Open House Preparation: It's not exactly what you think.
The Daniel Collective
The house is clean. The photos look great. You have cleared the kitchen counters and finally tackled that pile of shoes at the front door.
Before buyers arrive, there is one more thing to do: take a look at what you are leaving behind.
Jewelry on the dresser. A bank statement beside the computer. Spare keys hanging by the garage door. Everyday items are easy to overlook when you are busy getting your home ready for sale.
A Vancouver police report gives us a good reason to bring this up.
A Vancouver open house theft offers a reminder
In an October 5, 2026 news release, the Vancouver Police Department reported recovering more than $10,000 in jewelry and luxury items believed to have been stolen during a real estate open house. Officers discovered the items during a traffic stop on Saturday, October 3, following an open house earlier that day. At the time of the release, the investigation was ongoing and charges had not been approved.
The October 5 date was the date of the police report, rather than the theft itself.
Although this happened in Vancouver, the takeaway applies to homeowners here in Greater Victoria: securing your belongings deserves a place on your showing checklist.
Preparing your Victoria home for an open house
An open house lets prospective buyers get a feel for your property. They can explore the layout, see how the rooms connect and picture themselves living there.
Your REALTOR® will be welcoming visitors, answering questions and keeping an eye on activity throughout the home. When several groups arrive together, particularly in a property with multiple floors, seeing everyone at once can be challenging.
Securing personal belongings beforehand adds a practical layer of protection. The same preparation makes sense for private showings throughout your listing period.
What should you put away before a showing?
Start with anything valuable, personal or difficult to replace. Financial value is only part of it. A family ring may mean far more to you than its replacement cost.
Before leaving for an open house or showing, work through these five categories:
Jewelry, cash and collectibles. Secure rings, watches, cash and small items that could easily be carried away. For especially valuable or sentimental pieces, consider secure storage away from the property.
Personal paperwork. Put away passports, banking records, tax documents, bills and mail containing personal information. Check your desk, kitchen counter and bedside table.
Prescription medication. Secure medication, including anything normally kept in bathroom cabinets or on counters.
Electronics and personal devices. Secure laptops, tablets, external drives and other portable devices, especially those containing private information.
Keys and remotes. Secure spare house keys, vehicle keys, garage remotes and other access devices that are not needed for the showing.
Putting something in an unlocked drawer gets it out of sight. It does not secure it.
Choose suitable storage before your home goes on the market, then make this part of your routine each time you leave for a showing. It is much easier than trying to remember everything when a viewing is booked at short notice.
Walk through your home with your REALTOR®
Every property needs a slightly different plan. A downtown Victoria condo has a different layout and visitor flow than a split-level home in Saanich or a larger property in Oak Bay.
Before the first open house, walk through your home with your REALTOR®. Discuss where visitors will enter, how they will move through the property and whether the layout or anticipated attendance calls for another person to help host.
Point out anything that needs attention, such as a door that does not latch properly or an area that should remain secured. Working through these details ahead of time helps everyone prepare.
Check the house after visitors leave
Once the open house is finished, arrange a walkthrough with your REALTOR® to check that exterior doors and windows are secured and that nothing appears out of place.
If you notice something missing, let your REALTOR® know promptly. If you suspect theft, contact local police.
A short check after each open house is an easy habit to maintain while your property is listed.
Getting ready to sell in Greater Victoria?
There is plenty to think about when selling a home. Cleaning, repairs, staging and deciding where everything will go can keep you busy well before the first buyer walks through the door.
At The Daniel Collective, we help sellers work through those details, including the practical preparations that are easy to overlook.
Our advice is straightforward: before you leave for a showing, take a few minutes to secure the things that matter to you.
If you are preparing to sell in Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay or elsewhere in Greater Victoria, reach out to The Daniel Collective. We will help you put a plan together before the doors open.