Homes & outdoor spaces / Local
Vacant-property check visits
Record an owner's agreed visible observations during authorized visits to an unoccupied property.
What to price before starting
Price transport, secure key handling, communication and suitable insurance.
Use your own written quotes, including recurring costs and the cash you could lose. Owning equipment does not establish customer demand.
Skills you must be able to demonstrate
Observation, reliable reporting and clear escalation.
Before the first payment
Agree access, exact checks, emergency contacts and reporting limits.
Keep the deliverable, exclusions, approvals and payment responsibility in writing. Do not treat a lead, an invoice or a promised reimbursement as money received.
Where this can go wrong
Missed damage or unclear responsibility can be mistaken for a security guarantee.
Requirements and refusal boundaries
Check local rules and insurer conditions; do not imply home inspection, guarding or emergency-service credentials.
Confirm the exact activity with the relevant authority and insurer. The references below explain general issues; they do not approve this individual service in your jurisdiction.
A lower-risk validation step
Create a sample observation report with no real addresses or access details.
Set a stop condition before spending: what evidence would make you decline, change scope or stop? A practice sample should never expose another person's confidential material.
Primary checks
- SBA: licenses and permits
Activity and location determine permits; contact the issuing authority.
- IRS: self-employed tax center
US self-employment tax, return and recordkeeping guidance; no tax calculation is supplied here.
References reviewed for this publication in November 2026. Rules can change. This entry contains no earnings estimate and makes no assurance of demand.