How to Make Money From Vacant Homes

This idea involves a lot less time, effort and money than flipping houses, but could serve as a steady source of income.

When I was a kid in the 1970’s my Dad came up with a way to keep me productive and make some money at the same time. There were several houses in our neighborhood that had been on the market for some time. The owners had moved out for whatever reasons and the houses stood vacant (sounds familiar today, huh?). It was summer and the lawns were getting long so Dad called the real estate agent and set up a deal for me to mow the lawns for I think $5 each. I would then invoice the agent by mail whenever I mowed a lawn and he would send me a check. It worked out well until the houses eventually sold and I moved on to my first “real” job at a gas station.

Thinking about that summer recently got me to wondering if maintaining empty houses could be a viable money making option today. Think of all of the vacant houses currently on the market that need maintenance such as lawn mowing and snow removal to keep up their curb appeal. If you see any of these properties in your area it might be worth a call to the local real estate agent.

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