Yes, I have one right now and several last year.  In one case (it was a condo) we had a major storm.  The unit was on the top floor.  After the storm I went in to check because part of the roof  of the building came off.  The roof was tarped as estimates and options for the condo complex were reviewed.  In any case - the unit looked PERFECT.  The damage was on the other side of the building, but I still checked. 

Two months later - I was still checking the unit every few days....but it was the stager who came in between one of these check-ins (Marie Graham)  and SHE found a leak.  Evidently, the water took a couple of months to work its way into that side of the building - but there it was.  So yes, you must check on vacant listings frequently.

Jeff, I agree. I stop by regularly to protect my investment and keep it safe for anyone visitng to show. I like to give my vacant homes that "lived in" look. Keep the grass cut in the summer, the snow shoveled in the winter. Don't let the fliers/newspapers or mail pile up. Always have a light/radio on a timer. Change some door decorations with the seasons. Keep in touch with the neighbors too. They can be your eyes and ears.

I showed a home a few years back inbetween Christmas and New Years in Iowa. We were having freezing and thawing weather. Before I even opened the door I heard a RUSHING of water - it sounded like a waterfall. AND IT WAS!!! A pipe in the 2nd story bathroom broke, thawed enough to run water all the way to the basement and was filling up the basement with at least 2 ft of water. OBVIOUSLY the agent hadn't been checking the house and was surprised that something was wrong. My question was - why didn't the house get winterized in the first place? My buyer wasn't impressed with the indoor pool.

Without a doubt - I check on my vacant listings often, especially right after a freeze, snow or rain.

It is one of the things that I use at listing appointments on vacant homes to try to separate myself from other Realtors who don;t provide this "service".

Hi Jeff, Congrates on the feature. I wrote a long story as a comment and just deleted it but I can tell that it does pay to check vacant listings. Sadly I can't share my story in a public format.

This is part of my Monday routine. I wish every agent (especially REO ones!) were as responsible as all of the posters above. On the other hand, the fewer there are, the better we look! Seriously, thanks for the reminder that our duties don't end when we put the sign in the ground!

This is so true.  And a facet of the business that most agents simply neglect.

...espeically if you're above the Mason-Dixon line the last few weeks...and especially especially if your underground propane tank as gone bone-dry!

I once started to show a vacant condo in a gated community...as I opened the door, I saw a man in his underwear in the kitchen....we did not go in.

I called the listing agent to report a squatter and she just started arguing that it just connot be, that I must be mistaken.  Duh...

Eve in Orlando

Should we check? Yes. But our liability should also be extremely limited. Suppose you check every Monday, and on Tuesday an agent shows the home, flushes a toilet, it overflows, etc. -- which you don't discover until the following Monday. This should be covered by the seller's insurance, not the listing agent.

Excellent advice but, as John said, the liability is limited.  We can't possibly check everyday and if something happens on Monday and you don't make your rounds until Saturday, then serious damage could have occurred already.  I do check mine but, most of the time, I make sure that a neighbor is checking as well.  Our area is so huge that it takes quite a bit of time to get from one listing to the other and if you have 10 or so vacant listings, it's could be a full day of 'checking' in.  So, having someone else to help me works nicely.

Between the cold weather and the vandalism potential, checking on vacant properties is something that should be part of the listing agents regular activities.

Always have to check on listings...we just had heavy rains too (I think they came your way) and had to get the association out to repair asap. It's all good now but if not for an LA checking their listings...there is potential for big damage. Never know what may happen with a vacant listing unless we check on it.

Jeff, you live in a place with a mild climate and gentle breezes...and mudslides, I guess.

Since this summer I am of 2 minds about the "checking the listing" thing. During a market presentation this year we said "sure, we'll check your house on a regular basis after you relocate, that's normal for us". A month later, at 8 pm during a tornado warning (a big deal) Mrs. Seller called in a panic "OMG, how's my house, I saw on the news that you have horrible weather!". I said that I didn't know but hadn't heard about anything too violent in her neighborhood. The tornado had touched down 20 miles away for all of 10 seconds. She insisted that I said I'd watch the house.

Well, yeah, I said I'd check it, but not to the point of leaving my kids alone and driving 3 miles during violent weather. She was really, really upset that evening until I drove up there at 11 pm to verify that her five year old house was still standing and not flooded....although it was hard to tell during the power outage...and her sump pump was out. Was I supposed to stay there until morning or electricity was restored?

I will be more careful in the future about the limits of what I casually volunteer for.

You make a good series of points. Sellers should consider the ramifications of not pricing a home correctly and these vacancy issues.

Jeff - While the first thought is vandalism, you are right - weather or other issues, many water related, need to be checked on.  You never know.  Much rather check regularly and have nothing than have to report/deal with something terrible.

Hello Jeff.  Great reminder.  Here at the coast, I can't tell you how often I run around dragging outdoor and porch furniture into the house when a hurricane is headed our way.  Then I go gather up all my signs that can become airborne missiles.  A few days later it's back out to reverse the process.  Oh, and I usually have 12 - 20 vacant listings at any given time.  It's no small feat, but as you say, it's my job.

The worst thing I have ever found in a listing I had that was a vacant home was carpenter ants, which we promptly took care of but I have heard of people living in vacant listings - I would love to know how they manage to get into the homes!