From the 'Era of Demolition' to the 'Era of Connection' for Vacant Houses. Now that building new homes is difficult, existing houses are gaining value.

This may come out of the blue, but what kind of work do you think 'vacant house management' is?

I suspect many people imagine it as 'a job where you go around checking on empty houses.'
You unlock the door, let in some air, check the inside, mow the grass if it's grown too long, and write a report. That's the kind of job it is, right?

But I want to say this loud and clear.Vacant house management is a job that creates the next opportunity for a house.That is what I mean.

That is what I want to write about today.
As the trend in vacant house measures shifts from 'demolition' to 'connecting,' I want to talk about how this can be combined with existing businesses and services.

Whether you are in real estate, construction, nursing care, or cleaning, I would be happy if you read this while thinking about how it might relate to your own industry.

Why 'vacant house issues' easily become 'talk of demolition'

When the topic of vacant houses comes up, it tends to lean toward 'demolish dangerous houses quickly.'
The news shows abandoned houses on the verge of collapse, and the government uses subsidies to encourage the removal of vacant houses.
Since there are so many images like that, it is somewhat inevitable that the image of 'vacant house measures equals promoting demolition' has taken root.

Of course, truly dangerous houses need to be demolished.
There are cases in the field where roofs are leaking and the structure is in bad shape, or where it is causing damage to the neighborhood. I do not deny that.

However, if the discussion proceeds on the premise that 'vacant houses are things to be destroyed,' we end up overlooking something.

It means that houses that can still be used are being demolished without even being considered for discussion.

It is becoming difficult to build new homes now

In the last few years, the environment surrounding the construction industry has changed significantly.

Construction costs are rising. Material costs and labor costs are different from what they used to be.
The aging of craftsmen and the shortage of labor are also serious, and I often hear in the field that 'even if we want to do it, we cannot organize the construction.'
With the strengthening of energy-saving standards and the review of the building confirmation system, the hurdles for new construction are steadily rising.

In other words, the premise that 'if it gets old, you can just tear it down and rebuild it' is no longer sustainable.

Moreover, Japan is not a country that lacks housing.
In fact, there is a surplus, and some of it is becoming vacant.
The problem is not 'the lack of houses,' but 'usable houses deteriorating while left unused.'

When organized this way, the meaning of vacant house measures begins to look a little different.
It is not just about dealing with dangerous houses, but also about passing on houses that can still be used to someone else, which is also a valid vacant house measure.That is what I mean.

Here is an interesting keyword recently.The era where grandchildren use their grandfather's house.That is it.
The main player in vacant house utilization is indeed starting to shift from 'demolition' to 'connecting.'

How to combine it with existing businesses

This is the part I most wanted to convey in this article.

I believe that 'connecting' work does not require launching a new business from scratch, but ratherit is something that spreads naturally by combining it with existing services.

For example, a cleaning service provider checks the inside and outside of a building on a regular basis.
While it is cleaning, it also serves as a status check for the vacant house.
A single comment like, 'The water stains have spread more than last month,' can sometimes move the owner to make a decision.

A nursing care provider is aware of a 'vacant home' after a parent who was receiving home care has moved into a facility.
In fact, it is often the nursing care provider who is connected to the child generation, who are the owners, regarding what to do next.

A security company patrolling an area can also record any abnormalities in the appearance of vacant houses. That alone creates new value by providing information to the owner.

For professionals such as lawyers or tax accountants, the question of 'What should we do with the house?' naturally comes up during inheritance procedures.
Whether or not they can offer management options at that point is directly linked to the client's peace of mind.

Renovation companies and contractors see the reality of vacant houses best at repair sites.
They are in a position to judge whether a house is still usable if repaired.

What they all have in common is that 'you don't have to make vacant house management your main business to be involved as an extension of your current work.'
Rather, existing strengths—being able to go to the site, being connected to the owner, and understanding the condition—can directly become a function for 'connecting' vacant houses.

What to prepare in the meantime

I have been talking about difficult things, but what you can do tomorrow is simple.

First, try writing down the 'situations where you come into contact with vacant houses' in your existing business.
Cleaning, patrolling, inheritance, repairs, home visits—anything is fine. There should be surprisingly many.

Next, think about what you can convey to the owner in those situations.
Recording changes in condition, guiding them through management options, or introducing specialists they can collaborate with. Even a small step becomes a 'connecting' function.

The job of a Vacant House Manager functions as a role that bundles such collaborations together.
You don't have to do everything yourself; if there is a mechanism where you can bring your strengths to the table, that is enough.

So, I have organized the idea that 'vacant house measures are moving from demolition to an era of connection' from the perspective of a business operator.

Because it is becoming difficult to build new houses, I believe that mechanisms to pass on existing homes to the next person will become even more necessary from now on.

And that mechanism is not something one business creates from scratch, but something born from connecting existing businesses with each other.

I would be happy if you could think that your work might be connected to vacant houses somewhere.

▼ Thank you for reading to the end.
If you liked this article even a little, please 'like,' 'comment,' or 'follow' me.

▼How to start a 'Regional Happy Business' with a weekend side job and a weekday side business
'Your business might save the region.'
When people hear 'vacant house management,' they tend to think of real estate or construction professionals.
But in fact, it is highly compatible with various industries.
In this series, we introduce 'different industries' that create unexpected chemical reactions with vacant house management.
You should be able to find something that sparks an idea within yourself in 'Different Industry x Vacant House Business'.
Why not start with 'I'm a little interested'? Your sensibility might be the first step to changing the region.

▼ Click here for the association's website where you can read various topics related to vacant houses every day↓↓
https://www.akiyakanrishi.org/
▼ You can also see the works of the 'Vacant House Photo Contest' on Instagram↓↓
https:、/www.instagram.com/akiyakanrishi/
▼ Vacant House Management Office is looking for business partners nationwide↓↓
https://www.akiyakanrisha.net/
▼ We started a podcast on YouTube↓↓
https://www.youtube.com/@user-ve5wl5gv7k/podcasts
▼ You can add our official LINE account as a friend. Please feel free to use it for questions and consultations.↓↓