How an Abandoned House in Utah Happens and What to Do

Are you a property owner wondering what to do with a house or property you own or inherited that is an abandoned house in Utah? Rather than let your home become an abandoned house in Utah, a neighborhood eyesore and hotspot for vagrants, read on to learn more options for how to avoid abandoning the property. After all, and abandoned house is the last thing anyone wants.

Abandoned House in Utah

8 Reasons a House Becomes Abandoned

Two abandoned houses each two story with broken windows

While the number one reason a house ends up an abandoned property is financial, there are several factors that can lead to walking away from a home.

1- Expense

Perhaps you find yourself in a situation where the repairs on the home exceed the amount of money you can put into it. If your home is in need of rewiring, all new plumbing or other expensive repairs like foundation repair then the price for repair can be prohibitive.

2- Recession and Job Loss

Whether it was the great recession of 2008/09 or the global pandemic of 2020/21, the realities of job loss and economic downturn can negatively affect your ability to take care of and maintain a home. If you live in a city where a local industry provides most of the jobs, a closure of a factory or major layoffs can affect the entire city and your ability to sell your home.

3- Bad Neighborhood

If your once family-friendly neighborhood has deteriorated into a stagnate, or even unsafe, neighborhood, selling a home can be near impossible. Businesses and landlords aren’t likely to buy up properties in neighborhoods such as that and property values can be negatively affected.

4- Inheritance Issues

Some people struggle with the idea of selling the home they grew up in. Inheriting a home that you don’t plan to live in but have a hard time parting with for sentimental reasons can lead to vacant homes that deteriorate without regular maintenance and care.

5- Environmental Problems

Updates to environmental regulations can cause costly updates for homeowners. Perhaps you’ve been required to get rid of septic tanks or outdated wiring. A home inspection report could turn up asbestos or lead-infused paint. If your home has environmental problems the cost of repair can be staggering, sometimes more than the cost of purchasing a new home.

6- Ecological Disaster

Areas that experience widespread contamination in the water or air can cause people to abandon their homes. Flint, Michigan, one of the top cities in America for abandoned homes, has experienced ongoing water troubles throughout the city, making it incredibly difficult to sell a home.

7- Natural Disasters

If your home has experienced flooding, hurricanes, an earthquake or tornado, your family may have been forced to evacuate. Rather than repair and rebuild, in some cases homeowners will walk away from their property during stressful situations like natural disasters.

8- Difficulty Selling

Bad photos, unattractive curb appeal and outdated interiors can all make a property very difficult to sell.

The top 10 US cities with most vacant homes

Top 10 US Cities Abandoned Houses

According to a report by Fox Business, these 15 cities in the U.S. have the most vacant homes as of 2019.

  1. Gary, Indiana:19.4%
  2. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina: 16.9%
  3. Flint, Michigan: 15.7%
  4. Detroit, Michigan: 11.2%
  5. Baltimore, Maryland: 8.1%
  6. Kansas City, Missouri: 5.6%
  7. Birmingham, Alabama: 5.5%
  8. Mobile, Alabama: 5.1%
  9. St. Petersburg, Florida: 5.1%
  10. West Palm Beach, Florida: 4.8%
  11. Cleveland, Ohio: 4.5%
  12. Dayton, Ohio: 4.3%
  13. Indianapolis, Indiana: 4.1%
  14. St. Louis, Missouri:4.0%
  15. Memphis, Tennessee: 3.7%

What Happens to Abandoned Homes?

Unfortunately when a home is abandoned it’s often left at the mercy of one of these four problems:

Weather

Left on their own an abandoned house that is left uncared for through snow, heat, wind and rain will start to show the wear and tear. Whether the heat is cracking roof tiles or the rain gutters have been clogged so moisture is building up in all the wrong places, the weather will break down abandoned homes over time.

Landscape

Surprisingly plants left unchecked can do plenty of damage to abandoned homes. Invasive ivy can take over yards and walls while uncared for trees can die and become a fire hazard. Tall grasses and weeds invite mice and snakes and every neighborhood critter to become a resident of the abandoned property.

Squatters

Empty homes can be a hotspot for crimes and vandalism. Squatters can move in on abandoned properties and leave problems and messes in abandoned homes.

Disrepair

Peeling paint, broken windows and wild, overgrown yards are not uncommon on an abandoned home. Left on their own a home deteriorates quickly and the interior doesn’t fare much better over time.

How to Sell Before Abandoning My House

How to sell this white boarded up abandoned house

If you have found yourself in a situation where you have considered abandoning your home rather than deal with the expenses and problems you are currently facing, know that you do have other options. While a traditional buyer would not be interested in purchasing a home that has damage or large repairs needed, a non-traditional home buyer like Gary has the experience and team to take on any property including an abandoned house.

Selling your home to a house buying company like us at GaryBuysHouses allows you to save time, money and stress helping you to still make money off your house that is either currently abandoned or might be soon. Gary is ready to make a fast and fair cash offer for your home and is willing to take on properties in any condition. If you are interested in selling your house to Gary then reach out today and have a closing date in as little as 7 days.

Gary does not sell your contract, require inspections or extensive negotiations. He specializes in hassle-free closings and cash offers. If there is no mortgage on the property then Gary could even close in as little as 1 to 2 days.

Working with Gary means getting a check that you can cash right away the day that you meet up about the property. He is serious and motivated to purchase your home and if for any reason Gary doesn’t buy the house, even if it’s your fault, you get to keep the earnest money. Contact Gary about purchasing your property and don’t let it become just another abandoned house.

We ❤️ your questions so please call or text Gary at 801-382-9199
or use the form 👇 for email.

garybuyshouses

I was a part owner in an electrical contracting firm in the late 1990’s and started to get interested in real estate around 2001. My business partner and I bought our first rental property in 2002. From there we did several real estate transactions until we decided to close the electrical business and part ways. In 2009 I started Gary Buys Houses which is owned by my wife, Eileen, and I. I felt like I could offer one on one personal service to people that wanted to sell their house quickly or not worry about repairs and such. Today, I have built a reputation of being fair and honest with people no matter their situation, so the business continues to help people and be successful. I have been married for 34 years, and have one son, two step sons and 4 grandchildren. I like to travel and spend time in Southern Utah exploring. https://www.garybuyshouses.com/

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