Theft/Vandalism risk of unoccupied home
October 6, 2021 7:13 AM Subscribe
What might be less of a target: a vacant, unoccupied home or a furnished occupied home?
What things can we do to make an unoccupied period be less anxious for, us future residents?
We will have a gap between when we close on a home in DC (4 hours away) and when we move in (roughly 4 weeks).
We will be living still in NYC (where we live) in an furnished Airbnb in the interim, and have family that can potentially coordinate move in and/or stop by the DC house weekly (or perhaps hire a resident/neighbor to stop by more frequently?)
We are for perhaps unfounded reasons(below) nervous about moving in our stuff early vs. storing it in a storage unit for those four weeks, with the idea that a vacant house has nothing vs. furnished house has somethings.
Reasons:
1. The house's security is a metal grate door and fairly high wooden fence in the backyard that leads to glass sliding doors. There's a current security system. I would maybe only have that on during the month it is unoccupied...(?)
2. DC has higher property crime statistics in these areas than we are used to and many more anecdotal stories of home thefts as well as significantly less road and street traffic than our neighborhoods we have been living in.
We will have a gap between when we close on a home in DC (4 hours away) and when we move in (roughly 4 weeks).
We will be living still in NYC (where we live) in an furnished Airbnb in the interim, and have family that can potentially coordinate move in and/or stop by the DC house weekly (or perhaps hire a resident/neighbor to stop by more frequently?)
We are for perhaps unfounded reasons(below) nervous about moving in our stuff early vs. storing it in a storage unit for those four weeks, with the idea that a vacant house has nothing vs. furnished house has somethings.
Reasons:
1. The house's security is a metal grate door and fairly high wooden fence in the backyard that leads to glass sliding doors. There's a current security system. I would maybe only have that on during the month it is unoccupied...(?)
2. DC has higher property crime statistics in these areas than we are used to and many more anecdotal stories of home thefts as well as significantly less road and street traffic than our neighborhoods we have been living in.
I found the atHome phone app, running on a couple of old phones and pre-paid sim cards, really useful when keeping an eye on an empty home that had been broken into.
posted by eotvos at 7:38 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by eotvos at 7:38 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Lights on timers. Don't leave windows uncovered if people can see inside.
posted by wryly at 7:42 AM on October 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by wryly at 7:42 AM on October 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
Is there a driveway? Arrange to have someone (a new neighbor?) park their car there.
Ask family member to rake leaves if there’s a yard in front and leave evidence that it’s being done.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:50 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Ask family member to rake leaves if there’s a yard in front and leave evidence that it’s being done.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:50 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Do you know anyone with a dog? Borrow some old chewed-up toys and leave them outside by the front door. Maybe get an inexpensive wire lead and anchor and put it in the yard.
The possibility of a dog inside the house is the biggest thing that will make intruders look for an easier target.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:54 AM on October 6, 2021
The possibility of a dog inside the house is the biggest thing that will make intruders look for an easier target.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:54 AM on October 6, 2021
I would move your furniture in. Install curtains. Close them.
Buy some cheap wifi plugs, and use them to rotate the lights on and off. And yeah, have someone stop by every week to clear out the mail.
I'm not really sure how anyone would know you weren't living there!
posted by bbqturtle at 7:58 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Buy some cheap wifi plugs, and use them to rotate the lights on and off. And yeah, have someone stop by every week to clear out the mail.
I'm not really sure how anyone would know you weren't living there!
posted by bbqturtle at 7:58 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
We're in DC. A lot of property crime in DC is crime of opportunity, so you just want your place to look like it's not enough of an easy target in the moment somebody is checking it out.
Our house was vacant for months before we bought it, because the original sale fell through after the previous owners had moved away. While we were under contract someone stole the outside unit for the heat pump. We happened to notice the missing compressor because we lived in the neighborhood and walked by to check out window sizes, but if we hadn't done that it's likely this wouldn't have been discovered until our final walk-through a few days before closing. Vacant houses that have "for sale" signs and "sold" signs are targets for this sort of thing, because they are monitored inadequately, if at all, and this sort of theft can go undetected for a while. We just happened to get "lucky" and see it in time for the sellers to deal with the insurance issues.
After we'd been living here a while, someone broke in while we were on vacation. He didn't seem to know what he was doing, and the highest dollar loss to us was the window he broke in order to get in. He did this on a Tuesday during work hours, so it's not clear whether our being on vacation had anything to do with it, or if he just picked a house that looked unoccupied at that moment. The friend taking care of our cats unlocked the front door, called out "hi, cats," and the burglar dropped the (long outdated) laptop in his hands and ran past our friend and out the door. That was seven years ago. We've gone on several vacations since then and not had a repeat intruder, although somebody did break into a car parked behind our house (the car didn't belong to us – we had a cleaning service, and it was their car).
Anything you can do to make the house look occupied, or at least continually monitored, will help. If you're in a position to install security cameras as soon as you close, do so. Have somebody clear out any mail that arrives, daily if possible, and if you have any packages being delivered before you move then you should either have somebody there to meet them or you should divert those packages to a neighborhood drop point (hardware stores and supermarkets seem to do this now; check both UPS and FedEx for convenient delivery locations). The house next door to us sold recently and the new owner had a lot of packages delivered that were just left on her front porch. We (now) have a very obvious security camera mounted at eye level next to our front door so I don't know if that acted as a deterrent, but it was super obvious that nobody actually lived in the house when packages sat on the porch for days.
posted by fedward at 8:06 AM on October 6, 2021
Our house was vacant for months before we bought it, because the original sale fell through after the previous owners had moved away. While we were under contract someone stole the outside unit for the heat pump. We happened to notice the missing compressor because we lived in the neighborhood and walked by to check out window sizes, but if we hadn't done that it's likely this wouldn't have been discovered until our final walk-through a few days before closing. Vacant houses that have "for sale" signs and "sold" signs are targets for this sort of thing, because they are monitored inadequately, if at all, and this sort of theft can go undetected for a while. We just happened to get "lucky" and see it in time for the sellers to deal with the insurance issues.
After we'd been living here a while, someone broke in while we were on vacation. He didn't seem to know what he was doing, and the highest dollar loss to us was the window he broke in order to get in. He did this on a Tuesday during work hours, so it's not clear whether our being on vacation had anything to do with it, or if he just picked a house that looked unoccupied at that moment. The friend taking care of our cats unlocked the front door, called out "hi, cats," and the burglar dropped the (long outdated) laptop in his hands and ran past our friend and out the door. That was seven years ago. We've gone on several vacations since then and not had a repeat intruder, although somebody did break into a car parked behind our house (the car didn't belong to us – we had a cleaning service, and it was their car).
Anything you can do to make the house look occupied, or at least continually monitored, will help. If you're in a position to install security cameras as soon as you close, do so. Have somebody clear out any mail that arrives, daily if possible, and if you have any packages being delivered before you move then you should either have somebody there to meet them or you should divert those packages to a neighborhood drop point (hardware stores and supermarkets seem to do this now; check both UPS and FedEx for convenient delivery locations). The house next door to us sold recently and the new owner had a lot of packages delivered that were just left on her front porch. We (now) have a very obvious security camera mounted at eye level next to our front door so I don't know if that acted as a deterrent, but it was super obvious that nobody actually lived in the house when packages sat on the porch for days.
posted by fedward at 8:06 AM on October 6, 2021
Gently, as someone who has spent a fair bit of time living in "high crime" cities, I think you're overthinking this a bit. DC might have higher crime than you're used to, but what about your future neighborhood, specifically?
In any case, people engaged in theft aren't stupid, and look for opportunities where the reward outweighs the risk - that's why home robbery tends to focus on high-cost lightweight items (jewelry, money, electronics). Even if someone breaks in and realizes it's just a house filled just with furniture, they're probably more likely to just leave at that point.
All that said, given the number of people still working from home, perhaps you know someone who might enjoy living in your new place for a month?
posted by coffeecat at 8:15 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
In any case, people engaged in theft aren't stupid, and look for opportunities where the reward outweighs the risk - that's why home robbery tends to focus on high-cost lightweight items (jewelry, money, electronics). Even if someone breaks in and realizes it's just a house filled just with furniture, they're probably more likely to just leave at that point.
All that said, given the number of people still working from home, perhaps you know someone who might enjoy living in your new place for a month?
posted by coffeecat at 8:15 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Not to add to your worries, but storage units aren't foolproof, either. We had a break-in at a storage unit once, and it was only by luck that it was discovered quickly (rather than the unit sitting unlocked for weeks and getting completely picked over).
Personally I'd definitely move in things like furniture (ie, things that make the house look at least semi-occupied and aren't likely to be stolen anyway), most clothes, kitchen stuff, etc, and really only juggle around what to do with high-theft items like computers, jewelry, valuable papers, etc.
With the security system and potentially setting up cameras, plus hopefully enlisting a neighbor to help keep an eye on the place, your house is going to be about as safe as is possible. There is always the option of finding a house-sitter, also, for that period before your actual move-in.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:17 AM on October 6, 2021
Personally I'd definitely move in things like furniture (ie, things that make the house look at least semi-occupied and aren't likely to be stolen anyway), most clothes, kitchen stuff, etc, and really only juggle around what to do with high-theft items like computers, jewelry, valuable papers, etc.
With the security system and potentially setting up cameras, plus hopefully enlisting a neighbor to help keep an eye on the place, your house is going to be about as safe as is possible. There is always the option of finding a house-sitter, also, for that period before your actual move-in.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:17 AM on October 6, 2021
Install curtains. Close them.
I think this is bad advice, in criminal circles closed curtains during the daytime = drug den or pot farm and will make it more likely someone will break a window to see what you are hiding.
posted by Lanark at 8:24 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
I think this is bad advice, in criminal circles closed curtains during the daytime = drug den or pot farm and will make it more likely someone will break a window to see what you are hiding.
posted by Lanark at 8:24 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
I am ambivalent about them for long-term usage thanks to Amazon's cozy relationship with cops, but if you can get internet turned on and go down there for a day, install a Ring doorbell and a smarthome system to put some lamps and maybe a radio on, plus hang (or tack, as long as it still looks like curtains from outside) window coverings.
The Ring will let you answer the door as if you're home (just say you're in a work meeting and not coming to the door) and also give you a motion alert when anyone comes up to the door, so you can just be aware of any comings and goings there. The smarthome and lights setup will let you mess around with lighting.
I don't think people leave curtains open anymore, but definitely make sure it looks from the outside like real blinds/curtains and not just whatever covering the windows. If you have windows that can reasonably be semi-unshaded but not looked through (like a cafe curtain that would suffice to stop someone walking up and looking in without equipment, but leaves a ceiling-level view from the yard or street, or an upstairs window), make that one of your rooms with the lights going on and off, and if you have a way to generate TV-like light for some/all of the evening (you can buy fake TV lights, but an old laptop might also work) I think that's one of the most reliable "somebody lives here and is doing stuff" cues you can create.
I would suggest finding a bonded and well-reviewed (yelp will do, for this) housesitting company so someone is coming and going at least every day or two, to bring in whatever mail and cruft will sit outside announcing your absence, check for any signs of interference (as well as leaks, odd smells, the kind of minor problem that could become a serious repair if unnoticed for a week or more), and just be an active presence periodically.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:46 AM on October 6, 2021 [3 favorites]
The Ring will let you answer the door as if you're home (just say you're in a work meeting and not coming to the door) and also give you a motion alert when anyone comes up to the door, so you can just be aware of any comings and goings there. The smarthome and lights setup will let you mess around with lighting.
I don't think people leave curtains open anymore, but definitely make sure it looks from the outside like real blinds/curtains and not just whatever covering the windows. If you have windows that can reasonably be semi-unshaded but not looked through (like a cafe curtain that would suffice to stop someone walking up and looking in without equipment, but leaves a ceiling-level view from the yard or street, or an upstairs window), make that one of your rooms with the lights going on and off, and if you have a way to generate TV-like light for some/all of the evening (you can buy fake TV lights, but an old laptop might also work) I think that's one of the most reliable "somebody lives here and is doing stuff" cues you can create.
I would suggest finding a bonded and well-reviewed (yelp will do, for this) housesitting company so someone is coming and going at least every day or two, to bring in whatever mail and cruft will sit outside announcing your absence, check for any signs of interference (as well as leaks, odd smells, the kind of minor problem that could become a serious repair if unnoticed for a week or more), and just be an active presence periodically.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:46 AM on October 6, 2021 [3 favorites]
I went through anxiety much like you describe when I moved house and needed to leave my home unoccupied for a little over a month. I was even just up the street so I could visit every day, but there are a lot of squats in my neighborhood and I was so anxious. I was having nightmares about it every night and, frankly, not thinking so clearly. Even where I live, where unoccupied homes can turn into pretty nasty drug squats, they are usually unoccupied for months... years even. So, if it helps, I do agree with the other posters that your risk for what you're worried about is relatively low and possibly being colored by the experiences you may have had living in NYC over the past year+. That was certainly true for me.
All that said, what we did was install a security system. We decided to go with one that we'd keep long term. It's relatively simple, a doorbell cam, sensors on all of the entries, and a timer that arms it. You can monitor traffic from an app on your phone. We've never seen anybody even approach our home, I don't know if the stickers and the camera on the doorbell are a deterrent, or if there's nothing actually to worry about, but I don't care, I felt immediately better when we installed it and I've felt good about it ever since.
posted by pazazygeek at 9:13 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
All that said, what we did was install a security system. We decided to go with one that we'd keep long term. It's relatively simple, a doorbell cam, sensors on all of the entries, and a timer that arms it. You can monitor traffic from an app on your phone. We've never seen anybody even approach our home, I don't know if the stickers and the camera on the doorbell are a deterrent, or if there's nothing actually to worry about, but I don't care, I felt immediately better when we installed it and I've felt good about it ever since.
posted by pazazygeek at 9:13 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Leaving talk radio on at volume, especially if its on a timer, is a cheap security approach that works.
Seconding posters above re: all the other things that can make it look like someone is home, what with lights and a car in the drive and clearing mail/leaves etc.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 9:20 AM on October 6, 2021
Seconding posters above re: all the other things that can make it look like someone is home, what with lights and a car in the drive and clearing mail/leaves etc.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 9:20 AM on October 6, 2021
A month isn’t in fact very long for a place to be unoccupied in this town, and I frankly wouldn’t worry too much either way unless your new neighborhood specifically has a lot of property crime. Make sure your insurance premiums are paid up and move on.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:18 PM on October 6, 2021
posted by aspersioncast at 9:18 PM on October 6, 2021
My hint from having gone through something similar outside Chicago is to have a conversation with your insurance agent. Leaving the house vacant carried new|different insurance obligations, the details of which I no longer remember. But it turned out to be crucial when a pipe froze and burst.
posted by carmicha at 9:21 PM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 9:21 PM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
I would furnish the house or at least make it look not-empty, as I think that an unoccupied place attracts an additional and different type of person (less actual criminals looking to steal stuff, more kids looking to hang out / vandalize / squat in an empty place) that will still result in property damage. And eventually if it becomes well-known it's empty, you'll get people ripping the walls up for the copper pipe and wire.
At the very least I would put up "real" blinds and curtains, get the utilities turned on, and put on some lights on timers. If you have time to get Internet access set up and install a Ring doorbell and/or some cameras, that doesn't seem like a bad idea either (although you should make sure someone can't sneak up behind a camera by putting it too near an accessible corner, because I've heard people will steal wireless cameras, which I find a bit ironic).
I'd also try to get rid of the "sold" sign or other real estate stuff ASAP, since that's a pretty dead giveaway that nobody has moved in yet. If you can't get there often enough to mow the grass, get a yard service or consider paying a neighbor.
Personally what I would probably try to do is find someone trustworthy willing to live in the house for a few weeks during the gap. I wouldn't expect to make any money on this; you're not really renting it as much as you're looking for a house-sitter. But you might be able to find someone who wouldn't mind having a house to themselves for a few weeks that would be a win-win for both sides.
The couple of times we have gone on extended vacations and haven't wanted to leave our house empty, we just let our (trusted) social networks know that there was a free pet-friendly house available for someone who wanted to house-sit, and had multiple interested parties. The last time it was the young-adult kid of a friend who was still living with parents, and they were happy to have a place to themselves for a few weeks. We left them some cash for minor incidentals but they didn't spend it.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:16 AM on October 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
At the very least I would put up "real" blinds and curtains, get the utilities turned on, and put on some lights on timers. If you have time to get Internet access set up and install a Ring doorbell and/or some cameras, that doesn't seem like a bad idea either (although you should make sure someone can't sneak up behind a camera by putting it too near an accessible corner, because I've heard people will steal wireless cameras, which I find a bit ironic).
I'd also try to get rid of the "sold" sign or other real estate stuff ASAP, since that's a pretty dead giveaway that nobody has moved in yet. If you can't get there often enough to mow the grass, get a yard service or consider paying a neighbor.
Personally what I would probably try to do is find someone trustworthy willing to live in the house for a few weeks during the gap. I wouldn't expect to make any money on this; you're not really renting it as much as you're looking for a house-sitter. But you might be able to find someone who wouldn't mind having a house to themselves for a few weeks that would be a win-win for both sides.
The couple of times we have gone on extended vacations and haven't wanted to leave our house empty, we just let our (trusted) social networks know that there was a free pet-friendly house available for someone who wanted to house-sit, and had multiple interested parties. The last time it was the young-adult kid of a friend who was still living with parents, and they were happy to have a place to themselves for a few weeks. We left them some cash for minor incidentals but they didn't spend it.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:16 AM on October 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
I can’t speak to the furnished vs unfurnished, but this could be a good time to get house stuff done if you have the funds for it. One thing we really regret not doing when we moved was having someone come through and touch up the paint. It’s a task that is easiest and cheapest when the place is empty and unoccupied.
You’d think the previous people would have done it, but it must have just been a touch up. Not to mention the many unfilled holes for picture hooks and shelves.
Another good task for this time is probably carpet cleaning or replacement, maybe bathroom tile regrouting, redoing the bathroom silicon, etc - the kind of thing that’s going to be reasonably cheap but annoying to get done once you’re fully moved in.
posted by ec2y at 12:55 AM on October 9, 2021 [1 favorite]
You’d think the previous people would have done it, but it must have just been a touch up. Not to mention the many unfilled holes for picture hooks and shelves.
Another good task for this time is probably carpet cleaning or replacement, maybe bathroom tile regrouting, redoing the bathroom silicon, etc - the kind of thing that’s going to be reasonably cheap but annoying to get done once you’re fully moved in.
posted by ec2y at 12:55 AM on October 9, 2021 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by emjaybee at 7:29 AM on October 6, 2021 [2 favorites]