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Vacant home… but who’s been inside?

Recently I ran across a situation that left me a little nervous and got me to thinking. With so many vacant homes on the market (both rentals and for sale) how can we make sure they are safe?

I received a call from a client who was driving by a home that was for sale. The conversation went something like this..."I'm out here in front of this home for sale. Can you come meet us? The sliding door is open but no one is home so I ran inside and grabbed a flyer." Ummm.. what?!? The only words I really heard were door is open, no one home, I ran inside.

Later, I went to check on the home. Everything was in order when I got there, but for a newly renovated and vacant home to be wide open, it left me a little worried.

This got me to thinking, what should you do to make sure that your home is safe? Burglars and squatters could be real concerns, especially with the number of vacant homes on the market.

The key to making your home look unattractive to burglars and squatters is to make it look lived in. I don't mean messy, you're still trying to get it sold! Just make it appear like someone is home. Here's some tips to start:

Doors & Windows. Ensure all windows and doors are locked with deadbolts and window locks.

Mail. Don't let your mail accumulate. Have the post office hold your mail or forward it to another address. Make sure the newspapers don't collect outside. Over stuffed mailboxes are a big tip off to thieves.

Yard Maintenance. Keep the grass mowed, yard maintained and shovel the walkway if it snows. These tips will not only help you sell your home, but will make it look like you are living there. If you are unable to take care of this yourself, hire a neighbor or trustworthy service.

Lights. Keep lights on. Burglars pick homes that are easy and safe to get into. If you have a flood light by the door, that's great. Leave a couple lights on in the home so it doesn't look deserted at night. Consider a timer. Timed lights look even better than just leaving the hall light on all the time.

Curtains. Shut the blinds. If you keep them closed, thieves won't be able to see inside and know the home is empty. The only thing I don't like about this is then you can't see inside if someone is in the house.

Alarm. Do you need an alarm? The best alarms use motion sensors and glass-breakage detectors.

Spare Keys. Don't hide any keys outside. Many people will hide a key outside the home. If you can find your hidden key, than chances are, so will someone else.

Check the Home. Periodically check on the home, inside and out, especially after storms. If you are unable, have a trusted neighbor do it for you.

Selling your home is stressful enough. This information is not meant to get you worried. I just want to heighten your awareness of your surroundings. Please... be careful and stay safe.

When it comes to real estate, my goal is simple. Let me put your needs first.

Jen Hudson, GRI (360) 652-1200 or jen@jenhudsonhomes.com

Posted by Jen Hudson - Stanwood, Camano & Arlington,WA on 01/05/2008 11:41 PM

Comments (21)

real estate, investment property, sell your home, tips for sellers

This post has been included in Washington Information Snohomish County, WA Information

21 Comments on Vacant home… but who’s been inside?

JAN

2008

Yes this is a problem. There are so many investor homes that have no one in them, empty and with no signs of anyone there.

Great tips. I happen to be a fairly sturdy guy, for lack of a better word, and I have even found myself uncomfortable a few times when the door is open upon arrival. Just is nice not to have to deal with that more than one has to!

Jen, I got a call this morning from the neighbor of a vacant home I'm listing. She said the back door was wide open, she wondered if I was in there or if someone was working on the place. It was 33 degrees at the time. I informed here I was at home and asked her to please lock it up.Still haven't heard from the seller.

Thanks Bob & Carolin. There are so many empty homes, it makes you wonder.

Thanks Brian! Sturdy... I like that description. I hate going into homes that are open, it always makes me feel like I shouldn't be there, even if I have the key.

Thanks Matt. It's scary that this is happening. Makes you wonder who is there.

JAN

2008

Wow, that is scary and definitely makes me think before walking into a home again that is vacant. Thanks for the tip. Maybe next time I avoid and make a friendly call to my husband (who happens to be a police officer!).

Thanks LaNita! Keep him around, he might be very useful one day.

That is a completely realistic concern. I have gone into a vacant home to find a squatter. Very friendly, and not scary person, but still a bit of a shock to MY system.

Jen

Thanks for the post. I see it often as well in my area, especially on the bank owned properties that have the old fashioned lock box. It is really difficult to know who was last in. I have had other agents clients in houses I have listed who were given the combo. At least with the electronic boxed we can see who was last in

Some agents just aren't responsible enough.

Thanks Brian! Yes, the electronic lock boxes are nice to be able to track who has been in the home. But, I've noticed those don't always update right away.

JAN

2008

Jen, Great post. This should be featured on Localism. It is the common sense stuff that people always need reminding.

Rather than going into a vacant house with an open door, it might be wise to call the police and have them go in with you.

Thanks Kathy! Sometimes the simple things are worth it.

Thanks Sharon! Good tip. You should be aware of your surroundings.

JAN

2008

Jen, This plays right in to one of my primary values: I don't like lock boxes at all. I think the listing agent should "control" access to the house. Keys should be kept in the office. Somebody from the listing office needs to be responsible for unlocking the door. I know the argument that this effectively takes the house off the market because selling agents won't show it. I say "shame on them." Safety and security must be maintained and not sacrificed for the sake of convenience or laziness.

Bill Roberts

Thanks Bill! Safety and security must be maintained, no doubt! But, since I don't know that I can single handedly change the industry overnight, am I doing my seller's a disservice by not having a lockbox on the house? There are too many agents I would say "shame on them" too. I don't know which is better, controlling access of having more showings. Part of that, I think it depends on the house and individual situation. But, isn't that usually the answer for everything... it depends.

I appreciate your honest opinion and hope that by having these networking groups like Active Rain, we can all work together to make some changes within our industry.

Jen, Thanks for the email.

Change happens one person at a time. There is a lot of discussion these days about the futility of "open houses" but I think the value in an open house is two-fold: selling agents can get clients and listing agents can give access to that house that doesn't have lock box. It is also anopportunity to talk to the neighbors. Who knows what they may bring?

Listers get a lot of money for their activities. Marketing is one of those activities, but so is providing access to the house.

Thanks Bill. Again, good points. I do have a tendency to go against some of the "old school" thinking. Change does happen one person at a time, and I'm doing what I can.

For open houses, I think I'm one of the few agents in my area who utilizes them, both brokers & public open houses. For me, I enjoy touring more when the agent is there so I can actually learn about the property and what is going on. They know a lot more details about that home than I could ever pull off the internet.

JAN

2008

Great Post Jen.... I always encourage sellers with vacant homes to keep a lamp or two in the house on timers.... Also, we check on our vacant listings at least once a week to make sure everything is in order and always stop by after a showing to make sure that the doors and windows are locked.

Thanks Debbie! Yeah, I drive by my vacant listings frequently to make sure everything is safe.

JAN

2008

Jen best wishes on your new endeavor.

Safety and security should be a high priority. We are all responsible. We must close every single door and window and return the home as we found it. How Agents get distracted puzzles me. I have seen open garage doors, open front doors, windows and security gates I have called the Agent and never even got a response, I have secured the property and never even got a thank you. Go figure.

FEB

2008

This is so important to check on a vacant home once a week. We have been having more and more cases where agents are walking in on homeless that have moved in to vacant homes for housing. This can become real dangerous if you are alone and previewing a property and no one knows where you are.

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