Sometimes houses sit vacant a lot longer than anyone originally planned.
Maybe you inherited a property and weren’t sure what to do with it. Maybe you moved away and kept thinking you’d eventually come back and fix the house. Maybe it was a rental, the last tenant moved out, and getting it ready for another tenant became more work than you wanted to take on.
Before you know it, a few months turns into a few years.
The longer a house sits empty, the more likely it is that small problems have turned into bigger ones. If you’re finally ready to sell a property that has been vacant for years, you may be wondering where to even start.
The good news is that you don’t have to renovate or clean up the entire property before you can sell it.
After more than 20 years of buying houses throughout the Greater New Orleans area, I’ve walked through plenty of properties that had been sitting vacant for a long time. Every situation is different, but here are a few things homeowners should know.
Vacant Houses Can Deteriorate Quickly
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that houses generally don’t do well when nobody is living in them.
A small roof leak that would normally get noticed right away can continue for months. Water gets into the ceiling or walls, which can lead to damaged sheetrock, rotten wood, or mold.
Plumbing leaks can go unnoticed. Termites may cause damage without anyone realizing it. Moisture can build up inside the house, especially with our heat and humidity in Southeast Louisiana.
Then you have the outside of the property.
Grass gets high. Trees and bushes become overgrown. Gutters clog. Fences fall apart. A small exterior maintenance issue can become a much larger repair when nobody is around to catch it.
That’s just part of what happens when a house sits for a long time.
Security Can Become a Problem
A property that obviously looks vacant can attract unwanted attention, especially in the New Orleans area.
Broken windows, overgrown landscaping, mail piling up, or a yard that hasn’t been maintained can make it clear that nobody is living there.
Unfortunately, that can lead to trespassing, vandalism, theft, or people entering the property without permission.
We’ve walked through vacant houses where appliances were missing, copper wiring had been stolen, doors were damaged, and other parts of the property had been stripped.
Those problems don’t mean the house can’t be sold, but they need to be understood.
Find out what issues are attached to the property and what would be required to resolve them.
Sometimes the solution is straightforward. Other times, it may involve contractors, inspections, permits, or significant repairs.
Again, every situation is different.
Can You Sell a House That Has Been Vacant for Years As-Is?
Absolutely.
A house doesn’t have to be renovated, cleaned out, or even in good condition before someone can buy it.
We buy houses in Kenner and throughout the Greater New Orleans area that have been vacant for years. Some need minor repairs. Others need complete renovations from top to bottom.
We’ve seen houses filled with old furniture and belongings, properties with overgrown yards, termite damage, roof problems, mold, outdated electrical and plumbing, and just about everything else you can imagine.
That type of property doesn’t scare us.
As a cash buyer, we’re looking at what the house is worth in its current condition, what repairs will be needed, and what the numbers look like after those repairs.
In many situations, we would actually prefer the homeowner not spend money fixing or cleaning the property before we look at it.
Let us take care of that.
What If the House Is Full of Stuff?
This is especially common with inherited houses and properties that have been vacant for a long time.
You may open the door and realize you’re looking at years—or even decades—of belongings.
Don’t assume you need to rent dumpsters and spend weeks cleaning everything out before selling.
If there are personal items you want, take them.
But if you’re selling to us, you can usually leave behind the things you don’t want and we’ll handle the cleanout after closing.
Sometimes getting rid of the house is already enough of a project. There’s no reason to create another one if you don’t have to.
Final Thoughts
If you have a house that has been vacant for years, the most important thing is to understand your options before putting more money into it.
Take a look at the condition.
Figure out what you’re spending every year to keep it.
Consider what repairs would realistically cost.
Then decide whether fixing and listing the property makes sense or whether you’d rather sell it as-is and move on.
At NOLA Buys Houses, we buy vacant houses throughout the Greater New Orleans area in all kinds of conditions and situations. You don’t need to renovate the house, clean everything out, or make it perfect before giving us a call.
If you’re not sure what makes the most sense, I’m happy to take a look at the property and have a straightforward conversation about your options.
There’s never any pressure or obligation.
www.nolabuyshouses.com
504-264-1407