Extreme Couponing With Foreclosured Homes

The past few Sundays, the local newspaper has graciously sent out free coupons to the suburban areas in town.  The Redplum and SmartSource inserts contain a wealth of coupons. Last week, we got great deals on soy milk, which is wonderful for families that have milk allergies.  The only problem is that these coupons usually come in singles.

So, facing the dilemma of a coupon shortage, we ventured out and found a way to stockpile coupons for free without stealing them.  There are hundreds of free grocery coupons within a few miles of your home.  They sit in the vacant driveways of foreclosed homes.  Since nobody is living there, you are probably doing the neighborhood a service by collecting unwanted newspapers from the driveways of these homes. It could be many months before anyone comes to clean-up the papers. So, don't feel bad.

How do you spot a foreclosure?

There are some obvious signs that a home is abandoned or foreclosed. Here are a few of them.

1. Overgrown grass and shrubs.  If nobody is caring for the home, the lawn is the easiest place to find this.  When the grass hasn't been mowed all summer and it is now November, this is a sign that the house is empty.

2. No cars parked in the driveway.  This isn't always fool-proof.  In some urban areas, where parking is scant, neighbors will use the empty driveway space to park their extra vehicles.

3. Sticker in the window or on the door.  When the bank takes possession of the home, they will prepare it for months of vacancy.  This involves cutting all the utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water.  Because there is no heat, there is a risk that the pipes or toilet bowls could freeze with a winter chill. So, they do things like pour antifreeze in the toilet tank.  The note on the front door should say something like "this home has been winterized."  It could also be a notice of eviction, depending on the circumstances.  Nevertheless, they won't need their coupons.

4. Word of Mouth.  People love to gossip.  So, at the next neighborhood gathering, just bring up the housing market and the conversation is bound to turn to the abandoned homes on your street or nearby.

5. General Disrepair.  Abandoned properties tend to have a lot of disrepair too. You'll notice rotten wood on the mailbox, missing shingles, broken windows, and even loose gutters.