Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide

Local insights on buying, selling, and living in Fairfield County


1 Comment

Taking Action 💪 to Prevent Local Crime: Residents Launch 1st Neighborhood Watch 👀 Meeting in Fairfield CT

Local crime, especially auto-theft have been on the rise, and there is something we can do about it. After attending a recent meeting with the Greater Fairfield Board of Realtors, I learned that having a Neighborhood Watch program or process in place is a key strategy to proactively prevent crime where you live.

How to Launch a Neighborhood Watch Where you Live

If you may want to start a Neighborhood Watch Program 👀 in your neighborhood, here is what I did to implement our first meeting.

First I introduced the idea and proposed the date.

Happy, Saturday, I hope this email finds you all in great spirits! I recently attended a meeting with our local Fairfield police officers, and they shared some compelling insights on neighborhood safety. One of their top recommendations is to establish a Neighborhood Watch program here on Charles Street. I believe it’s an idea worth exploring, and I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.

Here’s a brief overview of what’s been discussed:

The Idea 💡: Starting a Neighborhood Watch Program

The Purpose: To enhance the safety and security of our cherished Charles Street community, especially considering with car theft on the rise and our proximity to the train and highway.

What We Can Expect: Officer Ed Nook will join us for a kickoff meeting. This program can range from simple communication channels to regular meetings and various safety initiatives.

Benefits: According to the National Neighborhood Watch website, the advantages include stronger partnerships with law enforcement 👮🏽, reduced crime rates, a more secure community, enhanced unity 👫👬 among neighbors, and improved communication.

Next Steps: I propose we meet on Wednesday, October 4th at 6 pm. Can anyone volunteer their home as the meeting location? We will make it a cozy gathering with some pizza 🍕 and wine🍷. 😊

But first, I’d like to gather your initial feedback. Please reply to this email with:

1. Your thoughts: Do you think this is a good idea? (Y/N)

2. Availability: Can someone from your household attend the meeting on October 4th at 6 pm?

3. Safety and Communication Concerns: Are there any specific safety or communication issues that concern you?

4. Meeting Location: Any thoughts on where 🏡 we should hold our initial meeting?

Let’s work together to make our street safer, more aware, and even more neighborly. I’m excited to hear your thoughts and get this discussion started. Looking forward to your replies!

Warm regards,
Linda

If you would like to reach out to me with questions, send a note below.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨


1 Comment

Neighborhood Safety Tips for Open Houses

We all love open houses.  Open house events have many virtues, but what you may not know is that they also come with some risk.

Open houses offer the perfect chance for buyers to start looking for a new home and getting a feel for what’s available.  Open houses help sellers gain exposure for their property in the marketplace.  And they are an opportunity for buyers and sellers to meet Realtors they may want to work with for their next move.

But there is a risk.  While promoting the property and the open house event, Realtors are also promoting the fact that they will be alone in a house at a specific address, date and time.  This leaves an opportunity for people who may have ulterior motives.  Some people visit open houses with the intent of theft of valuables or prescription medications. Others may have assault in mind.

Open House Safety

There are educational programs for Realtors to help them prevent potential dangers and know what to do if the unthinkable were to happen.  The photo shows the Fairfield police captain and an officer delivering a training session to agents at the William Raveis Real Estate office in Southport.  Some of the information pertains only to the person hosting the event, but there are important open house safety tips that guests and neighborhood residents should be aware of.

Most of us would agree that it’s important for everyone to contribute to a safe neighborhood.  Open houses are an integral part of neighborhood activities.  So we all need to take watch, especially during these community events.  Please keep the following safety tips from the police in mind.

 

  1. First and foremost is to be aware of your surroundings.   As a neighbor, you may see open house signs quite often. Try to be aware of the activity during the open house near you.  Does it seem typical?
  2. Does anything seem “not normal”?  If something stands out to you as out of the ordinary, take notice.  Are there too many people in that car?  Did the car park much further away from the open house than needed?  Does something seem odd? Not normal?
  3. Trust your gut.  Whether you are participating in an open house event or are a neighbor observing from across the street, if something just doesn’t feel right, it most likely is not.  If you assume wrong and err on the side of cautiousness, no harm is done, right?
  4. Take actionIt’s best to park on the street when you attend an open house if possible so that you won’t be blocked in. If you are in an open house and don’t feel safe, try to exit right away.  Go outside, call 911 and immediately provide the address.  If you are a neighbor and notice that something is not right, call 911, or if you feel it is not urgent, call the police and ask them to drive by.  And last, but not least, if you see a frightened Realtor heading toward your house, please let them in!

Open House, Welcome!

We can all work together to keep our neighborhoods and our open houses safe and enjoyable.  For more information on this topic or to discuss your moving plans, please send a note using the form below.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave