If you have an inherited house, leased house that no longer has tenants, or a rent house that is empty, it is important to know that a vacant house often becomes the target of squatters, thieves and vandals. To protect your property and investment, there are a few tips you can use and keep the vacant house maintained as a solid investment. Even if you are not in the market for selling your house fast, you will want to ensure that the value of your home does not decline due to interference from outsiders.
Unoccupied homes are often easy to spot. The first thing you need to do is make the house appear to be a home where there are people living. Doing so is easier than you think.
One of the main things criminals look for is activity at a home. If the driveway is never used, that is a sure sign that the house is empty. A trusted neighbor or friend can help you with this measure. Often parking space is limited, so a nearby neighbor with a multicar family would probably love to park in your drive while you are away. Regularly seeing a car in the drive is a big deterrent to thieves casing homes. If you can’t find someone to park in your driveway, at minimum you need to make sure that it remains maintained, including the snow being cleared in winter months.
People use interior lights on timers to simulate occupancy when they are away, but they often forget the importance of shining a light outdoors. Exterior lighting can help keep intruders at bay and make your house less of a target. Use both timed lights and motion activated lights for the best effect and be sure to use them in different areas of the home to make it appear the house is occupied.
Making sure that the entrances to your home are well lit helps to deter burglars, but you also want to make sure that any sheds, portable buildings or detached garages are lit up in order to deter criminal activity in those areas. For properties at higher risk you may even consider use of a video recording security camera system. Often these motion activated systems can be hooked up for remote viewing on your smartphone or web enabled device so that you can be alerted at the first sign of intrusion.
Often your insurance company is the one most concerned about damage to a vacant house because they will be paying out on your policy if theft or vandalism occurs. Many insurance companies recommend that you use deadbolt locks on doors, ensure that windows are locked and that you set the thermostat to temperatures which will prevent freezing and mold in moist climates. It is also important to secure pet doors as smaller intruders can gain entry to your home through pet access.
Your insurance agent will probably also advise you to notify local authorities that your house will be vacant. Alert both the local police and fire departments that your home is sitting unoccupied and leave your phone with them so they can contact you if any situations occur at your property. You may also want to check your insurance policy as many require a vacancy endorsement if your home will be vacant for more than a month. In these situations, selling your home fast will save you money for insurance rider costs and the sooner you sell, the sooner the safety of the property will no longer be your concern.
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