Straight Talk About Real Estate

Perhaps the tenant of your rental property moved out and you decide to sell it. Or you moved out of your home before putting it on the market to avoid the hassles of selling. Or maybe your escrow was delayed and you moved out before the buyers moved in. In all those cases, your house is left vacant.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Have a neighbor keep an eye on things for you and give him your contact number.
2. Give the key to a friend close by so that in case of emergency, he can go into the house. Ask him to go into the house at least once a week to make sure everything is in place.
3. Keep your utilities on until after the final walk-through. The buyers will need to verify the condition of the house prior to closing.
4. If the house is vacant for an extended period of time, notify your homeowner’s insurance company. It may affect your coverage and provide for vandalism damages.
5. Make sure there are no dripping faucets or running toilets or you will be hit with a big water bill.
6. Arrange for maintenance of the landscape. The curb appeal is extremely important in selling a house. It will be more costly to have to replace the landscaping.
7. After asking the post office to forward your mail, ask your neighbor to pick up the junk mail and throw-aways on the driveway.
8. Set a few timers with lights in a couple of rooms to turn on at various times in the evening.
9. Give the police department your contact number, just in case.
10. Make sure you choose a local real estate agent to represent you in the sale so he is in the area to keep an eye on the house as well.