Real Estate Matters
Abandoned Properties
The process of purchasing real estate is always complex and involves numerous parties at the best of times. This becomes more complicated when the property is abandoned or the owner, or owners, are unclear. The circumstances of any two properties are rarely the same, from the death of an owner with no apparent heirs, to foreclosures that have sat vacant for years, to properties taken over by squatters and allowed to fall into squalor. All these circumstances prevent significant problems for you as a real estate investor, but they also provide a great opportunity for those willing to mitigate the risks.
The key to determining which properties you can make a profit on and which are money pits just waiting to swallow up your equity is detailed information. Due diligence must be done both on the providence of the property as well as the current real world condition. Some issues are easier to see then others, a hole in the roof can be seen from the safety of your car, but determining the inside condition of the property and if there are people living in the property illegally involves someone going into the property and documenting the conditions inside. Doing this yourself opens you up to significant physical risk from crumbling infrastructure to unbalanced individuals who might see you as a threat.
Midlands Private Investigation can help you with locating the actual owner of the property, even when the provenance is questionable, and making contact with them, regardless of whether they are in or out of state. We also provide an on-site survey of the property in question, documenting the condition of the property through a detailed report and accompanying photos, enabling you to make an informed decision on purchasing the location. If the property has occupants we will make contact and determine if they have any legal claim to the property. Having this information will enable you to make better decisions than your competitors, ensuring you get the right property at the right price to maximize profits and minimize risk.
Squatters
The worst nightmare for any property owner is to have someone in your property that refuses to leave, isn't paying any rent, and is damaging the building daily. Unfortunatly this is happening more frequently then ever as progressive laws are passed protecting "tenants", with no concern how it effects the property owner. The laws on who has legal protection in a property and who does not is often unclear, and this is further complicated by the individuals themselves who make up fictitious stories and even documents to "prove" they belong in the location. When law enforcement is called to the scene they often are unable to determine who has the legal right to remain in the premesis and will call it a "civil matter' which means they will not remove the offender from your property. Going through the courts often takes months or years, time you are not receiving rent and more and more damage is being done to your property.
The key to removing these individuals is information and experience. Having Midlands Private Investigations on your side brings with it the experience of removing hundreds of squatters from homes and apartments alike. We will investigate the specific facts around the property and the illegal occupants to determine what legal protections, if any, they have. Then we will formulate a plan to remove them as soon as possible. How we do this will be determined by the specific facts of the case, but every avenue will be explored and utilized. The sooner we start, the sooner you get your property back.
