Securing (changing locks) on an unlocked vacant house in a virtual wholesale deal

[David Sicherman]

So I have a house under contract hours and hours from me, the owner also lives hours away from property.  Sent a photographer to take pics, and the house isn't locked, the doors are unlocked, the place is vacant.

Need to know how you go about securing a house when you and the owner don't live there.  Best idea I have is hiring a handyman off craigslist to change the locks and put one key in the mail to me, and one in  lockbox at the house.

[Aaron Wyssmann]

Now that is a problem, isn't it?  I'm assuming you are talking about doing this after you close on the property or have it under your possession otherwise you've got lots of legal issues there.

In my experience I wouldn't hire someone off Craigslist for that.  For all you know they could keep a copy of the key and do any number of things to the property.  I'd definitely send a locksmith company over to do that...if they will.  They may want proof that you can actually be changing the locks out.  The other option is to see if there is someone out here on BP that is in the are of the home and see if you could pay them to help you out. 

Good luck, hope you find someone.