Sell a vacant house

An empty house is never really empty

A vacant house still has a tax bill, an insurance policy, utility accounts, a lawn that keeps growing, and a roof and plumbing system that keep aging. Even when no one lives there, it costs money every month. And unlike an occupied house, no one is around to notice when something starts to go wrong.

We buy vacant houses in Lindenhurst and throughout the Town of Babylon, in any condition, whether they've been empty for a few weeks or many years.

Why houses end up vacant

• The owner passed away and the estate hasn't sold it yet
• The owner moved into assisted living or with family
• The owner relocated for work and hasn't sold
• A rental property's tenants moved out and the owner never re-rented it
• The house was damaged by a storm, fire, or flood and never repaired
• A renovation started and stalled
• The owner bought a new home before selling the old one
• A divorce or family dispute put the house in limbo

The real risks of leaving a house empty

Frozen and burst pipes

Long Island winters can be hard on an unheated house. If the heat fails or the oil runs out, pipes can freeze and burst. In a vacant house, that water can run for days or weeks before anyone notices, soaking floors, walls, and ceilings and leading to mold. This is one of the most common and expensive problems we see.

Undetected leaks

A slow roof leak or a dripping pipe can go unnoticed for months in a vacant house. By the time it's found, the damage is often much worse than it would have been in an occupied home.

Break-ins, vandalism, and squatters

Empty houses attract attention. Copper pipes, appliances, and fixtures can be stolen. Some vacant houses are vandalized or used by trespassers. In New York, removing people who occupy a property without permission can become a legal process, which is why prevention matters.

Insurance problems

Many standard homeowner's policies limit or change coverage once a house has been vacant for a certain period. Some losses, like vandalism or water damage, may not be covered at all after a vacancy period, depending on the policy. If your house is vacant, call your insurance company and ask exactly what's covered. You may need a vacant home policy, which often costs more.

Code complaints

Overgrown lawns, piled-up mail, broken windows, and visible debris can lead to neighbor complaints and code enforcement notices from the Village or the Town. Fines can add up, and some municipalities have specific rules about vacant property registration and maintenance.

Ongoing costs

Even if nothing goes wrong, you're still paying property taxes, insurance, utilities, and basic maintenance. Long Island property taxes alone make holding a vacant house expensive.

How to protect a vacant house until it's sold

• Keep the heat on at a safe minimum, or have a plumber winterize the plumbing
• Shut off the main water valve if the house is winterized
• Check on the house regularly, or ask a neighbor or relative to
• Keep the lawn mowed and the walks shoveled
• Stop or forward the mail
• Use timers on a few lights
• Make sure doors and windows are locked and secure
• Call your insurer and confirm your coverage

Selling a vacant house as-is

Vacant houses often need more work than occupied ones, simply because problems went unnoticed. The heat may have been off. The roof may have leaked. Rodents may have moved in. The electricity or water may be shut off.

We buy them anyway. You don't need to turn utilities back on, clean the house, or fix anything. If the house still has belongings inside, take what you want and leave the rest. We handle the cleanout.

Selling from a distance

Many owners of vacant houses don't live nearby. They may have moved out of state, or they may have inherited the house and live elsewhere. You don't need to come back to sell. We can arrange access with a lockbox or a key you mail to us, do the walkthrough, and send you photos and a written offer. Your attorney can handle the closing, and documents can usually be signed remotely or with a notary where you live.

Vacant inherited houses

Inherited houses are one of the most common types of vacant homes. If you're the executor or administrator of an estate, you have a responsibility to protect the property while the estate is being settled. That means keeping it insured, heated or winterized, and secure. Selling sooner can reduce the risk and expense. See our inherited house and probate pages for more on how estate sales work.

Vacant rental properties

If your rental is empty, you can sell it now instead of spending money to make it rent-ready and finding a new tenant. Selling vacant also avoids the complications of selling with a tenant in place.

Houses with the utilities shut off

It's common for utilities to be disconnected at vacant houses. That doesn't stop a sale. We can do our walkthrough with flashlights if needed. If there are unpaid utility balances, let us know, as some charges can become liens.

Vacant houses with damage

If the house was left vacant because of damage, such as after a flood, fire, or major leak, we buy those too. We also buy houses where a renovation was started and abandoned, with walls opened and work half done.

What it costs to wait

Every month a vacant house sits, you're paying taxes, insurance, and utilities while taking on the risk of something going wrong. Selling sooner turns a liability into money in your pocket.

How the sale works

1. Tell us about the house and how long it's been vacant.
2. We arrange access and walk through once.
3. We send a written offer.
4. Your attorney reviews the contract.
5. We close on your timeline, and the house becomes our responsibility.

A vacant house checklist for long-distance owners

If you live far away, a few steps make the sale smoother:

• Find a local contact, a neighbor, friend, or relative, who can check on the house and let us in if needed
• Gather your deed, recent tax bills, and insurance information
• Find out whether utilities are on, off, or have unpaid balances
• Decide what, if anything, needs to be removed from the house
• Choose a local real estate attorney who can handle the closing for you

What we've learned from vacant houses

Every vacant house tells a story. Some were left in a hurry, with food still in the fridge. Others were carefully closed up and have barely aged. Some were vacant for so long that nature started moving in. None of that is a problem for us. What matters is that you're ready to stop worrying about it. The sooner the house is sold, the sooner the risk and the bills become someone else's job.

Questions owners ask about vacant houses

Do I need to clean it out before selling?

No. Take anything you want to keep and leave the rest.

The house has been broken into. Can I still sell?

Yes. If there's damage, we'll factor it in. You may want to file a police report and notify your insurer.

Will the house's condition affect the price?

Yes, but you won't need to fix anything, and the price will reflect the condition from the start.

Can you buy it if the heat has been off all winter?

Yes. If pipes froze or burst, we'll account for that when we walk through.

Winterizing a vacant house

If a house will sit empty through the cold months, winterizing it is one of the best things you can do. A plumber typically shuts off the water at the main, drains the supply lines and water heater, blows out remaining water, and adds antifreeze to drains and toilet traps. If the house has a hot water heating system, it may need to be drained or protected as well. Winterizing costs money, but it's far less than repairing burst pipes and water damage.

Keep in mind that a winterized house often needs to be de-winterized before an inspection or before anyone can use the plumbing. When you sell to us, you don't need to de-winterize. We'll handle it.

Vacant property registration

Some municipalities require owners or lenders to register vacant properties, maintain them to a certain standard, and provide contact information for someone responsible. Rules vary by municipality and change over time. If you're unsure whether any requirements apply to your vacant house in the Village of Lindenhurst or the Town of Babylon, contact the building or code enforcement office.

Squatters and unauthorized occupants

Unauthorized occupants are one of the biggest fears for owners of vacant houses. New York has updated its laws in recent years to address squatters more directly, but removing someone from a property can still require going through legal channels. The best protection is prevention: keep the house secured, check on it regularly, and make it look lived in. If you find someone living in your vacant house, contact the police and an attorney.

Vacant houses and neighbors

Neighbors notice vacant houses. Some will keep an eye on it for you, which helps. Others may call code enforcement over tall grass or debris. A friendly conversation with a neighbor and a phone number to call if they see something unusual can go a long way.

Utilities and final bills

Before closing, schedule final readings for water and other utilities. Unpaid balances may need to be settled at closing.

When a vacant house becomes a burden

Many owners keep a vacant house for years, intending to fix it up, rent it, or move back someday. Over time, the plans fade and the costs keep coming. If you've realized you're never going to get to it, there's no shame in selling. Turning an empty house into money you can use is often the most practical decision.

How the sale works

Questions