Selling Your Vacant Home and How to Avoid Vandalism by Geraldine Santiago


Thieves target vacant homes, and criminals may be looking through the MLS or other online property sites to find homes that are easy to access.  According to a RCMP report, these $1.5 million homes were listed  with photos clearly showing the property was vacant. 


To help prevent theft:


* Take photos of homes before the furniture is removed or stage the rooms with borrowed or rented pieces.

* Ask neighbours to report any suspicious activity such as trucks and people, at the home.  

*Let the neighbours know if the property has been sold, and when the new neighbours will be moving in.

*Make sure that the home doesn't look vacant or abandoned to passers by.

*Have lights on, and semblance of activity with a timer for lights to go on at different parts of the house.

*Have timers installed to turn off and turn on lights

*Don't have the TV or Radio on at odd hours as this is an indication that no one is home.

*Make sure you remove mail, flyers and newspapers from your front steps.





Geraldine Santiago is a RE/MAX Realtor®  licensed in both residential and commercial real estate services, specializing in land assembly projects and land acquisition.She is a published author of three real estate reference books for Self-Counsel Press Ltd. namely the "Complete Home Buyer's Guide for Canadians", "Selling Your Home I Canada" and "Buy and Sell a Recreational Property in Canada" and her recently self-published ebook "How to Band Together with Neighbours in Land Assembly", 2018.   She is known for seminars on real estate trends in buying and selling in metro Vancouver.  


Reciprocity Logo The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.