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An empty house is not free to keep.

Taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep run whether anyone lives there or not. Most owners have never added them up.

Property tax $200Insurance $175Utilities $180Yard and upkeep $120
Every month it sits$675
Over 8 months$5,400

Insurance is the surprise

Most policies change or lapse once a house is unoccupied, and vacant-property coverage costs more than the policy it replaces.

The damage is not on the list

A burst pipe in an unheated house in February costs more than a year of every line above put together.

It compounds against the sale

Every month it sits comes off what the sale nets you, whichever way you eventually sell.