Landowners: 5 Strategies for Maintaining Empty Properties

When you are a landlord, you don't want empty real estate properties to deteriorate. However, you might not have the time to maintain your vacant properties. If you are facing such a situation, here are some tips on how to preserve the appearance of your empty properties.

1. Find a Tenant as Soon as Possible

The most obvious way to prevent vacant real estate properties from being overrun with weeds and trash is to quickly fill that vacancy. If you're struggling to find a tenant, figure out why your property isn't renting. Is it a slow market? Too high rental price? Major repairs needed? The property is in a bad neighborhood?

Identify what's preventing you from renting out the property and fix it as best you can. If necessary, lower your rent. If major repairs are required — do them. The longer you wait, the more money you'll lose.

2. Sign a Contract for Regular Landscaping Services

Even if your property is vacant, you still need to regularly perform landscaping tasks such as lawn mowing, weed removal and tree branch trimming. If you delay this too long, it will become problematic and difficult to manage.

Not every homeowner is lucky enough to get free help from a random lawn care company. Don't wait for kindness from strangers. You might get lucky, but the odds are low.

3. Hire a Local Teenager for Weekly Lawn Mowing

Local kids can be an excellent resource for property maintenance. Some responsible entrepreneurs are simply waiting for regular work. Find a teenager willing to mow the lawn once a week. Offer additional payment if he or she also fertilizes and waters the lawn to keep it green. This will be a win-win solution for everyone.

Besides regular lawn care, you're giving them a great opportunity to practice discipline, reliability and consistency.

4. Occasionally Spend Weekends at Your Property

Sometimes spend a weekend day at your vacant property. We hope that your property won't remain empty for more than a few months, but if you anticipate a long-term vacancy, stop by at least once a month.

Maintaining warmth inside your property is the most important reason to spend a weekend at an empty property. When no one lives in the house, especially during winter, lack of heat can cause problems. For example, pipes may burst and heavy snow could damage the roof.

While it's good to spend a weekend at your property, be cautious about asking others to watch over your home. Once you let someone occupy your property—even just for one night—you open the door to becoming a victim of squatting.

If you think this won't happen to you and your friends are better than that, don't be so confident. Many people find themselves in trouble when hospitable visitors become intrusive squatters.

5. Pay for Professional Exterior Cleaning of Your Property

A little soap and water can do a lot to maintain the appearance of your vacant property. It won't take long before the exterior of an empty property becomes covered in dust, dirt and other contaminants. In autumn leaves will accumulate on the yard and driveway, while wind scatters them throughout the house, causing leaves to stick to the siding.

Hire someone for regular exterior cleaning of your property. It's not necessary to do this every week, but clean at least once a month. That way, when you find potential tenants, you won't have to work as hard to make your property appealing.

Make the Vacant Property Look Occupied

It's ideal if your vacant property looks like someone lives in it. Although your neighbors will know the house is empty, its appearance as if residents are inside will deter criminal activity from outsiders. Ultimately, a clean and well-maintained vacant property is easier to rent when you find potential tenants.