A real estate referral checklist for a vacant home should transfer property-control facts without turning the referring agent into the plumber, insurer, property manager, or emergency responder. With the client’s consent, record the exact vacancy status, verified receiving licensee, access authority, utility and heat status, exposed-water or pool concern, decision dates, accepted next action, and follow-up owner. If a fact has not been checked, label it unavailable—not complete.
Confirm consent and the vacant-home scope
Record what the client authorizes you to share, why the home is vacant, the expected duration, whether anyone may occupy or enter, and which facts are still unverified. Distinguish a listing, estate, renovation, seasonal absence, turnover, delayed move, and post-closing possession issue; each creates different owners and questions.
Verify the receiving professional and geography
Use the Nevada Real Estate Division license lookup and current brokerage information for the receiving licensee. Confirm that the professional accepts the referral, serves the property location, understands the vacant-home question, and identifies any property-manager, insurer, utility, pool, irrigation, plumbing, legal, or estate-professional boundary.
Transfer access and property-control facts securely
List the authorized access method and custodian without putting alarm codes, lockbox details, IDs, or private documents in an ordinary referral note. Record utilities and heat as verified on, verified off, pending, or unavailable. Identify the client-approved person who can enter, respond to an alarm, shut off water when safe, and contact the correct provider.
Carry deadlines and accepted actions
Separate forecast checks, inspection periods, repair access, utility dates, insurer deadlines, showing windows, signing, funding, recording, possession, and client follow-up. Ask the receiver to acknowledge the next action and due time. A forwarded checklist is not acceptance, and a scheduled visit is not completed property protection.
Close the loop with minimum necessary evidence
Request only the evidence needed for the agreed handoff: receiver acceptance, inspection timestamp, service confirmation, updated property status, or another defined milestone. Preserve client privacy, update Sierra Interactive where authorized, and keep technical, legal, insurance, tax, and management conclusions with the responsible professionals.
FAQ
Should a referring agent winterize a vacant home?
Not by default. The referring agent should preserve the client’s question, verify the receiving professional, identify the responsible owner or provider, and confirm the accepted next action without performing or guaranteeing technical work.
What access details belong in the referral note?
Include the authorized access owner and approved secure method, but keep codes, identity records, keys, and other sensitive details out of ordinary notes and messages unless a secure authorized channel requires them.
How do I know the vacant-home handoff is complete?
Use the agreed evidence: receiver acceptance plus the defined action or status confirmation. Do not treat a sent message, shared file, or scheduled visit as proof of completion.
Primary sources and limits
- Clark County Fire Department, Cold Weather Winter Safety
- Las Vegas Valley Water District, Watering Tips: Pipes and Hoses
- Nevada Real Estate Division, License Lookup
General education only. An article, forecast, checklist, inspection, photo, service note, referral message, listing record, utility status, property-management record, or qualified-intermediary instruction does not by itself establish property condition, freeze protection, repair completion, insurance coverage, access authority, lease responsibility, code compliance, exchange qualification, license status, or professional acceptance. Verify the exact property, forecast, pipe and irrigation exposure, pool and heating equipment, water and utility controls, vacancy and occupancy status, lease and management duties, access, insurer and lender requirements, manufacturer instructions, qualified contractors, responsible people, exchange structure, taxpayer, use, deadlines, receiving license, secure communication channel, and completion evidence with the applicable utility or water provider, licensed real-estate professionals, property manager, insurer, lender, plumber, pool or irrigation professional, qualified intermediary, CPA, attorney, tax adviser, and other qualified professionals. No individualized legal, tax, lending, insurance, securities, appraisal, inspection, engineering, plumbing, property-management, fair-housing, or investment advice is provided.
Related: building a complete referral handoff, carrying Las Vegas winter-property questions, contact You Decide Referral.