DAWGS Vacant Property Security Survey: Steel Shines
Industry: Real Estate
DAWGS recently conducted a survey about the material preferred to secure vacant property in economically distressed areas - steel was chosen over plywood or plastic.
Chicago, IL (PRUnderground) February 23rd, 2017
DAWGS (Door and Window Guard Systems) recently conducted a survey about vacant property security. The objective of the survey was to poll investors, owners, rehabbers, asset managers and sellers of vacant property to understand the issues they face when securing a vacant property in economically distressed areas. The survey was also used to determine the preferred method/material used to secure a vacant property in economically distressed areas.
Preferred Material to Secure Vacant Property
The survey revealed that when securing property in economically distressed areas, hands down, steel is the preferred material over plastic clear boarding and plywood:
| Answer Choices |
Responses |
| Wood board up |
7.14% |
| Plastic board up |
7.14% |
| Steel board up |
85.71% |
Vacant Property Security Concerns
The top vacant property security concerns were different for realtors, for owners and for investors. Realtors top concern was safety when showing a property. For rehabbers, the main concern was theft of materials or tools from the jobsite. Investors and asset managers were concerned about the liability of fire or crime at the property.
Where all respondents did agree – was that steel is their material of choice used to secure vacant properties. Steel was revealed as the best choice to mitigate the risks associated with securing vacant property in economically distressed neighborhoods.
The top security concerns for the entire respondent base overall were as follows:
| Percentage of respondents concerned about: | |
| Liability of fire or crime at property |
75% |
| Copper theft from property |
71% |
| Theft of materials from job site |
68% |
| Squatters or drug use in property |
68% |
| Realtor safety when showing property |
57% |
| Perception of foreclosure’s impact on other property value |
50% |
| Allowing passersby to look inside property while under construction |
50% |
For anyone who works with vacant property in economically distressed areas, property managers, asset managers, rehabbers or realtors, the material used to secure and protect their property interests really does matters. It is clear from the DAWGS vacant property survey that steel is the material of choice.
Get the DAWGS Vacant Property Security Survey.
About DAWGS Vacant Property Security
DAWGS Vacant Property Security is a full-service vacant property security solution provider. DAWGS manufactures, installs and maintains steel door and window guards to secure vacant properties. DAWGS products provide unrivaled security for vacant properties.
