Selling a House With Code Violations in Augusta, GA

A vacant house can turn into a pile of notices fast: tall grass, broken windows, a failed inspection, a condemnation sign on the door. If fixing it isn't realistic, we buy houses with code violations as-is and pay off the liens at closing when the price covers them.

Open violations, boarded and condemned houses
City and county liens paid at closing
No repairs, cleanout or lot clearing
Close in as few as 14 days, or on the date you choose at a local closing attorney

Prefer to talk? Call or text (706) 397-4774

Get a cash offer on the house

How Code Enforcement Works in Augusta

In Augusta-Richmond County, code enforcement is handled by the Code Enforcement Division of the Augusta Planning & Development Department. It enforces the property maintenance codes, minimum housing standards, zoning and nuisance rules. Neighbors can report problems through Augusta 311. Generally, the process looks like this:

A complaint or inspection. An inspector visits after a report or during a routine sweep and notes problems like overgrowth, trash, open or broken windows, or unsafe structures.
A notice of violation. The owner gets a letter describing the problem and giving a deadline to fix it.
Escalation if it isn't fixed. If the work isn't done, the case can move to court, the house can be condemned so no one can live in it, and in serious cases a demolition can be ordered.
The government steps in. If the owner doesn't act, the city or county may cut the lot, board the house or even demolish it, and bill the owner for the cost.

Under Georgia law, the cost a local government spends repairing, closing or demolishing an unfit building can become a lien on the property, and it can be collected the same way as unpaid property taxes. That means unpaid code costs can eventually put the house at risk, much like back property taxes.

Columbia County, Aiken County and the cities around the CSRA each have their own code enforcement offices and rules. If you've received a notice, call the office listed on it to ask what's open and what you owe.

We're not attorneys and this isn't legal advice. If you have a court date, a condemnation order or a demolition notice, talk to a real estate attorney right away about your deadlines and rights.

Your Options With a Problem Property

Make the repairs. If the fixes are small, like cutting the grass or replacing a window, doing them and calling for a reinspection may close the case.
Ask for more time. If you're working on it, call the inspector. Showing progress can sometimes buy you time on a deadline.
Sell to someone who will fix it. Most retail buyers and their lenders won't touch a condemned house or one with major violations. A cash buyer who renovates can.
Do nothing. This is the option to avoid. Fines, cleanup bills and liens tend to grow, and a vacant house usually gets worse, not better.

We'll be straight with you about whether a few repairs would make more sense than selling. If selling is the right move, we can usually work through open violations as part of the sale.

How Selling As-Is Works

Tell us about the house and the notices. Call or text (706) 397-4774, or fill out the form. Share any letters or court papers you have.
Get a cash offer. We look at the house and make a cash offer within 24 hours, as-is.
The title search finds the liens. The closing attorney checks for code liens, tax liens, mortgages and judgments, so you'll see the numbers before closing.
Close and move on. Liens are paid from the sale when the price covers them, and the rest is yours. After closing, the repairs and the city are our responsibility.

We're a local, family-owned company with an office at 3070 Damascus Rd in Augusta. We've bought over 100 houses since 2019, we're rated 5.0 on Google, and we're not real estate agents, so there are no commissions.

Code Violation Questions

Can I sell a house that has code violations?

Usually, yes. We buy houses with open code violations as-is, so you don't have to make the repairs first. Tell us about any notices you've received so we can plan around them.

Can I sell a house that's been condemned?

Often, yes. A condemned house generally can't be lived in until it's repaired, but it can still be sold. We buy condemned and boarded-up houses in Augusta and the CSRA.

What happens to code enforcement liens when I sell?

Liens on the property, including liens for city cleanup or demolition costs, are normally paid from the sale at closing, as long as the price covers them. The closing attorney finds them during the title search.

The city mowed or boarded my house and billed me. Is that a lien?

In Georgia, costs a city or county spends to repair, close or demolish an unfit building can become a lien on the property and can be collected like property taxes. Check with the city about any bills or liens on your house.

Do you buy vacant houses that have been empty for years?

Yes. Long-vacant houses, houses with overgrown lots and houses that need everything are exactly what we buy. You don't need to clean them out first.

Related Help

Problem properties often come with other issues. These may help: a house full of belongings, an inherited house nobody's living in, back property taxes, fire or water damage, and vacant lots and land. We buy in Augusta, Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, North Augusta, Aiken and the rest of the CSRA. Or see how we work when you need to sell your house fast in Augusta.

What Sellers Say About Working With Us

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Get My Cash Offer Call or text (706) 397-4774