how do you maintain a vacant house

Some popular ways to maintain an empty home include:

• Keeping the temperature ambient
• Investing in internet-enabled security or surveillance
• Having someone nearby regularly check on the property
• Hiring someone to maintain the garden
• Removing all food items that might attract pests
• Ensuring windows and doors are securely locked
• Turning off and unplugging appliances
• Hiring a house-sitter to look after your property

Full Answer

How do you take care of a vacant home?

There are companies that specialize in taking care of vacant homes by performing interior and exterior checks and making sure yard maintenance is performed regularly. There are even companies that will find people to live in your home while it’s on the market. 4. Protect your home from the elements

How do you maintain an empty home?

Some popular ways to maintain an empty home include: Keeping the temperature ambient Investing in security or surveillance Having someone nearby regularly check on the property

How can I keep an eye on my vacant property?

Trusted neighbors can easily keep an eye on the property without even going out of their way. If need be, pay someone to perform the service. There are companies that specialize in taking care of vacant homes by performing interior and exterior checks and making sure yard maintenance is performed regularly.

How to protect your vacant home from theft?

An empty home is vulnerable to theft and vandalism. To prevent these and other unfortunate mishaps from happening to your house, follow these 10 easy tips to protect and safeguard your vacant home. First and foremost, be sure to lock all windows and doors in your home before moving out.

What happens when you leave an empty house?

What is unoccupied and vacant home insurance?

What are the most valuable assets a homeowner can have?

What holds the value of a house?

What makes a home a target?

Do you have to lock your door when you leave your house?

Is owning a home an achievement?

See 2 more

What happens when a house sits unoccupied?

Your Lender Might Lock You Out. Vacant homes are targets for theft and vandalism. Therefore, when a homeowner's mortgage payments become delinquent, one of the first things many lenders do to protect their interest in the property is to look into whether the owner has abandoned it.

How do you prepare a house to sit empty?

Home Alone: How to Prepare Your Home for Winter VacancyTurn off the water supply. The most important thing you need to do, especially if you're leaving for the entire winter, is shut off your water supply. ... Drain the waterlines. ... Insulate pipes. ... Turn down the heat. ... Unplug all appliances. ... Throw out the trash.

Why do empty houses deteriorate?

When a house is abandoned, it is no longer protected in a way to keep environmental elements out. Even when a house has occupants but no repairs done to the house when needed, the house will fall apart.

What does it mean for a house to be vacant?

The law defines “vacant,” as “completely empty,” devoid of all people, personal items, and property. An example of a vacant property would be an unfurnished rental property in-between tenants. As you can imagine, vacant properties have a greater chance of damage and theft.

How long can a house be left unoccupied?

Most standard home insurance policies allow your home to be empty for up to 60 days per year. If you leave your property unoccupied for longer than this, you may not be covered.

How often should an empty house be checked?

Empty homes are also more appealing for drifters, thieves, and vandals. This is why an empty home can void a home insurance policy. In order to minimize the risk, insurance companies often require a home to be checked in on every 48-72 hours.

Why do abandoned houses get boarded up?

An alternative to plywood is clear boarding. It is used to fortify abandoned structures to keep out squatters, thwart criminal activity, and prevent arson. Transparent coverings allow law enforcement and first responders to look inside these vacant buildings, exposing illicit activity.

What is difference between vacant and unoccupied?

Unoccupied: without occupants, but not devoid of furniture or other furnishings. Vacant: having no tenant or contents; empty, void. The difference between the two is a matter of time and intent.

How can you tell if a property is vacant?

How to Determine if a Property is VacantOvergrown grass, bushes, and other signs of landscaping neglect.No blinds or window coverings – can see right through the house.Snow on the ground but no footprints or tire tracks.Stacks of garbage outside.Mail jammed into and overflowing from the mailbox.More items...

Can you insure an empty house?

Yes you can! It's important to get insurance for an empty house to make sure you're covered should anything happen whilst you're not there. Empty property insurance will provide you with the level of insurance you need to manage the risk proposed to your property whilst it's unoccupied.

Why do abandoned buildings decay?

Abandoned buildings decay due to damage caused by the environment over time. This can include unrepaired weather damaged, water damage, vandalism, and wildlife.

Why do people buy houses and leave them vacant?

That is, keeping the home vacant keeps open the valuable option of selling the property vacant and earning a higher price. Say you have a property that could sell for $500,000 if there is a sitting tenant in place, or $520,000 if it is vacant (a 4 per cent price boost from vacancy).

Can house deteriorate?

The quality of your home's construction, the type of climate you live in, the shape your house is in and the materials your house is made of all contribute to the amount of time it would take for your home to deteriorate.

Why do things deteriorate?

Objects can deteriorate chemically, biologically, and mechanically. Chemical deterioration occurs as a result of a chemical reaction between objects and their environment. Rates of chemical deterioration are accelerated by increased temperature, increased relative humidity, and increased concentrations of reactants.

Dale's Checklist for Taking Care of Vacant Homes - ActiveRain

Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY

Should I turn water off in empty house? — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I've just bought a house and am not moving in straight away as I want to get some work done on it first. Is it a good idea to turn the water supply off at the stopcock while it is empty?

5 Must-Dos Before Leaving the House for 3 Months or 3 Days

3. Turn Off Your Water. You went on vacation to hit the pool, not to come home to one. Shut off your water at the main supply before you head out the door to avoid the unwelcome surprise of a burst pipe or an overflowing toilet.

Empty Property Checklist for Homeowners and Landlords

Safe and Secure Empty properties needs to be secured. A property is an important asset, so some form of vacant property security is essential. Empty houses and commercial buildings attract vandals and opportunistic types looking for a place to hang out away from prying eyes.

A Checklist to Complete If You’re Leaving Your Home for Vacation

Leslie Kay's Insurance in Boynton Beach, FL shares a checklist to complete if you plan to leave your home for an extended period of time.

How to keep an empty house?

Some popular ways to maintain an empty home include: Keeping the temperature ambient. Investing in internet-enabled security or surveillance. Having someone nearby regularly check on the property. Hiring someone to maintain the garden.

How to keep a property maintained?

A great way to keep the property maintained is by hiring a qualified house-sitter. While some house-sitters may have actual handyman experience, at the very least you have someone onsite to coordinate with your local vendors.

How do I make my property look occupied?

A crucial aspect of empty house care and security is making your house look occupied. Some ways to do this include:

Why are insurance premiums higher for empty houses?

The associated risk with empty houses is higher than occupied homes due to slower emergency response times, so premiums tend to be higher too.

How to mitigate cold weather?

A way to mitigate issues caused by cold weather is to “winterize” your unoccupied home: Adjust your thermostat so it maintains an ambient temperature. Shut off the main water valve to your home. Turn off the gas. Check the sump pump is working efficiently.

What happens if a home is left unoccupied?

If someone is around to notice these issues, they can be dealt with. If the home is truly unoccupied, however, these problems are likely to metastasize and spiral.

What to do if you don't have mail?

If you don’t have anyone to collect your mail, it’s a good idea to put a hold on your mail with the post office or get it redirected. You should also suspend your newspaper subscriptions while the house is empty. Mail and newspapers piled up on a doormat is a signal to thieves that your home is an easy target.

Insurance

Homes that are left vacant are at risk of becoming uninsured since many homeowners insurance companies won’t insure a home that’s been vacant. Vacant houses usually lose insurance within 30 days, but there are some things you can do to keep the insurance.

Vandalism

Even if you succeed at keeping your home fully insured and avoiding the vacancy penalties, you still face increased risks to your home because it’s not occupied. For example, vandalism and broken glass are not covered by homeowners’ insurance.

Maintenance and Damages

Even losses covered by insurance could prevent the sale of the house. Before leaving the property unoccupied, make sure smoke detectors work. Install a sprinkler system for the lawn, or hire someone to regularly maintain the outside of the property.

Sell Your Vacant House

If renting out your vacant property is not an option, and if you have been unable to sell your property, then give us a call to sell your home quickly. We can answer all your questions and give you a no obligation risk-free cash offer in 24 hours.

What does it mean when a house is empty in 2021?

Not only does a vacancy bring in no revenue, but it also means that the home is sitting empty, and empty homes can mean problems when you don’t take care of them.

How to protect from mold in a house?

Running Water — Every few days, flush toilets and run the showers and faucets. Thermostat — Set the thermostat near 80 degrees in the summer and 60 degrees in the winter to protect from temperature damage, such as mold from humidity or frozen pipes.

How long does it take for vacant property insurance to go up?

Vacancy insurance is available but often at a high price. Insurance companies offer rental property insurance and usually have a grace period of 30–60 days for the property owner to find a new tenant before the insurance status changes. After that period, however, the insurance becomes vacant property insurance, and the premium goes up.

How to protect your home from burglars?

Park a car in the driveway. If you’re no longer living in your house, it’s important to make it look like you’re still there. Burglars are more likely to break into a home when the residents are away. By temporarily parking a car in the driveway, you’ll be adding an extra layer of protection for your vacant home.

What to do when moving far away?

Moving far away? Those moving to a new city or state should leave an extra key with a trusted neighbor, friend or family member who lives nearby. This way, if you need to let someone inside the house, such as a handyman or police officer, you’ll be able to do so.

What to take to stage your home while you're gone?

Planning to stage your home with furniture and belongings while you’re gone? If this is your plan, be sure to take all valuables with you. Valuables include expensive TVs and electronics, valuable artwork, persian rugs, expensive furniture and jewelry. If staging your empty home with furniture, I recommend utilizing used or rented furnishings. You can also head to donation sites, such as Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity, to find simple living room furniture and kitchen items for staging.

How much does it cost to keep your security system connected?

Given that most monthly monitoring plans only cost between $15 and $30, we think it’s well worth the peace of mind. Make sure the alarm system is connected to the police department. This way, if your alarm does go off, the police will come to the house, instead of waiting on you to call 911. You may also want to consider giving a good friend or neighbor in town your alarm code – just in case someone needs to get inside to turn it off.

Should I hire a lawn man to mow my lawn?

If you have a yard man or landscape team, I recommend hiring them to mow your lawn on a regular basis. It’s also a good idea to have an automatic sprinkler system that will water your plants. Finally, have a friend or neighbor stop by to check on your yard every week or so to make sure everything is okay.

Can I buy insurance for a vacant home?

Believe it or not, you can actually purchase insurance for this very predicament. If leaving your home vacant after you move, I recommend considering vacant home insurance. Most insurance plans will cover acts of vandalism, as well as certain disasters, such as fire, lightning, wind, hail and more. Be sure to contact your current home insurance provider to ask about your existing plan, and their vacant home coverage options.

Do you need a handyman near your house?

This way, in case of leaking faucets, kitchen appliance problems or other simple home repairs, you’ll have someone nearby who can quickly and efficiently fix your problems. After all, if you’re showing your home to potential buyers, you don’t want to show them a house that’s falling apart.

What to do if your house is vacant?

If you own a home that has been vacant for a while, chances are there may be other vacant homes in the same neighborhood. Make sure your house is not the easiest target on the block. Lead thieves and vandals to believe the house is being lived in or at least being watched. Don’t make their “job” easy for them.

How to secure a house?

Properly secure your property. Doors and windows should be locked with sturdy hardware. If you are purchasing a property or taking possession back from a tenant, change the locks or get them re-keyed. Who knows how many copies of keys could be floating around? Even with good locks, doors can still be kicked in. Consider reinforcing your exterior doors to keep the bad guys out. Adding metal door jamb shields and hinge shields can make a world of difference. Securing basement windows is also critical as this often provides an easy access point to the house and to expensive housing components like water heaters, the furnace, pipes and wiring.

How to keep a house from being stolen?

Maintain the outside appearance of the house. Keep the yard cut and clean. Trim back trees and shrubs that may block views of the house and provide thieves places to hide. Make sure that you also keep the mailbox from filling-up with mail. Newspapers stacking up on the lawn and mail flowing out of the mailbox is an indicator to a thief that nobody is at home. Even though you have stopped bills from going to the house or the past residents have redirected their mail, remember you may still get “junk” mail that will fill-up a mailbox fast.

How to discourage thieves from entering your house at night?

Lighting. A well-lit exterior will discourage thieves from approaching your house at night. Lights should be placed at a height where it’s not easy to disable them and consider using motion detector lights that instantly light up an area, startling a would-be thief. Lighting the inside of the house is critical too.

What to do if your house is broken into?

If you notice the house has been broken into, call the police and don’t enter the house until an officer arrives.

How to protect investment?

To best protect your investment, layer your security. If you create a security system that consists of the 8 components we addressed today, you will be well on your way to moving a theft or vandalism down the block. These types of losses at vacant or renovation properties aren’t inevitable; it just takes some effort and consistent monitoring by you or your property manager to protect your valuable investment.

How to prepare your home for vacate?

Before you vacate your home, prepare it by doing things like replacing shoddy entry doors with hard wood or steel doors that boast strong locks. You’ll also want to make sure that all windows are closed and locked and it’s a good idea to set up a few lights on timers. A home automation system gives you the convenience of turning lights on and off remotely. If your home has blinds, turn them up so nature light is let in, without telling burglars that the house is vacant. Make sure you alert your home security company that your home will be vacant and provide them with the name of the people who can access your home.

What to do when you can't visit your house?

If it’s no longer convenient for you to visit your home on a regular basis, then ask someone like a friend, relative, or neighbor to do so for you. Trusted neighbors can easily keep an eye on the property without even going out of their way.

How to deter burglars from entering my home?

Fortify your home against intruders by improving your home’s exterior lighting. A combination of lights on timers and motion activated lights will deter burglars. Be sure that the entrances of your home are well lit, and don’t neglect the sides of your home where intruders are less likely to be noticed.

Why do people vacate their homes?

There are a myriad of reasons why people vacate their home before it’s sold, but doing so presents a handful of challenges and makes your home vulnerable to thieves and vandals. Fortunately, protecting your empty home while selling it is not only simple, it’s also affordable. From using security cameras to keeping the yard in tip-top shape, ...

How to keep pipes from freezing in summer?

One way to do so is by using a programmable thermostat that keeps pipes from freezing and cools the house in summer. There are several reasonably priced thermostats with built in Wi-Fi so you can adjust them remotely, and there are also those that integrate with your home automation system. 5.

How to protect your home from intruders?

Fortify your home against intruders by improving your home’s exterior lighting. A combination of lights on timers and motion activated lights will deter burglars. Be sure that the entrances of your home are well lit, and don’t neglect the sides of your home where intruders are less likely to be noticed. Sheds and detached garages should also be outfitted with exterior lights. There are home security systems that offer enhanced exterior lights that integrate with security cameras. When the light detects motion, the home security camera is activated and records video. You can view that video on your web enabled device.

What to do if your home has blinds?

If your home has blinds, turn them up so nature light is let in, without telling burglars that the house is vacant. Make sure you alert your home security company that your home will be vacant and provide them with the name of the people who can access your home.

What happens when you leave an empty house?

When leaving an empty home, you might be tricked into a fall sense of “nobody is going to want to break into a house with nothing in it.” In reality, though, such thinking couldn’t be any further than the truth, with plenty of criminals targeting vacant properties.

What is unoccupied and vacant home insurance?

This aptly named Unoccupied and Vacant Home Insurance or Vacant Home Insurance does just that, as Farmers explains, “offers insurance options and features that can provide coverage for vacant property,” like “If you choose vandalism and malicious mischief coverage, it can help if someone intentionally damages your vacant home.”

What are the most valuable assets a homeowner can have?

One of the most valuable assets a homeowner can have is a good neighbor . You’ve probably already experienced this one way or the other, either with a neighbor who couldn’t be bothered enough to say hello, or, more favorably, a neighbor who would go out of their way to let you know they were there if you ever needed anything.

What holds the value of a house?

At the end of the day, while home is what you make it, the structure holds the value. Thus, your property needs to constantly be cared for with the goal of upholding as much of that value as possible.

What makes a home a target?

The only thing that might make your home even more of a target is making it obvious that you aren’t inside, and perhaps won’t be for a long time as is the case when you’ve purchased a new home and are in the process of selling, or undergoing a major rebuild, addition, or other renovation.

Do you have to lock your door when you leave your house?

So, yes, you need to keep all windows and doors locked just as if you were leaving your furnished and “living in” home to go to the grocery store. This includes garage door theft protection, side gates, and any other entry point.

Is owning a home an achievement?

Owning a home can be full of rewards —just to get to the point of being able to buy a home and call it yours is an achievement in itself.