How to Short Sale a House That's Already Vacant

If you’ve already moved out of your house—or never lived in it to begin with—and you’re staring down the barrel of foreclosure, here’s some good news: yes, you can absolutely short sale a vacant property. In fact, sometimes being vacant can actually help your case.

At Crisp Short Sales, we help homeowners and agents navigate these types of situations every day. Vacant properties aren’t disqualifiers; they’re just part of the story we tell to the lender. Let’s walk through exactly how it works.

Step 1: Prove Your Hardship—Vacancy Helps

• You’re no longer using the property, but you’re still stuck paying for it.

• Empty homes can become targets for vandalism, squatters, or code violations.

• Carrying costs (taxes, insurance, utilities) become an unnecessary burden.

So yes—vacancy is not just acceptable, it’s often compelling.

Step 2: Don’t Fix It Up—Keep It “As Is”

One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is:

“Should I fix it up before the short sale?”

Nope.

This is not like a regular sale where you’re trying to impress buyers. In a short sale, the buyer is usually an investor or someone looking for a deal, and the bank just wants to recover some of their money—not top dollar.

In fact, the condition of the home plays a huge role in the appraised value, and that’s where your focus should be.

Step 3: Control the Appraisal—Don’t Over-Prepare

• Leave the home as-is. Don’t paint, stage, clean, or upgrade.

• Avoid fresh landscaping or curb appeal improvements.

• Make sure the appraiser sees the true condition. If there’s mold, leaks, or damage, don’t hide it—point it out.

A lower appraisal = lower minimum net the bank requires = higher chance of approval.

Step 4: Secure the Property, But Don’t Overdo It

Banks want to see the property is safe, not staged. So while you don’t need to beautify anything, it does help to:

• Board up broken windows

• Lock doors

• Remove obvious hazards (like exposed wiring or falling ceilings)

This shows the property is not a liability and can be sold “as is” to the right buyer.

Step 5: Let Us Handle the Rest

Once the home is listed and a buyer is on board, we take it from there. Our team works directly with the lender to package your hardship, negotiate with the bank, and get the deal to the closing table.

And remember, there’s no cost to you at any point—we’re only paid by the buyer at closing.

Whether your house is sitting empty in Georgia, Florida, or anywhere else, we can help.

Need Help With a Vacant Home?

If you’re sitting on a vacant house and falling behind on payments, reach out now. We’ll help you get out from under the mortgage—and possibly even negotiate a relocation Start Your Short Sale NowNohttps://www.crispshortsales.com/start-short-sal

eFAQ

Can I short sale a property that I inherited and never lived in?

Yes. Inherited properties are often vacant, and that’s completely fine. You’ll still need to show hardship (like estate expenses or unpaid taxes), but the fact that the home is empty won’t hurt your chances.

Does the condition of the vacant home affect the short sale?

Yes—and that’s a good thing. The more “fixer upper” the home appears, the lower the appraised value, which makes your short sale more likely to get approved.

Do I need to clean the house out before the sale?

Nope! In fact, most buyers of short sales expect some level of clean-out. You don’t have to do anything except secure it and provide access for valuation and showings./