Our real estate agents have gotten plenty of questions lately about selling homes that are already empty. It's true: Selling a vacant home may present unusual challenges for the owner.

A vacant home can be more difficult to stage for your future buyers – and it's also tougher to keep it safe from thieves and vandals. Still, showing a vacant home might be unavoidable if your plans include moving before you have closed on the sale.

By taking a few extra steps, you can keep your property protected:

1. Inform Local Law Enforcement
   Your local police are your best allies when it comes to keeping a vacant property safe. When you inform the police department about your plans, it means officers can be extra alert for anything unusual that happens around the neighborhood. Even a brief check-in by officers may be enough to persuade a would-be thief to choose a different target.
2. Maintain an Air of Activity
   There are several different options that will help you ensure a home looks "lived in." You can use timed lights to simulate activity inside different rooms, for example. There are handheld devices that will stream "chatter" through a home – the sounds of TV, radio, or conversation. Be wary of leaving a car parked at the property unless it will be used occasionally.
3. Be Careful About Open House
   The open house is the most effective tool in your toolkit when it comes to selling a home. Still, you should be cautious about what you tell people during these visits. Some thieves have used them to case target homes and determine their layout. Never mention to open house guests that you have already moved out of the home. Act as though it is still in use.
4. Consider Your Staging
   Speaking of which, staging remains a very important consideration for a vacant home. When a home is completely empty, it can have an "eerie" feeling. It might lead people to wonder if there is something wrong with the property. You should de-clutter rooms and closets, but consider leaving some basic furnishings intact. Light fixtures are especially important.
5. Use a Security System if Possible
   If you have a security system in place, don't deactivate it until you have a buyer moving forward on the property. A security system with remote monitoring is one of the most powerful assets for preventing break-ins. If a full system is not possible, motion sensitive lights can prevent intruders from approaching too close to your property. And there's always the "Beware of Dog" sign!
6. Keep Landscaping Up to Date
   Declining lawns and gardens are a sure sign something is wrong around a home. You can move any potted plants with you, of course, but ensure someone comes around to do basic lawn maintenance: At the least, cutting grass and removing weeds. Likewise, transfer any newspaper or magazine subscriptions that might cause items to pile up on the lawn.

Selling a vacant home takes a little extra planning and patience. In the long run, however, you can still achieve all of your goals for a home. If you build up a good rapport with would-be buyers, any concerns they have about the vacant home will quickly evaporate.

Connecting with those motivated buyers in the first place is essential. To do it, you need an experienced team of real estate professionals who understand how to help your home stand out in a fast-moving and competitive real estate market.

Contact us to find out more today.