Protecting Vacant Investment Properties: Understanding your alternatives to plywood board-up

TAKING YOUR VACANT PROPERTY SECURITY SERIOUSLY

Plywood Board-Up Contributes to Neighborhood Blight

The problem with boarding up a vacant property is that the boards make the property stand out in the wrong way. Whenever you throw plywood up on a vacant property, regardless of the community it’s in, plywood puts a big red X on that property. It immediately becomes a beacon for squatters, drug users, and thieves who break in to steal appliances or copper wiring.

Plywood makes it very obvious that no one is home and no one will be for a long time, and aesthetically, plywood just doesn’t look very good – even when you put it up brand new, it still looks cheap.

Plywood Board-Up is Bad for Property Values

Let’s face it: nobody wants the next-door property to be boarded with plywood.

It’s bad for neighborhood property values to have boards up on the block. Some pretty depressing data shows that properties sitting next to boarded houses suffer in value. This, of course, affects investors and mortgage servicers too.

Plywood Board-Up is Bad for Property Preservation and Resale Value

It’s hard to sell a house with boards on all the windows because a prospective owner/occupant has a hard time envisioning their future house without the plywood attached and, despite what a lot of people outside the housing industry might think, banks and servicers don’t want to own abandoned, boarded-up houses – they want to sell the properties, preferably to someone who will live there. That gets a lot harder to do when the place looks terrible due to plywood and has become a destination for unpleasantness.

Board-Up Does Not Protect the Safety of the Neighborhood

Beyond property values and money, there’s a very real safety factor at play for neighbors.

Think about it—if you were to live next to a big red X of an abandoned property, you stand a good chance of that house having unwanted visitors, whether people or animals, hanging around just a few feet from you and your family. In fact, vacant properties generate nearly three times the number of calls for drugs and twice the calls about theft as occupied properties.

All those calls are a significant drain on local police, fire, and ambulance services; and that means more costs for taxpayers.

Steel Security Doors and Windows Means You Have An Eye Toward Aesthetics and Resale Value

Steel is the Choice of REO/Foreclosure Professionals

REO and Foreclosure properties are often targeted for theft, vandalism, and unauthorized occupation. Steel door and window security panels keep trouble out, no matter what form it takes.

Managing a foreclosed property should never be an issue of safety. With steel window and door screens, your vacant property security is no longer an issue, no matter the neighborhood or the property. Steel door and window guards have been used by all types of servicers, receivers, property management, and bank asset managers.

A vacant building is a vulnerable one. Steel gives you the ability to manage your property with confidence and security.

When you manage a foreclosed property, the longer it sits empty, the more vulnerable it becomes. It doesn’t take long for intruders to cause catastrophic damage to a building, which is why so many property managers count on steel door and window guards.

Even better, steel security doors and window guards adhere to local property ordinances, ensuring that your properties are always up to code and never at risk for major fines or legal action.

By keeping unauthorized persons out, steel vacant property security screens and doors help you effectively prevent crime, accidents, and damage caused by vandalism and theft. Steel isn’t just secure—it’s fast, convenient, and simple. When you use steel door and window guards, you can manage more properties and worry less.

Rehabbers and Investors Choose Steel Door and Window Security Shutters and Panels

• No Break-ins – Resulting in faster turnaround times, plus on-time, on-budget projects.
• Modular – steel door and window guards are modular and can secure openings of any shape and size.
• No Lock Boxes or Key Management – high-quality steel door guards offer built-in 4-digit codes eliminating the need to coordinate keys and lock boxes with realtors, contractors, and tradesmen.
• No Stolen Tools and Materials – A secure property means contractors can leave tools and materials on the property. This reduces the time and the cost of the rehab.
• No Safety Concerns – Once inside the property, doors can be locked from the inside, so realtors and contractors feel safe showing or working on a vacant property.

Favored by Law Enforcement

Due to the ability to protect the home from squatters and drug users, steel is also a favorite among law enforcement officials, who appreciate being able to check for potential hazards before entering.

Preferred by Realtors

Steel also helps agents and brokers show vacant homes, as potential buyers can better envision themselves in the property when plywood isn’t interfering with the home’s look.

When real estate owners and agents know their property is safe, they can show and sell it faster and easier than ever before. Our door and window guard systems ensure that you’re never at risk when you’re on the job.

When you sell real estate, confidence is key. When steel door and window guards are in place, Realtors feel unwavering confidence that they are safe, no matter who is or isn’t inside. Steel keeps the windows and doors completely sealed, and the only people who can open the door are those with access, so Realtors and investors never have to worry about surprises when you visit a property.

Being alone on a property shouldn’t be a risk. Steel door guards have no exposed hinges, handles, or locks, so only those with access can enter the building. That way, clients can tour properties anytime, anywhere without your safety ever being a concern.