Okay maybe it’s just been a string of oddities that we’ve seen, but lately it appears that a lot of buyers think that just because they have a contract on a property and the property happens to be vacant, that they can do things in the home that they wouldn’t do if it was occupied.

Here’s the skinny on what you can do in a home on which you have a contract.  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!  The house is not your home until you have settled on it.  Until you receive the keys and the seller receives the money, the home and all of its contents, including appliances, belong to the seller and you have no rights to the property whatsoever.

This means that in order to enter the property, your agent must first have a confirmed appointment through the showing service or seller’s agent.  If your agent does not have an appointment, no one should enter the home.

Just because a home is vacant doesn’t mean that the seller doesn’t care about the home or won’t mind what you do while you’re there doing things like having a home inspection, or pre-settlement walk-through.

Don’t leave refrigerator doors open to air out the fridge.  Don’t leave lights turned on or off that weren’t that way when you entered the home.  Don’t leave the property with doors unlocked, fence gates open, or windows open.

Don’t begin pulling up carpet, putting paint samples on walls, or moving your own personal property into the home.

Simply put, leave the home the way you found it.

Don't have a contract on a home yet and looking for a great deal?  Search our list of Foreclosures or check out our weekly Best Buys.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri