So you really think those burglar bars will give buyers the warm fuzzies?

At a recent property showing, my clients and I walked into a townhouse in a pretty nice neighborhood. And the showing went pretty well, until we went to the walk-out lower level family room and found these:

The buyers didn't notice the built-in bookcases or the woodburing fireplace. All they saw was some imaginary masked bad guy trying to break into the house.

When I first moved from Manhattan to Washington, I was amazed that so few homes here had burglar bars. In New York, anyone who lived within a long ladder's reach of the street had them - or perhaps they thought of it as "decorative grill work". And I started to think how all of the New York burglars could just move to DC and their jobs would become so much easier.

But after a few decades in our nation's Capital, I realize that in most areas, they are not really necessary. Between Willie the Labradoodle and an alarm system, I feel pretty comfortable going bar-less in my inner city neighborhood And when I list a property that has them, I usually try to talk the seller into taking them down.

If you have this little security feature, is it really a selling plus?

No. At least not for most buyers.

First, they are bars. Bars are associated with prison cells, or in my case, raccoon traps. And they do not make a room more attractive.

Furthermore, they won't make most buyers feel safe. They are more apt to look at the your bars and wonder why they are there. Have you had a lot of home invasions? Will it be safe walking from the Metro stop to the house, or will they run a high risk of being mugged?

Now, if you do live in a dodgy part of town, they might be a great idea - even a necessity. But in neighborhoods that are relatively safe, you are probably better off without them.

In any big city, there will be some issues. I remember years ago, the Australian Ambassador's wife was mugged walking their dog in the most elegant part of Washington, withn site of the Executive Protective Service guys who were in front of the embassy. It can happen anywhere, and you need to be smart about protecting your house. If someone is determined to break into your house, bars like this are unlikely to stop them. A loud obnoxious blare from an alarm system, however, is likely to send them flying to their getaway car.

If your buyers are concerned about personal safety, seeing burglar bars will heighten their feelings of insecurity about your home. An alarm system do not seem to bother buyers - unless I manage to set it off trying to show the house. And for me, an alarm system has been a great deterrent. Well, not to detract from Willie's efforts to scare off any bad guys who might think about trying to enter the house.

If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC area, I can help! I am licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. You may call, email or text me at:

Housepat@mac.com, 202-549-5167

SEARCH ALL LISTINGS IN THE DC METRO AREA

CHECK OUT MY LATEST BLOG IN THE WASHINGTON POST!