3 Things to Consider when you own a Vacant House in Pittsburgh

In Home Ownership Tips by Charles Beech Properties

People end up owning vacant houses for many reasons: tenant moved out, bought a new house, inherited property, job relocation, health related issues, and more. When you own a vacant Pittsburgh house, there are 3 things you need to consider:

  1. Security: vacant houses are targets for criminals. They may break in to try to steal valuable items. Sometimes people break in and start living in the property (squatters). This can cause financial stress and also mental stress for the owner of the vacant house.
  2. Weather: depending on the season of the year, the weather can affect your vacant house in different ways. Because someone isn’t there daily to deal with problems as they arise, vacant houses are more susceptible to these issues than occupied houses. In the winter, pipes can freeze and burst which causes all kinds of issues. In the summer, the heat and humidity can cause peeling paint and moisture issues in the house. Roof leaks go undetected throughout the year which causes major issues in vacant houses.
  3. Expenses: the cost of owning a vacant property adds up quickly. All of the following costs are either paid monthly or annually: mortgage, insurance, utilities, real estate taxes, security, grass maintenance, and more. When you forego some of these items to save money, it causes other issues (ex: turning off utilities could lead to weather related issues more quickly).

When you own a vacant house, you’ll want to check on it as often as is possible. Although it can be stressful, the best thing to do is to quickly find a way to get the house occupied (rented) or get it sold. This may entail spending money on a renovation before it can be occupied. This can be expensive but the costs of procrastinating with the vacant house will add up very quickly and exponentially.

If you own a vacant house in Pittsburgh, you may decide that you want to sell it quickly so you can avoid all the risks and stress. For a fast, as-is, hassle-free sale, please contact Charles Beech Properties at 412-339-2929.