Vacant properties, thanks to the housing bubble bursting several years ago, are still extremely common in many neighborhoods. Banks may have trouble selling these properties for a variety of reasons, one being that while the homes sat empty, they were vandalized and damaged, leaving future owners with a hefty repair bill if they want to buy the house. Maybe those home prices will be discounted, but that doesn’t erase the cost it takes to fix damage. There are several types of damage and vandalism that can occur in vacant homes, and today we’ll discuss three of those types.
Theft
Theft is one type of vandalism, usually because the thieves are taking things they have to “dig” for, like copper wiring. In order for these criminals to get to the copper wire, they may demolish walls to get to the inside. As you can imagine, the cost to repair damages like these can become very costly, very quickly. Because vacant properties are often “unplugged”—that is, there is no electricity provided to the house—many vandals see the walls as merely something in the way of their paycheck.
Graffiti and Broken Windows
Cosmetic damage such as broken windows and graffiti are extremely common. One way to prevent windows from being broken is by installing metal window guards on them. These stop people from having unprotected access to the windows—and broken windows can lead to break-ins, which can lead to even more damage. Graffiti, while much easier to deal with than broken windows or other damage, is still damage and should be prevented so as to mitigate the repair and maintenance of a vacant property.
Broken Pipes
One form of vandalism that is not only common but very expensive and involved to fix is broken pipes. Broken water pipes can cause issues like mold, if the water seeps out into the walls and doesn’t dry. Mold, when met with a home that has poor ventilation—such as an abandoned one—can be very difficult to get rid of and can pose a serious health risk to those who come into contact with it. For that reason, it’s always important for property owners such as banks and mortgage lenders to protect these places with security for the doors and windows. Taking that step can prevent having to lower a home’s price later on due to damage.
