Selling a Vacant House in Metairie: What You Should Know
One question I hear from homeowners fairly often is:
“Is it harder to sell a house if it’s sitting vacant?”
The short answer is:
Not necessarily.
A vacant house can absolutely be sold. But the longer a property sits empty, the more potential problems can start to pop up.
After buying houses throughout the Greater New Orleans area for more than 20 years, I’ve walked through plenty of vacant properties. Some were in great shape and had only been empty for a few months. Others had been sitting for years and needed a lot of work.
If you own a vacant house in Metairie, there are a few things you should know before deciding what to do with it.
Let’s take a closer look.
Why Do Houses Sit Vacant?
There are all kinds of reasons.
Maybe you inherited a house from a family member and nobody plans to live there.
Maybe you moved for work and your old house never sold.
Maybe it was previously a rental and you decided you don’t want to deal with tenants anymore.
Other times, the house simply needs more repairs than the owner wants to take on.
Whatever the reason, owning a vacant house can quickly become another responsibility you have to manage.
Vacant Houses Still Cost Money
This is something people sometimes underestimate.
Just because nobody is living in the house doesn’t mean the expenses stop.
You may still be paying:
· Property taxes
· Insurance
· Utilities
· Lawn care
· Pest control
· Maintenance
· Mortgage payments, if there’s still a loan
A few hundred dollars here and there may not seem like much, but when a property sits vacant for six months or a year, those expenses start adding up.
That’s why I always tell homeowners to look at the true cost of holding onto the property, not just what they think the house might eventually sell for.
Small Problems Can Become Big Problems
This is probably my biggest concern with vacant houses.
When someone lives in a home, problems usually get noticed pretty quickly.
A leaking pipe gets noticed.
A roof leak gets noticed.
The air conditioner stops working—you definitely notice that.
But when nobody is there, a small problem can go unnoticed for weeks or even months.
A minor plumbing leak can turn into water damage and mold. A roof leak can damage ceilings, walls, and flooring. Termite activity can continue without anyone realizing it.
Here in Metairie, with the heat, humidity, heavy rain, and termites we deal with, leaving a house unattended can create problems surprisingly fast.
I’ve walked into vacant houses where the owner thought everything was fine only to discover something had been leaking for months.
That can get expensive quickly.
Keeping the Property Secure
Security is another concern.
An obviously vacant house can sometimes attract unwanted attention.
Overgrown grass, piled-up mail, newspapers, or a house that’s always dark can make it pretty obvious that nobody is living there.
If you’re going to hold onto a vacant property, make sure someone is checking on it regularly.
Keep the yard maintained. Pick up the mail. Make sure the doors and windows are secure.
Having someone walk through the house periodically can also help catch maintenance problems before they become major repairs.
What About Insurance?
This is something you definitely want to check.
A standard homeowner’s insurance policy may have different requirements or limitations when a property is vacant for an extended period.
Don’t assume your existing coverage automatically stays the same.
If you’ve moved out of the property or inherited a vacant house, talk to your insurance agent and make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t covered.
The last thing you want is to discover a problem after something has already happened.
Should You Make Repairs Before Selling?
That depends.
If the house is in good condition and only needs a little cleaning, making a few improvements before listing it may make sense.
But I’ve also seen homeowners start with the idea of making “a few repairs” and end up with a much bigger project than they expected.
You fix the flooring and discover water damage.
You open a wall and find termites.
You replace a cabinet and discover an old plumbing leak.
Pretty soon, you’re dealing with contractors, estimates, permits, materials, and a renovation you never planned on doing.
Before spending the money, figure out what the property actually needs and what you hope to accomplish.
Can You Sell a Vacant House As-Is?
Absolutely.
You don’t necessarily have to clean everything out, renovate the property, or make it perfect before selling.
There are buyers who buy vacant houses in Metairie as-is, including properties that need significant repairs.
That’s something we do regularly.
We’ve bought houses that were completely empty, houses full of belongings, inherited properties, former rentals, and homes that hadn’t been maintained in years.
When we look at a property, we’re looking at the complete picture—the location, condition, repairs needed, and what it will take to bring the house back to life.
You may have more options than you realize.
Vacant Houses Can Be Easier to Sell in Some Ways
There are actually a few advantages to selling a vacant property.
There aren’t tenants to coordinate with.
You don’t have to schedule showings around someone’s daily routine.
And if you’ve already moved, you may have more flexibility with the closing date.
The biggest question is usually how you want to sell it.
If the house is in excellent condition, listing it traditionally may make sense.
If it needs substantial work—or you simply don’t want to spend months maintaining, repairing, and showing an empty property—an as-is cash sale may be worth considering.
Final Thoughts
So, should you worry about selling a vacant house in Metairie?
No—but I wouldn’t ignore it either.
The longer a house sits empty, the more you’re spending to carry it and the greater the chance that a small maintenance issue becomes a much larger problem.
If you own a vacant property, take a realistic look at the condition of the house, what it’s costing you each month, how much work it needs, and how long you want to continue maintaining it.
Sometimes fixing the house and listing it is the right move.
Other times, selling it as-is and moving on makes a lot more sense.
Every situation is different.
If you have a vacant house in Metairie and aren’t sure what to do with it, I’d be happy to take a look and explain your options. There’s no pressure and no obligation.
We buy houses in any condition, and you don’t have to make repairs or clean everything out before calling us.
504-264-1407