Reaching an owner of a vacant house

Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2017 · 19 posts · 2 votes

Hi,

We have a vacant house right next to our house and am wondering what would be the best way to reach to the owner. Does anyone have the experience?

The house has been vacant for a long time even before we moved in about 4 years ago, and it looks like a mess from outside with no maintenance. I heard from one of the neighbors that the owner left to live in a different state for some reason but nobody know his number.

I'd like to talk to the owner; to check inside if he is interested in selling or to encourage him to maintain the outside works if he is not interested. This could be a great investment if we rental and manage our current house and live in the next house and flip at a same time.

Thanks,
Aya

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Brad Shepherd

Syndicator · Austin, TX · Member since 2014 · 85 posts · 47 votes

Right next door? Four years? Yeah, chase this guy down until you find him!!

First, put a note on the door so he'll see it if he ever comes to check on the property and you don't see him there.

Your county records have the name of who owns it. Find the name online or down at the county building if you have to. Then you contact him one way or another. Put a letter in the mail with a message talking like you're a real human..."Hey, just curious if you'd be willing to sell that house. We want to buy it."

Even better, call him or direct message him. Search online for that address and/or name and you'll find phone numbers. Social media, whitepages.com, spokeo, homemetry.com, truepeoplesearch.com. Whatever you need to track them down and have a conversation.

Something to consider, based on how you feel about this approach. Call the city code office if you see an offense...tall grass, trash in the yard, etc. Getting a code violation notice from the city may increase the motivation to sell.

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Brad Shepherd
Syndicator · Austin, TX · Member since 2014 · 85 posts · 47 votes
8y
Right next door? Four years? Yeah, chase this guy down until you find him!!

First, put a note on the door so he'll see it if he ever comes to check on the property and you don't see him there.
Your county records have the name of who owns it. Find the name online or down at the county building if you have to. Then you contact him one way or another. Put a letter in the mail with a message talking like you're a real human..."Hey, just curious if you'd be willing to sell that house. We want to buy it."
Even better, call him or direct message him. Search online for that address and/or name and you'll find phone numbers. Social media, whitepages.com, spokeo, homemetry.com, truepeoplesearch.com. Whatever you need to track them down and have a conversation.
Something to consider, based on how you feel about this approach. Call the city code office if you see an offense...tall grass, trash in the yard, etc. Getting a code violation notice from the city may increase the motivation to sell.
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Jake Thomas
Residential Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2013 · 803 posts · 689 votes
8y
I wish all my neighbor's houses were vacant for years so I could buy them. If the county records don't have a forwarding address then take his name and search google till you find something. I have had luck with facebook and finding people so that could be an option for you as well. But keep looking via the internet and talk to all your neighbors to see where he went and if they have a phone number. If a neighbor alludes to knowing info but is reluctant to share it I always show them an after picture of one my projects and tell them I aim to improve the neighborhood altogether.
Good luck
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Aya Caliva
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2017 · 19 posts · 2 votes
8y
@Brad Shepherd Thank you for the detailed advices! That was so helpful. He actually got lots of violation notices because of tall grass every spring-summer, a couple times a year. The city always cut the grass each time. He must paid lots of the violation fees already, I'm not so sure why he doesn't even rent it out if he doesn't want to sell.
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Aya Caliva
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2017 · 19 posts · 2 votes
8y
@Jake Thomas Thanks for your advice! I will first talk to neighbors to see if they know anything else. The house is kind of famous among our neighborhood since it kind of looks like a haunted house! lol
Thank you so much.
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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
8y
@Brad Shepherd shared a great piece of advice that is often over-looked. If the home looks rough, like a nuisance to the neighborhood, then file a complaint with the City. This may motivate the owner to get rid of it so they don't have to be hassled. If you are going to do this, file the report anonymously or have some other party do it for you so the owner can't tie the complaint back to you.
I filed two complaints against a property next door to a house I manage. At the same time, I mailed the owner directly and let him know I had a buyer interested in his property. Sure enough, he contacted me and I sold the house AND a vacant lot for him. Easy!
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Aya Caliva
OP
Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2017 · 19 posts · 2 votes
8y
@Nathan Gesner Nathan, that is a good idea. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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