With so many distressed properties on the market (both short sales and bank-owned foreclosures), it’s not uncommon for neighborhoods to have vacant homes. In fact, I passed one on a walk just yesterday morning and was wondering why on earth the listing agent had left the curtains open—making it so brutally obvious that the home was vacant. I mean why not put out balloons and a sign that says Looters, Please Come Visit Soon.
If you are a short sale seller who is in the midst of moving and who will be vacating a home, know that the home still belongs to you until the property transfers or is sold.For many short sale sellers, this means that you may have to continue to keep up with the utilities, the Homeowner’s Association, the lawn maintenance, and other obligations associated with the upkeep of the property.
Another concern with respect to a vacant home has to do with security. In certain parts of the United States, vacant homes are taken over by all sorts of characters. Also, in rural areas, plants and other items can magically disappear from properties that are vacant and in more remote locations. While this situation is extremely unfortunate, it is often hard to avoid. One solution to this problem would be to hire a house sitter to reside on the property until it is sold and the short sale transaction has closed.
Ultimately, the issue of security is the responsibility of the owner of the property. So, sellers who have to move should make arrangements to assure the security of their property during the tough transition. When in doubt about how to proceed and best protect the property, consult with a qualified Realtor® who might be able to make some suggestions about how best to avoid an unfortunate situation.
Originally posted at http://servingsandiegocounty.com