What happens to the house while Dad is in assisted living and it's sitting empty?
Answered by Chris Deutsch, Founder & Editor
Licensed Minnesota Realtor #20382264 ·
The short answer
Three jobs need an owner the day the house goes quiet: insurance, upkeep, and a decision date.
On stage The 60-second answer
Captions on · Transcript below
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The transcript posts with the video.
The longer answer
Insurance first — many homeowner policies limit or change coverage once a house sits vacant, often after 30 to 60 days. Call the insurer, say the word "vacant," and ask what endorsement keeps it covered. Don't let this one slide; a frozen-pipe claim on an unreported vacant house is a bad conversation. Upkeep second — in Minnesota that means heat stays on, water gets managed, and someone's on the snow so the place looks lived-in. Third, a decision date: an empty house bleeds taxes, insurance, and utilities every month while everyone's understandably focused elsewhere. Pick a date to decide — sell, rent, or hold — so the house doesn't decide for you.
If you're managing this from a distance, call me. I can be the local eyes while your family figures out the rest.
The next department over
What people in this spot usually ask next.
- Senior transitionsWhat's the actual difference between independent living, assisted living, and memory care?Read the answer
- Senior transitionsDoes selling the house affect Medicaid eligibility for a parent in Minnesota?Read the answer
- Senior transitionsCan showings happen while my mother still lives in the house?Read the answer
- Senior transitionsShould we sell the house before or after Mom moves to the community?Read the answer
- Inheritance & probateMy mom just died and owned a house. What do we do first?Read the answer
- Inheritance & probateWhat does it cost to keep an empty house while we settle the estate?Read the answer
From the editor's desk
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