South Africa has a well known problem with violent crime and home invasion robberies. We are not the world leader in violent crime but are very close to being it. Logically homeowners want to feel as safe and secure as possible in their homes and most will take any action necessary to protect themselves.
If you are trying to sell your home and it is located within a high crime area you will find it far harder to sell. Location is the one thing about a property that cannot be changed and affects everything.
Buyers may be more willing to consider your property if you have adequate security measures in place at the time of sale. Many, many people will not even consider spending a single night in an unprotected home, particularly in the areas that are rife with crime such as Gauteng.
Visible security measures will make the buyer feel more secure and probably act as a deterrent for criminal activity. Measures such as:
- burglar bars
- security gates
- electric fencing
- security cameras
- alarm systems
If you do not have these in place already you should consider installing them before putting your home on the market as many buyers these days will calculate the cost of these security measures and demand that the seller reduce his price by that much. If you do it yourself it will not pose a problem for you in the future and will give you more negotiating power.
There is also the effect of immigration, due to crime, taking buyers out of South Africa. The higher income areas are probably most affected as they can afford to emigrate to other more appealing countries if they wish to do so. This will eventually make it much harder to sell the higher end properties at their market value as the demand for them will have decreased.
If you intend on selling your property make sure it looks like a safe and secure purchase as this will affect it’s re-sale potential very much. If you are selling your home because your security measures have been ineffective in preventing crime on your property it would be best to consult with a professional that can advise you on the best way to protect your home and family. This will then also help you sell your home in the future.
