Toronto The Good does, for the most part, lives up to it’s moniker. However, there are some bad apples out there. Not to mention fluffy stair lurking kitties!

When you are selling your home you are inviting (in a relatively controlled manner) the public into your home without you there. Here are our top safety tips for home sellers:

1. Prevent falls: Clear your walkways of ice or wet leaves and if you keep items on the stairs, remove them to create a clear path.

2. Hide Valuables: People will look in your closet but they (likely) won’t look in furniture. Tuck away your pretty things in drawers or cabinets and help fight temptation. Medicine cabinets are the exception. Put your prescriptions somewhere else.

3. No knives: Those knives in the fancy block do look great on your counter, but they’re not going to look great in your Realtor. Put them out of sight. Put all weapons out of sight for that matter.

4. Insist on an Open House Registry: When your agent asks each guest to sign-in, it reduces the likelihood of crime.

5. Put key lights on timers: Sometimes it’s easiest to just clear out for a few days when there are a number of showings booked for your property. Make it look like someone is still home.

6. Make provisions for pets: Have a cat that likes to make a break for it every time the door opens? Have a dog who loves you but hates strangers? Make a game plan that doesn’t put fluffy or those coming to see your home at risk.

7. Check your locks: You may never use that basement door, but it might have been unlocked during a showing. When you get home make sure everything is locked as it should be.

8. Refer requests to your agent: The “For Sale” sign can tempt passersby to ask for a peak. Make it a policy that all showing requests are handled through your agent’s brokerage.

9. Protect your identity: Put away your bills and other personal documents. Your degree on the office wall is perfectly hung, but do you want strangers knowing your middle name and where you went to school? If you have kids, take their names off their bedroom door and the like.

10. Don’t leave in a rush: It’s better that you are home when the agent and prospective buyer arrives than rushing out the door and leaving the stove on. True story.