Owning an empty house comes with certain pressures. If you feel the need to quickly have an occupant on your property, you’re not alone. Everyone knows how mentally draining it can get to worry about an empty house. Not to mention the costs involved in maintaining an empty house.

An empty house comes with a higher risk of damage by rodents and targets for theft. This makes buyers wary of acquiring a house that has been empty for a while.

Still, there are ways to sell an empty house.

The Best Ways to Sell an Empty House

We’ve got six of the best tips for you. Let’s dive in.

  1. Fix all Repairs and Secure the Entrances

It’s important to take a look at what might need repairs in the house and fix them before bringing in a potential buyer. The bane of empty houses are leaky roofs, broken windows, damage of electrical wires by rodents and so on. These can put potential buyers off and make it difficult to sell your house quickly.

Round up the repairs and secure all the entrances to the house. When you’re bringing your buyer let them see you holding the keys so they’ll know you did not just leave the house open and unsupervised.

  2. Keep a Security System Installed

In order to ensure that trespassers are kept off your property, install a security system. Houses with security systems are less likely to be attacked or stolen from. Your buyer will notice the extra mile you have gone to keep the property safe and is bound to be impressed.

The security system will not just help you sell faster, it will also save you from the unnecessary costs of salvaging a theft or vandalism situation.

  3. Furnish the House and Keep it Clean

It’s true. An empty house (that’s literally empty) is unattractive. Consider putting a few pieces of furniture in the house and making it look occupied. Potential buyers are able to imagine themselves more easily in such a house. Keep the interior clean and free of dust. Again, your buyer will be impressed.

  4. Let the Utilities Run

Allowing utilities to run is another important method. For instance, you can allow the heater to run to avoid freezing of the pipes.

Generally, do all you can to make the house look lived in. You can also put your real estate agent on this, to help you monitor it. You can find the best real estate agents around here.

  5. Keep the Exterior in Good Condition

An overgrown lawn does not exactly scream ‘buy me’. Neither does a front porch filled with dry leaves and sticks. Ensure that the driveway does not become filled with snow.

Also, make sure that while the house is empty, it does not become infested with pests such as bees or pigeons which make nests around the exterior and constitute nuisances.

  6. Get the Neighbors and Local Police on Your Team

One more tip is to get the neighbors on your team. Even if you will not be able to show up all the time for routine checks, letting the neighbors know about the empty house is a smart move. They will keep an eye on activities around the property.

When you finally show up with a potential buyer, the air of familiarity and friendliness between you and the neighbors can foster a feeling of security for your client. Generally, if you’re able to do a great job of making the house look not too differently from when it was inhabited, you’ll be able to sell it fast.

Final Thoughts

People know that a house can be empty for some time before they move in, but they’re also aware of the challenges that may bring to them. That’s why it sometimes gets difficult to sell an empty house on time. With these tips above, you would be able to convince potential buyers without breaking a sweat.