The show day is crucial for sellers, but there has been concern over whether you should adopt an ‘open-house’ policy with increasing attacks in certain areas.

Managing director of Anne Porter Knight Frank, Lanice Steward this week told agents that they should keep show house doors closed. "A show house day should be no different from any other day. If owners of houses in that area usually lock their doors, so should we while we are its custodians," noted Steward.

Almost all of Anne Porter Knight Frank’s agents will now make sure that they have the armed response panic button on them, and agents are now linked in by cellphone to speed dial a quick response emergency service from ADT.

"About 95 percent of the houses we sell do have quick response protection services," said Steward, "and they will now be put on alert and asked to visit regularly."

However Steward does note that "at Anne Porter Knight Frank — and I suspect at most other big agencies, 85 percent of correctly priced homes which open for a day’s viewing sell within 30 days."

"The old maxim that a buyer must be allowed to touch and see a product applies 100 percent in selling homes and there is always a special excitement about a show day that tends to coax buyers into making a decision," added Steward.

Show day tips for sellers from firstrung.co.uk:

  • Sellers should take have the neighbours visiting the show house throughout the day

  • Have a cellphone on hand with emergency numbers preprogrammed

  • Do not wear expensive jewellery or have expensive items like a laptop with you if possible

  • Be careful of putting your picture or personal on business cards, websites, billboards and brochures. Predators can target you if you fit their profile

  • One could insist that would-be buyers meet at the office first. This increases witness potential, as if they can be identified, they are less likely to commit a crime

  • Keep pepper spray with you

  • Make sure that a close friend or relative is aware of your whereabouts