I found a property that is 100% vacant. It has over grown grass/weeds and I spoke to two neighbors who confirmed it's vacant.

Also, it was on the list of Dilapidated Properties that I received from Code Enforcement, but the officer never said the home actually looks like it should be demolished, just that it has been abandoned for over 30 years and the neighbors have complained about it for some time. So i'm thinking they're just tired of hearing about it.

The neighbors told me someone comes once a year every summer to do a "small" mowing around the place, and that's it.

I have retrieved phone numbers, a current mailing address and an email address for the owner.

What would be the best way to contact them?

I'm comfortable with knocking on their door, calling, anything. Great at talking with people. Just not sure what the best approach might be.

Do all of them. They're all good. Start with whichever way is easiest for you.

@Corey Rippeto yes do whatever you can to reach the owner. Since the property been vacant that long they should want to sell it. They've been paying property taxes that long on a vacant property they should be motivated.

@Corey Rippeto ,

Finding good properties is, as I'm sure you're aware, hard work.  If you find something that looks like it could be a good deal as this one does, then spare no expense finding the owners.  I would start with a call.  It's the fastest and most personal.  Work on building rapport with the owner.  If you can't reach them, then send a personal letter and an email.  If that doesn't work, and you get no indication if you're even barking up the right tree, do some skip tracing just to see if there's some other contact information out there.  You want to be the person who's gone the extra mile to get in contact with the owner.  Consider the fact that it's been abandoned for a long time.  I'm sure someone else has tried - and failed.  Do what it takes.

If you do connect with the owner, and they don't want to sell, then just follow up with them every once in a while.  When they do decide to sell, you want to be the first person they think of.

Thanks for the responses guys!

I found out the two people listed as the owners are deceased -have been since 1998 & 2001.

There’s another woman on the records I got from tax assessors who they said is listed as the properties care giver (paying taxes). Past 2 months of taxes haven’t been paid though.

Looks like my next step will be contacting this woman to see what the deal is.

I’m just curious, though. Why would it be owned two deceased people? What are my options if this woman isn’t an heir?

@Corey Rippeto ,

I found a property not too long ago where the owner had died and all of the potential heirs were either also dead or couldn't be found.  They were going to hold some sort of hearing to figure out what to do, and the court invited all "interested parties" to attend.  I don't know how it ended as I wasn't able to attend the court, but I plan on keeping my eyes out for situations like this so I can learn what happens.

@Corey Rippeto  I agree with what has been posted above "Do all of the above: just call as many contacts as you can find, email them, door knock. If you need to skip trace to find  more alternative people to reach out to do that. If you have no luck with that, I would also write up a letter and send letters as well. Keep it really short and sweet just showing how you can add value to them.