Are female vendors really safe as houses?

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Over 5.6 million[1] female homeowners may be risking their personal safety by allowing men to view their property while home alone.

Although over half (55 per cent) of women questioned said that they’d never let a man into their house on a first date to protect their personal safety, 82 per cent of women are prepared to put their personal safety at risk by inviting men in to view their home while home alone, so as not to miss out on a potential sale.

The research[2] conducted by, Sheilas’ Wheels Home Insurance, reveals that nearly a fifth (19 per cent) admitted that they wouldn’t even think of safety issues when showing male viewers around their property. 

Consequently, 63 per cent of women did not ask their estate agents what safety checks (if any) were made on buyers before allowing them to visit their property.  Astonishingly more than half (57 per cent) didn’t even know their potential buyer’s name and almost two thirds (62 per cent) of women didn’t ask their estate agent whether the interested party was coming to the house alone.  This is increasingly relevant as women’s earnings continue to rise[3], meaning more females are becoming financially independent and choosing to buy their own homes and live alone.

Furthermore, with the ability to arrange private house sales online, more women are liaising directly with potential buyers to sell their properties and sharing personal information with strangers.  The research showed that four out of five (81 per cent) women would agree to viewings with men without asking for any details from the potential buyer.  A quarter of women (25 per cent) would give their personal mobile number out to men interested in their property and 19 per cent said that they would discuss personal details – such as when they left work and when the house was empty - before meeting the buyer. 

A staggering 77 per cent of women admitted that the main reason they are not protecting their safety and allowing prospective male buyers into their homes unaccompanied was eagerness not to miss out on a potential sale - especially in the current climate where buyers are in shorter supply.  Other reasons include: estate agents being unavailable at arranged viewing times (64 per cent), embarrassment to ask whether the male viewer would be accompanied by a female (56 per cent), reluctance to bother friends or family to come over (56 per cent), and embarrassment to ask the estate agent to be there at all times (43 per cent) during viewings.

Nearly a third (30 per cent) of women that have shown a man around their house say that they felt ‘intimidated’ or ‘nervous’ when they were alone with the prospective buyer and a further 10 per cent admit to ending a viewing early because they felt uncomfortable about being alone with a stranger.

Worryingly, women are most likely to conduct property viewings in the evening: 53 per cent of women have shown people around after 7pm, with 3 per cent (over 200,000[4]) admitting that they have even allowed viewers to arrive after 9pm.

Top reasons that women arrange house viewings outside of daylight hours:

Jenny Fawson from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust (www.suzylamplugh.org) comments:
“With the rise of property websites that enable users to sell properties privately without the aid of estate agents, it is increasingly common for women to show prospective buyers around their home unaccompanied.

There are obvious potential risks attached to this practice, therefore anyone showing a stranger around their home should take their safety into consideration and take suitable precautions.”

Top safety tips for showing your property to potential buyers who are unknown to you:

Jacky Brown at Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance, commented:
“With increasingly hectic modern lifestyles, it is easy to arrange viewings of your property with prospective buyers without thinking of the safety aspects of inviting a stranger into your home.

Sheilas’ Wheels is calling for women to become more aware of the dangers of allowing male prospective buyers into their house unaccompanied and for estate agents to undertake thorough checks on all potential buyers before setting up a viewing.  It’s better to risk losing a buyer than risk your personal safety - no matter what the condition of the housing market is.”

Visit our Helpful Resources section for further tips on personal safety when buying your property and for a user friendly Guide to Buying and Selling your Home

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About Sheilas’ Wheels Home Insurance:
Sheilas’ Wheels provides both buildings and contents cover - with a contents no claim discount

For further information please contact the Sheilas’ Wheels press office at Mischief PR on 020 7100 9999 or email sheilaswheels@mischiefpr.com

Visit the official fansite for Sheilas’ Wheels: www.ilovesheilas.com

An ISDN line is available for radio interviews.

Notes to Editors:
[1] 5,693,175 (82 per cent of 6,942,896) Source: Office of National Statistics - Table S046 Sex and NS-SeC of Household Reference Person (HRP) by tenure
[2] Sheilas’ Wheels used the independent online research company MyVoice who surveyed 1,000 of the UK’s female homeowners, from across the country aged 18 and over, on 21st April 2008
[3] Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2007, Office of National Statistics 
[4] 208,287 (3 per cent of 6,942,896) Source: Office of National Statistics - Table S046 Sex and NS-SeC of Household Reference Person (HRP) by tenure

About Sheilas’ Wheels:
Sheilas’ Wheels was launched in October 2005 to offer women drivers cheaper car insurance and female targeted product enhancements. In February 2008, the brand moved beyond car insurance, to also offer home insurance with product enhancements including free online access to the CreditExpert identity fraud detection service, alternative accommodation in the event of loss of utilities in the home (terms and conditions apply), new for old cover on clothes and family legal protection cover which also includes assistance in finding emergency registered childminders while the insured person is attending jury service, and legal representation for a customer’s child if they do not gain entry to the school of their choice (terms and conditions apply).

Sponsorship:
Sheilas' Wheels sponsors the ITV National weather: “Whether skies are grey or blue, Sheilas’ Wheels could cover you.”