A vacant house can sit quietly for a while. And from the outside, it may not look like much of a problem. If the lawn gets cut, the doors are locked, and the owner checks in now and then, everything should be fine.
But then little problems pop up. And if they don’t get addressed, they can turn into bigger problems.
Consider a leak that goes unnoticed or a furnace that needs attention. What happens if the grass gets out of control? What about a damaged window?
Meanwhile, bills keep coming for a house nobody is using.
And if you’re the owner of a vacant property in Milwaukee, there’s another thing you should know: the city has a Vacant Building Registration program.
If a residential or commercial building has been vacant for 30 days or more, it may need to be registered with the Department of Neighborhood Services.
In short, if you own a vacant Milwaukee property, doing nothing with it isn’t really a long-term plan.
First, Find Out Whether The Property Needs To Be Registered
Milwaukee’s VBR program began in 2010 and applies to vacant residential and commercial properties across the city. The city uses occupancy standards to classify vacant buildings, and specific rules determine whether a property is considered vacant.
When a property becomes vacant, the owner generally needs to register it within 30 days. A newly purchased vacant property must also be registered within 30 days.
Registration lasts six months and has to be renewed if the property remains vacant.
But some properties are exempt, so don’t assume every empty property must be registered. For example, certain properties that are being renovated, as well as some properties in probate, don’t have to be registered.
If you’re unsure whether your property qualifies, visit the
Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services site to learn more.
Listing Doesn’t Make The Registration Requirement Disappear
This catches many owners by surprise.
You might think, “The house is already on the market; I’m dealing with it.”
Well, the city doesn’t see it that way.
The
DNS FAQ states that most vacant properties must be registered, even if they’re listed for sale.
This matters if you’re planning to put an empty Milwaukee house on the market.
Selling the property and ensuring it complies with relevant regulations are two different things.
The House Still Needs To Be Looked After
You can’t ignore maintenance just because the house is vacant.
The city expects vacant buildings to be secured and maintained, and inspections will be conducted both inside and outside the property.
That means the owner still has to monitor the condition of the house. Doors and windows must be secure, and the property must be maintained.
Problems found during an inspection may result in an order to make repairs. If violations aren’t corrected, the owner can face higher renewal fees and further enforcement action.
This is one reason an empty property can become a bigger headache the longer it sits.
Work Out What The House Is Actually Worth
Before spending money on repairs, get a realistic idea of the property’s value. Don’t base it on the house down the street that sold for a big number last year.
Assess the condition of your property. Then consider the location, recent comparable sales, and what buyers are actually paying for similar houses.
The
fair market value of your Milwaukee property isn’t necessarily the amount your house will sell for.
A vacant house with an old roof and an outdated interior will be viewed differently from a recently renovated home in the same neighborhood.
Of course, getting a professional opinion can help; you’ll have something useful to work with if you’re comparing different ways to sell.
What If You Don’t Want To Become A Landlord?
Renting the property can seem like a good solution. After all, an empty house isn’t earning anything. But becoming a landlord comes with many responsibilities and some challenges. You’ll need to:
- Find tenants
- Handle repairs
- Deal with maintenance
- Comply with relevant laws and regulations
And, if you live out of town, you’ll need to manage the property from a distance or hire a property manager.
If you don’t actually want to be a landlord, turning a vacant house into a rental just because you don’t know what else to do may not be the best move.
Of course, selling is worth considering too.
Selling The House As-Is Is an Option
A vacant house doesn’t have to look perfect to be sold. So even a property that’s been sitting empty for a while can be sold.
You may not want to spend months cleaning, making repairs, or staging, or you may not have money for the work.
For homeowners searching, “
How can I quickly sell my house in Milwaukee?” an as-is sale may be more appealing than a traditional one.
A traditional sale makes more sense when the property is in good condition, and you’re willing to wait.
An as-is or direct sale is worth considering when speed, convenience, and avoiding repairs are important.
Cash home buyers in Milwaukee purchase properties in their current condition, including houses that need repairs. So, if you choose this route, you’ll have to do far less to get your vacant property sold.
Don’t Forget About The Cost Of Waiting
This is the part many homeowners underestimate. A vacant house doesn’t have to be falling apart to cost you money. Don’t forget about taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and security.
Plus, there are registration and renewal costs to consider if the property is subject to Milwaukee’s VBR program. Also:
- You may have to drive across town to check up on the house.
- You may have to find a contractor.
- You may have to deal with a city inspection.
- You may have to clear out another pile of clutter.
None of these costs show up when you see the home’s estimated value, but they’re still part of ownership.
So, What Should You Do?
- Start with the basics.
- Find out whether the property needs to be registered.
- Make sure it’s secure.
- Check for obvious problems.
- Find out what the house is worth in its current condition.
- Get repair estimates if you’re considering renovations.
- Then compare your options.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for every vacant Milwaukee house. The right choice depends on the property, your finances, and how much time and effort you’re willing to put into the property.
What matters is not letting the house sit there simply because deciding what to do feels difficult.
A vacant property rarely becomes easier to deal with over time. And if you’ve reached the point where you just want to move on, selling may be worth looking into.
Sometimes the easiest way to deal with a vacant house is to simply stop owning it. At Metro Milwaukee,
we buy houses in Milwaukee for cash and make it easy for owners of vacant properties to achieve a quick, hassle-free sale.
Milwaukee’s vacant-building requirements apply to most vacant properties. Check out the Department of Neighborhood Services’ rules before making any decisions regarding registration, repairs, or compliance.
