Sellers with Vacant Homes Please read this!
Friday, October 24, 2014
Albuquerque and Rio Rancho are seeing a disturbing trend at vacant properties for sale. Instead of attracting buyers, the empty homes are attracting vandals.
One of the most recent reports of a vacant home vandalism stated that an individual poured paint on the floors and countertops of the home, as well as destroyed the appliances.
Vacant properties are very susceptible to property damange and criminal activity. That's why it's important to not only understand these dangers but to take immediate steps to prevent them.
To help prevent vandalism of your seller's vacant property, encourage your seller to keep in mind the 5 tips below.
- Hire a caretaker for the property until it sells.
- Ask a trusted neighbor to park his/her car in the driveway.
- Install motion-sensor lights and set the interior lights to variable timers.
- Ask relatives, friends, or neighbors to look after the property while it's vacant. This includes collecting mail and regularly inspecting the home for damage.
- Ensure the property has the proper insurance coverage. Insurance coverage can lapse if the home is vacant for more than 30 days.
In the event that your seller's vacant property is vandalized, please follow the steps below.
- Change the locks on the property immediately.
- File a police report with the Albuquerque or RR Police Department.
