The Challenges of a Vacant House

Sometimes, it is inevitable that a home on the market is vacant.  Many different reasons may lead to this unhappy condition:

• The seller was transferred to another town, and had to move before the home sold.
• The seller retired to a senior community, and chose to move immediately, rather than wait for the home to sell.
• The owner died, and the home is being sold by the estate, after the contents have been disbursed.

Whenever a vacant home is for sale, special care must be taken to ensure the security of the property and to speed the sale.  I've identified four areas that require attention and planning:

1. Security
2. Systems
3. Exterior cosmetics
4. Interior cosmetics

All of these areas are, technically, the responsibility of the seller, but the REALTOR® may recommend trustworthy local service providers.

Security

The first consideration is security - ensuring that the home is not vandalized.  Verify that all of the door and window locks still function, and always leave them locked.  Inform the local police that the home is vacant, and request that they check it, routinely, while on patrol.  Should a window be broken - whether by accident or through vandalism - have it repaired, immediately, so that visible damage does not invite further vandalism.  All of these tasks are, technically, the responsibility of the owner, but the REALTOR® may provide assistance.  The REALTOR should immediately report any damage that occurs. 

Systems

Although it may be tempting to save money, don't turn off the utilities.  Ensure that there is oil in the tank, or a functioning gas supply, to keep the house from getting too cold - especially if the home is situated in a Winter climate.  When temperatures drop at night, as they have been lately in New Jersey, the pipes may freeze.  That could lead to extensive damage and costly repairs.  It is also important to avoid having prospective buyers come into a cold house; a cold house is an unwelcoming house.  For economy's sake, set the thermostat to a lower temperature - say, 60°F.  Keeping the electricity on is also necessary, so that lights can be turned on, to show the house to advantage, and to illuminate otherwise dark corners. 

Exterior Cosmetics

Overgrown, uncared-for grounds make a home look terrible!  Even the most desirable home is difficult to sell, if it is sitting amidst a mess.  Arrange for weekly or bi-weekly care of the grounds:  mowing the grass, weeding the flower beds, raking the leaves, shoveling the snow, picking up the trash - whatever is needed, according to the season of the year.  Hire a gardening service to perform these tasks.  The REALTOR should note and provide regular reports on the condition of the property. 

Interior Cosmetics

Although it is advisable for a seller to "depersonalize" the house, so that buyers can imagine themselves in that house, completely empty rooms can have the opposite effect:  if buyers cannot see a furniture group in the room, it may be harder for them to imagine how their furniture would fit or look.  So, if possible, leave some basic furniture in the home - at least in the living room, dining room, and master bedroom.  If it is impossible for the seller to leave any furniture behind, then consider having the home staged by a professional.  To save money, one could explore companies that will "rent a room" of furniture.  It is also good practice to leave toilet paper, soap, and towels in the baths.

Looking after security, systems, and exterior and interior cosmetics for a vacant house may seem like a lot of expense.  However, doing so will ensure that the house sells more quickly - saving money, in the long run.