I moved into my house (in VA) from DC 12.5 years ago. It's a small street a mere 4 miles from downtown DC, just 12 homes, T intersections on each end. Modest bungalows, most built in 1939. Some are brick, some are stone, and about 1/2 are only 1 story like mine. [Just this month, one stone house was razed and a McMansion is going up. That'll certainly change things, but we're hoping on massive property appreciation....] All, however, are owner-occupants, which is always a good thing. Plus, we're super-tight. Most of us BBQ and/or have a communal meal every single weekend. And you've already heard how we all pitch in to do things together. You should've seen the boys digging out everyone's car after the 21" snowpocalypse, but you didn't know that the GIRLS dug out the street, since the plow never showed up. OUCH. I still ache.
Anyway, the house on the corner was vacant. I'm talking vines crawling through the glass louvers on the sunporch. Critters nonchalantly ambling in and out. Fully furnished, including accessories, curtains, and dishes. Overgrown landscaping, if you can call it that, and gutters hanging on for dear life. EYESORE.
Upon questioning long-time neighbors, I learned that the house had been vacant for 25 YEARS—a family feud lasting an ENTIRE generation.
Finally, apparently, a young grandson of the deceased offered to the family, "If I fix it up, can I live there for free?" Fortunately for my property values, they agreed and he (an arborist) and his 2 buddies (a carpenter, and a painter) moved in. THEY ROCK. As a bonus, they have a sweetie-pie dog, and moved their girlfriends in. They're great and generous young 'uns and round out a killer street of pals. And the house looks presentable!
Unfortunately, when they initially moved in, they put EVERYTHING at the curb. A neighbor, knowing my love of the junque, urgently called me to tell me what amazing 30s/40s era treasures were just sitting on the curb (an entire household) at noon, but I was on deadline that day and couldn't leave. DANG that accursed bill-paying big-grrl job! When I got home at 11 p.m., there were only shards of broken china and a crusty plunger still remaining.
My point, especially to Ella: you don't know the situation. Doing some research (like going online to find the address of the owner) and then calling/emailing/mailing the owner of a seemingly abandoned house and offering a clean-out (which is what they may want) is a viable option. You will, of course, have to remove everything, and arrange for a hauler to remove the crap, but thar's gold in them there homes. Nothing wrong with offering, even if it costs you. I sure wish I'd done so....
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