Vexing Vacancy: Busting the Myth That Empty Properties Are Less Maintenance

One of the myths that homeowners and landlords often succumb to is the idea that vacant property is somehow less maintenance than occupied property.  After all, tenants just create wear and tear on carpets, hardware, and other surfaces.  However, just like a seldom used car needs to be turned on and driven around the block every once in a while, vacant housing often requires the same periodic attention.

A good example comes from clients that I service in Ogden Valley.  They have been on assignment outside of the U.S. for a couple years and come back once or twice a year for Holidays.  In the months that they are gone, I visit the property and run through a checklist of items to make sure the home is in proper order.  This has been a very successful way to keep up on landscaping, snow removal, and to check for potential water hazards.  We have caught many issues over the past couple of years that could have gotten worse had we not been their to notice and take action.

I am reminded of the importance of having a steward visit vacant property because of an experience I had recently.  In this case, the property was a home with a mother-in-law apartment.  The tenants live upstairs and the out of state owner visits the basement mother-in-law apartment several times a year.  However, due to the frequency of his visits, he did not arrange regular visits from us.  So, today, I was at the home with a contractor to review some repair items upstairs.  We needed to access the basement to find the breaker box.

The owner had not been to visit since the first week in April.  When we opened the door, the odor of mildew immediately tipped us off that something was wrong.  As we found our way further into the basement the air became muggy and the carpets began to slosh with water.  We followed a loud hissing sound to the living room where we found a burst pipe shooting water from the ceiling.

It was at that point that the tenant remarked that she had smelt mildew for a couple weeks but thought it was just due to the spring rains we have had.  Well, it turns out this water has been running into the basement for at least that long if not longer.

The leak is simply due to the age of the pipes.  Copper lines often get pinhole leaks as they age.  While this burst pipe couldn't have been prevented by regular visits, the damage it caused could have been mitigated sooner and reduced the cost of repairs.  This case is so sever that the insurance company will be handling the remediation.  

If you are considering leaving your property vacant, we provide very affordable property management services to check regularly on the property.  These routine checkups can save you a lot of inconvenience and expense.  If you are interested in discussing a routine visit to your property, CONTACT ME and I can show you how it will save you money.