What if there are squatters in the house?
We still buy. We handle squatter removal through a lawyer after closing. You don't have to deal with them.
Seller Situation
Selling a vacant house.
Vacant houses are expensive. Insurance rates go up (if coverage is available at all). Vandals and squatters notice empty houses. Pipes freeze, roofs leak, and the longer it sits, the worse it gets. If you have a vacant Philly rowhome, we'll buy it as-is.
What You're Dealing With
Vacant houses have a way of getting worse fast. Every month they sit empty, something happens. A broken window. A squatter. A burst pipe in winter. L&I files a complaint. The insurance company drops coverage. Property taxes keep coming.
If you have a vacant house you haven't been able to deal with, we get it. We buy vacant houses regularly. You don't have to fix anything, clean anything, or even visit.
Your Real Options
Three honest paths
Option 1 · Clean it out, list with an agent
Works if the house is in reasonably decent shape. You'd need to remove any belongings, possibly paint or do minor repairs, and sit through showings. Takes 3-5 months. Nets the most money if the house is sound.
Option 2 · Rent it out
If the house is livable, you could rent it and keep the asset. But you'd need to fix it up enough to be rentable and take on landlord responsibilities (see our Tired Landlord page). Not the right call if you're vacating the house because you don't want to manage real estate.
Option 3 · Sell to us
We buy vacant houses in any condition. Boarded up, squatter-occupied, roof collapsed, basement flooded — we buy it. No cleanout required. No inspections. You take what you want and leave the rest. We close in 30-60 days and handle everything on the house after.
When Covenant Fits
When we make sense
- The house has been vacant for 6+ months.
- You don't live nearby and can't manage the property.
- The house has structural or serious maintenance issues.
- There's a squatter, or a risk of squatters.
- Insurance is lapsing or has been canceled.
Philly Specifics
Vacant property risks in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has an estimated 26,000+ vacant properties, and the city is aggressive about enforcement. L&I can issue vacant-property violations, citations, and even demolition orders for abandoned or deteriorating houses.
Squatters are a real risk in Philly vacant houses, particularly in North and West Philadelphia. Removing squatters requires legal process — you can't just change the locks. Having legal occupancy takes 2-4 months minimum through Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Vacant-home insurance is expensive and limited. Most standard homeowners policies cancel after 30-60 days of vacancy. Specialty vacant-property coverage exists but costs 3-5x normal rates.
Where
Neighborhoods where we see this most
Related
Situations that often overlap
Situation Questions
Questions about vacant house sales
The roof is collapsing and the basement has standing water. Too damaged?
No. We buy houses in rough condition all the time. Send photos if you can, or just send the address and let us walk through.
Can you close fast if I'm worried the house will be vandalized?
Yes. 14-day closings are possible. If the house is at active risk, we can close faster than most traditional buyers.
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