Did you know that property theft during a Garage Sale rarely happens at the checkout table, but rather when buyers wander into unsecured areas of your home?

Learn how to execute a critical security checklist to seal off side gates, home back doors, and interior garage doors before allowing strangers onto the property.

Hosting a massive Garage Sale in Seattle means inviting hundreds of strangers onto your property. While 99% of shoppers are just looking for a good deal, opportunists look for open doors, unlocked gates, and unmonitored access points while you are distracted by a checkout rush.

If you wait until the morning crowds arrive to check your property perimeter, you are leaving your home vulnerable. Before you put your first sign in the ground, you must execute a strict house security lockdown:

• Seal the Interior Garage Door: If you are hosting your sale in the driveway or front lawn, you must lock the interior man-door that leads from your garage directly into your house. Never assume you can keep an eye on it during a busy morning rush.

• Padlock All Side Gates: Shoppers will naturally wander looking for more items. If your backyard gate is unlatched, someone will walk through it. Padlock all side gates and put up a clear “Do Not Enter” sign.

• Secure the Back Doors and Windows: Opportunists may use the distraction in the front yard to walk around to the back of the house. Ensure all back doors, sliding glass doors, and ground-floor windows are locked before the first early-bird picker arrives.
• Clear the Garage Valuables: If you are letting buyers into the garage itself, securely cover your expensive tools, lawnmowers, and bicycles with heavy tarps if they are not for sale. If a high-value item is visible, someone will try to buy it or walk away with it when you aren’t looking.