When the house you think is vacant isn't

[Dylan D.]

there is a house in my neighborhood that I believed is vacant, several tax liens, yard is very overgrown, never see any activity. According to auditor, owners address is still listed as property address. And owner is elderly, so there is a good possibility she just doesn't keep up on yard etc, I am not 100% sure it's vacant. What I'm wondering is if I where to go knock on the door and the owner does in fact still live there. What are some things that you would recommend saying in order to not offend the owner by saying I stopped because your home looks vacant. I just don't want to start the conversation off awkwardly. What are some other things I could use as reason for stop.