VACANT AND SECURED © 2014 by Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

 The selling of a home is just as much a challenge as buying one. Ask any seller.  While some homes may sell very quickly in less than 24 hours, others may sit on the market for 24 months, or greater.  The dynamics aren’t necessarily a secret, but it all starts and ends with pricing for the marketing of the respective home.  That may mean that the home may bring offers for far less than the seller intended, with the seller leaving the home on the market for an extended period of time, in hopes of receiving the perfect offer.  Whether the home sells immediately, or over a given period of time, one important concern for the seller is the fact that the home is vacant.

In this post, we will focus on vacant homes and the challenges and possible solutions that maybe enacted to ensure that the vacant home does not become any more of a cost than necessary to sell it.  Here are 4 things to be aware of (Not an exhaustive list):

•  How is the property secured
• How often is it checked
• How to minimize potential vandalism or break-ins
• What to do if the property is broken into?

How is the property secured?

A.     Lock the doors-Obviously, a no-brainer, but even the best of us forget to lock our doors while we are living in a property.  So, while it should go without saying, we will go with saying it: lock all doors

B.     Lock the windows-Obviously, there are latches on windows, but that may not be enough.  All windows are not designed equally, as you are aware.  One of the  most important set of windows to secure is a sliding door.  If not properly aligned, it can appear to be secured and still be opened.  Check all windows and sliding glass entrances to be sure they are secured. 

C.     Local or Monitored Alarm systems- If you have moved out of the home to another home, you may have already had an alarm service in place.  It can’t hurt to still have the home monitored after moving out.  Or, if you have disconnected the service, the system, with its back up battery can still be used. Perhaps have the alarm set for the house and have a neighbor call you should it go off.

How often is your home checked?

            Depending on whether you live near your home on the market or across the country, if it is on the market, it is still worth checking on the property, as often as once a week, or no more than a month.  If you are not sure at first, you may want to hire a property manager to check the property on an agreed upon time frame.  You will want to have checked the doors, windows, and if there is an alarm system, make sure that it is operating properly, or at set to AWAY.  You may also want to check to make sure that your home has not been tagged by those who love to spray paint empty homes.  This is very much likely to happen on homes that have been empty for a long time, whether on the market or not.

How to minimize potential vandalism

There are times that when your home is on the market, you may want to stage it to give it a lived-in look.  This however works best for those who actually go into the home, or look into the house through the windows.  Staging minimizes those who may have a criminal intent to target a vacant home, that while vacant, is not necessarily at the top of the list to break into, if there is the possibility that the home appears to be lived-in (not statistically proven, but would seem probable).  Minimizing the potential for vandalism or breaking into a vacant home may work best if the seller tries the following two suggestions:

1. The amount of staging is important.  Placing a spattering of furniture in the home at strategic locations without overwhelming the buyer, helps the buyer get an impression of what the home looks like when they may mentally place their own furniture.  In addition, that strategic placement helps create a sense of occupancy, warmth and that, possibly, someone maybe frequenting if not actually living in/on the property.  One bed in the staging process may also help to create a strong impression of occupancy.
2. It’s important that if someone asks if anyone lives or stays in the home, you may want to have a prepared answer. Perhaps something to the effect:  We have a neighbor come over, or maybe, we have a relative to come by check frequently.  It doesn’t have to be true, or untrue, but it is important that anyone who asks not have a sense that no one ever comes by the home, even as it appears totally vacant.

 What to do if your vacant home is broken into?

1.  Call the Police, make a report;
2.  Note any damage and notify your insurance company;
3.  Secure the house against any further damage, such as vandalism, or unauthorized  persons moving in and occupying your home;
4.  Remove any items that may cause injury or harm to potential buyers
5.  Repair, as needed, any damages that may affect your intent to get the best price for your home;
6.  You may want to note any major damages on your property disclosure, as well as repairs, where necessary;

The above suggestions are based on observations of properties that have suffered damage possibly because of their vacant status.  It may not have mattered that they were on the market, or that they were vacant.  Who can say what prompts the criminal mind, or the mischievous minds of those who break who into our homes.  The point is, to do as much as creatively possible to protect our homes, whether vacant, or occupied, from those who would seek to commit such offenses.  How proactive we are to minimize such an occurrence, is just as important as how reactive we are in the event of such an occurrence.  If our properties are broken into, we should be quick to repair the damage to prevent further damage or any other unauthorized activities in our homes.  A very important thing to also remember, is to strive to give our homes as much of an active, and attractive presentation as possible, especially, when it is on the market.

SPEAKER-If you are looking for a speaker for any of your community groups, please don’t hesitate to email me to so that I can bring you the latest on New Orleans and the Home Buying process.  I am ready to help you, to Make Your Best Offer.  Email: waynelewissoldit@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  Not an intent to solicit the business or clients of any agent or broker.  Information provided is deemed to be from reliable sources, but is not guaranteed.  No information should be determined to be legal advice, please consult an attorney or your Realtor regarding this subject matter.