Dear Edith: I read a column where readers asked whether they should show their home to people who see the "For Sale" sign out front and knock on their door. In my opinion they shouldn't.

Years ago we had neighbors who were real estate agents. They put their home up for sale. One day some people knocked on the door and asked to see the home. The woman allowed them in. They weren't really there to buy the house. They beat her up and tied her up and robbed them. This happened to a professional, experienced real estate agent. People should never let strangers in their home. They should always put their safety first. — L. C., askedith.com

Answer: It's too bad an experienced broker had such an experience. Most agents arrange to meet prospective buyers at the brokerage office first before driving to the property — an extra, step that can ensure more safety.

Whether a house is being sold through an agent or by the owners, the lawn sign should say "By Appointment Only." If those knocking on the door are legitimate buyers, making it a little difficult for them to see the house will just build anticipation for their return.

Every caller should be asked for a phone number. Just say it's "so I can call you back and confirm the appointment." (Even restaurants that deliver food take this precaution.) The house should not be shown after dark or by one person alone. If the owner lives alone, perhaps a neighbor would agree to pop over during a showing.

Prospective buyers brought to the home by a broker will have been screened ahead of time. If no agent is involved owners can ask buyers, in a pleasant, matter-of-fact way, to provide photo identification before they're admitted. Sign-in sheets should also be standard.

Both Were Owners

Mrs. Lank: I question your answer to W. in the "Needs Death Certificate" column, the reader who put her friend on the deed and now wants to sell the property. Since the friend had passed away, wouldn't she have to look into how to sell her friend's portion of the house? Would part of the proceeds go to her heirs or become terms of probate?

This happened to my brother-in-law while he was trying to sell his deceased mother's house. He filed probate, and he had to list all relatives. Since his sister had passed away it was deemed that her heirs would be part of any proceeds received from the sale. — A. G., askedith.com

Answer: As it happens, the reader you mention was a man. He thought he needed to present his friend's original death certificate in order to sell his home. I assumed he had already gone to check, so I just answered his question.

Perhaps when he put his friend's name on the deed years ago he listed the two of them as joint tenants or joint tenants with right of survivorship. If that were the case, then when one of them died the other automatically gained full ownership. The property wouldn't go through probate, and nothing else about his friend's estate would have been involved.

When I used to teach about joint tenancy (joint ownership) I would say that the property was owned by a group. Ownership didn't change if one member died. The group still owned the property, only now the group was smaller. Perhaps it was just one person.

In many states, by the way, ownership by husband and wife can sometimes be considered like joint tenancy, although not in those exact words. Yes, it's complicated. Every situation is different, which is why it's important to consult a lawyer at least once when someone on the deed dies.

Extra Payments Question

Dear Edith: We bought a house last year, and our goal is to pay it off ahead of time. On our mortgage schedule we were up to payment number 10. When we made that payment we also sent the principal amount for payment number 11. We were told to do that.

Now, the question is, do we skip a month and then pick up at payment number 12, or do we send a check every month anyhow? — R. C

Answer: You're still borrowing, so you must still make monthly payments, but you're not borrowing quite as much as it shows on the schedule. That means you don't owe quite as much interest as scheduled either. You need to send a payment for month 11, but it will be credited as if it were number 12. Your loan will now end a month early.

Send any extra amount on a separate check marked "to reduce principal." Then check the statements you receive to make sure it's being properly credited.

If you have a 3.5 percent mortgage it's like earning 3.5 percent on any extra principal payments you make. That's a pretty good return right now. Income-tax considerations may make it a bit lower, but it's a no-risk guaranteed investment.

Contact Edith Lank at www.askedith.com, or at 240 Hemingway Drive, Rochester NY 14620.