Sell a vacant house
The reason to sell a vacant house sooner rather than later is that an empty property does not hold steady, it declines, and it does so while costing you money every single month. Insurers know this, which is why standard homeowner policies typically restrict or void coverage once a house has been unoccupied for 30 to 60 days, exactly when the risk of a burst pipe or a break-in goes up.
Empty houses get harder to sell the longer they are empty
Without heat in winter, pipes freeze. Without occasional water use, traps dry out and sewer gas backs up. Without anyone present, small roof leaks become ceiling collapses and a break-in becomes a stripped copper plumbing system. Each of these moves the house further out of reach of a buyer using a mortgage, which narrows the buyer pool to cash exactly as your carrying costs accumulate.
What to know
Check your policy before anything else
Most standard homeowner policies contain a vacancy clause. After a defined period, typically 30 or 60 days, coverage for vandalism, water damage, and sometimes everything else is suspended. A vacant-property policy costs more but an uninsured loss on an empty house costs far more.
Winterize if the house will sit through a freeze
Shutting off the water at the main and draining the lines is inexpensive and prevents the single most common catastrophic loss in vacant homes. A burst supply line running unnoticed for a week can destroy a house.
Distance makes everything harder
Many vacant houses belong to somebody who now lives in another state. Managing repairs, contractors, and city notices remotely is genuinely difficult and expensive. You do not need to be present for our purchase, and remote closings are routine.
Watch for municipal violations and vacant-property registration
Many cities require vacant properties to be registered, and issue fines for tall grass, unsecured entry points, or code violations. These accumulate quietly and attach to the property, so they surface during the title search. Tell us about any notices you have received.
Squatters and unauthorized occupants are solvable
If someone has moved into the property without permission, that is a serious headache to resolve remotely, and it is one we can take on. Do not let it stop you from getting an offer.
This is general information based on what we see in this situation regularly. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and the rules differ meaningfully from state to state. Talk to an attorney or a CPA about your specific circumstances.
How we handle this specifically
- You do not need to be there. Remote closings by mail or with a mobile notary are routine.
- We handle cleanout, code violations, and unauthorized occupants after closing.
- No utilities need to be turned back on for our walkthrough.
- If the house is in reasonable shape and the local market is fast, we will tell you when listing would net more.
How selling to us actually works
Tell us about the house
The address and a rough sense of its condition is enough to start. You do not need photos, an appraisal, repair estimates, or anything cleaned up first.
About 2 minutes
We look at it properly
We pull comparable sales, check the condition ourselves, and work out what the house is actually worth to us. One walkthrough, at a time that suits you, and we pay for any inspection.
Usually within 24 to 48 hours
You decide, and you pick the date
We put the number in writing with no pressure and no expiry games. If you accept, a title company handles closing and you choose the date. If you decline, that is genuinely the end of it.
Close in about 1 to 3 weeks, or later if you prefer
Common questions
- The house is in another state from me. Does that matter?
- No. We buy nationwide and remote closings are normal. You can sign by mail or with a mobile notary wherever you live.
- The utilities are shut off. Is that a problem?
- No. We do not need power or water on to assess the property.
- There are code violations and fines against the property. Can you still buy it?
- Yes. Municipal liens are typically resolved at closing out of the proceeds. Let us know what you have received so we can account for it in the offer.
- Someone is living in the house who should not be. Can you help?
- Yes. Tell us the situation. We take it on after closing rather than asking you to resolve it first.
Related situations
Inherited a property
Often shared between siblings, full of belongings, and costing money every month.
House needs major repairs
Roof, foundation, mold, or a renovation somebody started and never finished.
Tired of being a landlord
Tenants in place, mid-lease, or one who has stopped paying entirely.
We handle this in every market we buy in
Find out what we would pay for your house
It takes about two minutes, there is no obligation, and there is never a fee. If we are not the right answer for your situation, we will tell you that too.