediately refer anyone who does that back to their agent to schedule a viewing at a convenient time - which people who are really interested in buying their home should be happy to do.”
Then when it comes to show days, says Zaslansky, single women need to take particular care to protect their privacy and avoid displaying personal information or photographs. They should also remove any calendars with appointments from view, as well as any mail or other documents showing their full names or ID details.
“They should of course also lock up any valuables, including jewellery, laptops and other electronics, handbags, wallets and medications before the home goes on show. And, equally important, they should do a walk-through of their home as soon as the show day is over to check that nothing is missing, that all doors and windows are properly closed and locked and that all security systems are working properly. Homes on show are unfortunately vulnerable to opportunistic theft and sometimes people will pose as buyers to test doors and windows for future access or to disable alarms, cameras or other security equipment.”
Single women sellers should also, she says, be especially wary of sharing too much about their home sale journey on social media. “Specifically, they should avoid posting their address, dates on which their home will be on show, or any photos that could enable people in their area to identify the property.
“And once their home is sold, they should also be very discreet about their moving date – offline as well as online. If possible, they should schedule the move during the day and arrange for someone they trust to also be present. Meanwhile, vacant homes can also be a target for theft or vandalism, so if the new owner is not moving in immediately, they should enlist the help of their agent to keep the property secure.”
Zaslansky adds that solo sellers should always trust their instincts. “They are going to be interacting with many new people during this process, from prospective buyers to bank valuers, home inspectors, contractors, attorneys and movers, and if anyone makes them feel at all uncomfortable, they should not hesitate to speak up, end the interaction, or ask someone they trust to accompany them. Their safety is much more important than making a sale, even if they are keen to move.”
Issued by FIRZT Realty
For media inquiries contact
Denese Zaslansky on
082 560 1618
Or visit www.firzt.co.za
About FIRZT Realty
Established in 2003, FIRZT Realty initially focused on residential real estate, but has since expanded to offer a broad range of services in both the residential and commercial property sectors, including sales, rentals, auctions and property management.