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Leaving Your San Diego Foreclosures and REO's Unoccupied For An Extended Period Of Time

If you have unoccupied San Diego Foreclosures and REOS that you are fixing up, they are probably left unoccupied. For most investors, there always seems to be the 'What If' factor when leaving your San Diego Foreclosures and REOs unoccupied.

What if a water pipe leaked? Up to 250 gallons of water per day can seep from a small crack in a waterline.   A water leak can ruin furniture, wood floors and seep into walls creating the potential of mold.

 Sitting unoccupied, there are many things that could happen to your home and many homes don't have measures in place to prevent these disasters. Here are some steps you can take to prepare and protect your home while unoccupied. 

• Adjust The Thermostat

Such a small detail is often overlooked when preparing your soon-to-be unoccupied home.  Depending on the climate in your area, adjust the thermostat to keep the home warm enough to keep pipes from freezing or in warmer climates, cool enough to keep the home fresh and prevent mold. 

• Protect your Pipes

With both plastic and metal water pipes, there is a risk of them breaking or cracking. The best protection is to have the water turned off. Call your local plumber for advice regarding your home's water system.

• Weatherproof your Home

Snowbirds beware:  Preparing for weather is often both overlooked and unpredictable. If your area is subject to high winds or frequent storms, trim trees and shrubs around your home to prevent them from breaking and damaging your homes exterior.  If you live in an area that has harsh winters, empty your water pipes to prevent freezing.

• Continue Regular Maintenance

Schedule and continue your homes regular maintenance.  This will help the overall long term condition of your home and is a great way to prevent unseen events from happening.  Cleaning your gutters, sealing cracks, caulking around windows, and flushing your water heater will help reduce costs while you live in your home.

• Home Security Alarm System

 An unoccupied home is at risk of vandalism and burglary. Having your home look like it's lived in can make all the difference in both of these instances. Ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home and consider putting your outside lights on timers or set up motion detectors. Let your Home Owners Association (HOA) know that your going to be gone, the more eyes watching your unoccupied home the better!

These are just a few helpful tips when leaving your home unoccupied for any extended period of time. Coming home to the unexpected or what could have been prevented can ruin the best of vacations!

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