Everyone should also be aware of prescription medicines that are easily placed into a pocket or pocketbook.  Let's not make it too easy for thieves to get free drugs.  Ask sellers to removed them from obvious places before holding the house open.  It can also happen when the home is being shown.  Be aware.

I suppose this is just one more argument for not holding an open house by yourself.  

I wonder how hard it would be to rig up a web-cam, point it toward the front door and have it snap a few shots when someone walks in.  Would one need to post a sign stating that pictures were being taken???  Just a thought.

I'm in TX so I always caution homeowners about their guns.

Make sure the doors and all windows are locked before you leave. Keep the house keys in your pocket. Scramble a combo lock as soon as you enter the property.

Velda said: I suppose this is just one more argument for not holding an open house by yourself.

Here's another reason:   When I entered real estate, I held an open house for another agent in my office.  The week before we had been alerted that the police were looking for a man that had attended an open house where "items" were missing and to keep an eye out for him (a complete description was given and this was a small community).  Sure enough he showed up at my open house and I alerted the police.  He was caught at another house and his pockets were full of....

Pantyhose!  A few weeks later, my brother came over to my house and told me that I needed to hold more open houses. He was angry that I had given up on open houses.  As he left, he turned to me and said "Lock your door", to which I replied:  "You want me to lock my door in my own house, yet you want me to advertise to the world that on any particular Sunday afternoon, I'm alone in a strangers house and come on in?"  He' never brought up the subject again and it's been 8 years.

Around here, it's nearly impossible to find someone else to sit at an open house with you.  I can't think of an agent I know that has picked up a buyer from an open house, let alone sold the home as a result of of one. I firmly believe that if someone is in the market for a home, they will contact an agent. I don't need to be a sitting duck.

Dee, I read about that on the MLS homepage...I am also a member of CVAR. I always tell my clients to remove all of their valuables, including prescription drugs, guns, jewelry, etc. from their home while it is on the market. When I do open houses I try to do them with another agent, but that is close to impossible just as Velda said. Sometimes if they are not busy (now for one) loan officers will sit on open houses with agents to market potential buyers. They bring their material and place it with mine. I always walk with the people through the home and don't let them out of my sight. If they want to split up, I ask them to stay together with me even if they are with their agent. Keep in mind, it's easy to create fake business cards and appear as an agent with clients.