【What to Do with a Vacant House? Top Consultation Sources Ranked】Survey of 144 People with Experience

AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto City, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenji Kawata) conducted a survey titled 'Survey on Consultation Sources for Vacant Houses' targeting 144 individuals with experience owning vacant houses, and compiled the data into a ranking.

Full details are published on 'Akiya Kaitori-tai' (Vacant House Buying Team). (https://akiya-kaitoritai.com/consult-about-vacant-houses/)

Many owners of vacant houses struggle with how to utilize them, especially if they live far away, often wondering, 'What should I do?'

While people want someone to consult when in doubt, many also struggle with the question, 'Who should I consult first?'

This time, 'Akiya Kaitori-tai' (https://akiya-kaitoritai.com/), operated by AlbaLink Co., Ltd. (https://albalink.co.jp/), conducted a survey of 144 people with experience owning vacant houses, asking them about their preferred consultation sources.

<<Conditions for Use of Survey Results>>

1. When citing this information, clearly state the source as: 'Akiya Kaitori-tai is challenging high appraisals for vacant houses nationwide [Tokyo Stock Exchange listed].'

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https://akiya-kaitoritai.com/consult-about-vacant-houses/

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【Survey Overview】

Target: Individuals with experience owning vacant houses

Survey Period: June 30, 2026 – July 9, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Survey Method: Internet-based voluntary responses

Valid Responses: 144 people (77 women / 67 men)

Respondent Age Groups: 20s 13.9% / 30s 25.0% / 40s 29.9% / 50s 20.1% / 60s and above 11.1%

【Survey Results Summary】

・Top consultation source when unsure about what to do with a vacant house: 'Real estate company'

・Main concern when choosing a consultation source: 'Too many consultation options'

1st Place: Real Estate Company

When asked 'Which consultation sources did you consider when unsure about what to do with your vacant house?', 59.0% of the 144 respondents selected 'real estate company', making it the top choice by a significant margin.

The top five were as follows: 2nd place 'municipality (23.6%)', 3rd place 'family member (19.4%)', 4th place 'tax accountant (9.7%)', and 5th place 'judicial scrivener (2.8%)'.

Many respondents considered multiple consultation sources and actually consulted with several. Deciding what to do with a vacant house requires various types of information and judgment, including real estate, taxes, registration, and subsidies. Therefore, it is natural that potential consultation sources are diverse.

<1st Place: Real Estate Company>

・I thought experts would be best, so I couldn't think of anyone other than real estate agents. (Female, 30s)

・I found the sales process explained on a real estate company's website, so I called and consulted directly. (Male, 40s)

・I wanted to know the appraisal value first. (Female, 60s and above)

Since vacant houses are real estate, many people naturally consult real estate companies first.

When researching how to use or sell a vacant house, real estate company websites often appear, leading directly to consultation. Some respondents mentioned wanting to 'know the appraisal value,' indicating that real estate companies are also chosen as direct pathways to selling.

Benefits of consulting a real estate company include 'receiving market price appraisals' and 'getting detailed explanations about procedures for selling or renting.' The ability to easily move toward concrete actions is a major advantage.

Since real estate companies operate in brokerage and buying, they are a recommended consultation source, especially if you are considering selling.

<2nd Place: Municipality>

・I wanted neutral information, such as subsidy programs, from a non-profit source like the city hall. (Female, 20s)

・I heard that city halls handle vacant house countermeasures. (Male, 40s)

・Since it's a municipality, I felt I could consult with peace of mind. (Male, 50s)

Many people considered municipalities as consultation sources because they wanted 'neutral information' or felt they could 'consult with peace of mind.'

Unlike real estate companies, municipalities are non-profit consultation sources, so there is less concern about being pushed toward specific options like selling. Receiving neutral advice can provide great reassurance, especially when you haven't decided on a direction.

Another benefit of consulting a municipality is the possibility of being introduced to unique local support programs such as 'subsidy and grant systems' and 'vacant house banks.'

However, municipalities do not directly conduct sales appraisals or contract procedures. For specific transactions and consultations on tax or legal matters, you will need to consult real estate companies or specialists.

<3rd Place: Family Members>

・I couldn't think of anyone else to consult. (Male, 20s)

・Since I didn't live locally, I wanted to confirm what would be best in the local area. (Female, 30s)

・I intended to sell, but since there were inheritance rights, I consulted to confirm whether to sell, rent out, or transfer to a family member. (Female, 40s)

Reasons for family members ranking high include 'being close and familiar' and 'being fellow parties experiencing vacant house issues.'

For example, if inheriting a vacant house with multiple heirs, it's necessary to exchange opinions among heirs. As a preliminary step before consulting real estate agents or professionals, it's natural to want to confirm family and relatives' feelings to prevent future disputes. Consulting family members is easier if relationships are good.

You can also receive candid opinions on matters you can't decide alone. If the vacant house is far away, there may be relatives more familiar with the property than you are.

However, differing positions and wishes among family members may lead to prolonged discussions, and emotional conflicts should be carefully avoided.

<4th Place: Tax Accountant>

・I wanted neutral opinions. (Female, 20s)

・I can entrust procedural matters to them. (Female, 40s)

・I can ask specialized questions. (Male, 40s)

Vacant houses may incur taxes when sold or inherited. Therefore, tax accountants are appropriate consultation sources if you want to understand tax burdens or entrust tax procedures. Receiving accurate advice on tax matters, which require specialized knowledge, is expected to reduce mental stress.

Additionally, since tax accountants' work is strictly tax-related and not focused on actively promoting sales, some respondents expected to receive more neutral opinions. However, if you actually want to sell the vacant house, you may need to consult other sources as well.