Engineer · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2012 · 75 posts · 14 votes
I am talking with the owner of a house that has been boarded up. They are eager to sell the house but it's boarded up and has been that way for a while. The owner agreed to meet me at the house but said I would have to do the actual breaking in. I've never broken into a boarded up house, does anybody have any suggestions?
Wholesaler · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2011 · 163 posts · 45 votes
13y
crowbar and sledgehammer
on a more serious note: why is the property boarded up? Did the homeowner do that or the city for code/building violations? If the latter you may need to get approval from the city to enter the building.
Disclaimer: no experience in this but thought this answer seemed logical. please defer to the more experienced investor/break in artists out there lol
Engineer · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2012 · 75 posts · 14 votes
13y
Josh Rogan the house belongs to a father and daughter. When the father decided he'd rather live in a retirement home the daughter had the place boarded up and never went back inside.
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
13y
You might consider a cordless screwdriver, since the boards are sometimes screwed in. Make sure you have a good portable light source, because you won't get much daylight in there (unless the roof is gone) ...
Be prepared for critters ... they find a way in where people can't squeeze in.
Investor · Willow Spring, NC · Member since 2009 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
13y
I've only bought a couple that were boarded up, both courthouse sales (trustee sale foreclosures), and realized quickly that you don't want a crowbar and/or sledgehammer. You want the place to remain secure. Break in, and you make it easier for someone you don't want to have access to the place.
Take a cordless screw gun (or cordless drill with Phillips bit) and box of screws to secure the place if the boards (probably plywood) were nailed in place. You may need a claw hammer to remove the nails.
Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
13y
I break into properties all the time.
Generally you need a good cordless screw gun and Philips bits but sometimes you need square headed bits. I usually have a cats claw, like a mini crow bar.
Other tools include drill bits for drilling locks, Misc screwdrivers, and a chisel.
I carry more than that but the screw gun and bits is the most important. Most importantly have extra screws and materials to secure the place back up when you are done.