Board and secure an owner-invited vacant home in Trona before it becomes a hazard

Trona has lost most of its population and holds streets of vacant homes in every stage of collapse — open doorways, broken glass, and structures that draw scrappers and fire risk next to occupied houses. Owners who still hold title often live far away and consent readily to securing. Boarding one vacant home's ground openings protects the neighbors still here. Standard: HUD vacant-property securing standards; county code-compliance practice — SDG 11. Proof: Before-and-after photos of every secured opening Method (HUD vacant-property securing standards; county code-compliance practice — SDG 11.): 1. Confirm the owner's written invitation and photograph the open structure as found from outside. 2. Cut plywood to fit each ground-level door and window opening. 3. Fasten boards from the exterior with carriage bolts or screws into sound framing. 4. Post the owner-provided no-entry notice. 5. Photograph every secured opening with GPS and date. Done when: Before-and-after photos of every secured opening

Where

Owner-invited vacant home near Argus Ave & 2nd St, Trona, CA 93562

Pay

$380 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

Before-and-after photos of every secured opening

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

intermediate

Open until

2026-09-03

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–150 minutes. Method of record: Exterior building-envelope maintenance for existing housing -- gutter/downspout service, exterior debris removal, small envelope patch-and-seal, and foundation-grade moisture-source control. DOE Weatherization Assistance Program DIY-safe practice (envelope-adjacent) + EPA Healthy Homes moisture-control guidance; homeowner/occupant-safe hand-tool work only.

Bring

• camera
• gutter scoop or garden-hose gutter wand + bucket/tarp
• stepladder (6 ft max) + a spotter
• caulk gun + paintable/exterior sealant + patching compound
• rake, tarp, and yard-waste bags
• tape measure + line level or 4-ft level
• gloves + safety glasses

Steps

1. 1. Photograph the gutter run, downspouts, exterior debris, and any envelope gaps or grading problem as found, from the vantage points that will be used again after.
2. 2. Confirm scope with the occupant/owner and confirm the home's condition (post-1978, or pre-1978 with intact/unpainted-substrate work only -- any disturbed pre-1978 paint STOPS this scope and routes to an EPA RRP lead-safe pro).
3. 3. From a stepladder no taller than 6 ft with a spotter (or from the ground for single-story eaves reachable by wand/scoop), clear debris from gutters and confirm downspouts drain freely and discharge at least several feet from the foundation; re-secure any loose gutter hangers.
4. 4. Clear accumulated exterior debris/junk from the immediate building perimeter, porch, and walkway so drainage paths and pest-entry points stay clear; bag/stage yard waste for pickup.
5. 5. Patch and seal small envelope gaps at trim, soffit, and utility penetrations with exterior-rated caulk or patching compound, and regrade a short run of soil away from the foundation where it currently slopes toward it.
6. 6. Verify: gutters run clear water end-to-end, downspouts discharge away from the foundation, patched gaps are weathertight, and the perimeter is clear; photograph the finished work from the same vantage as the before photos.
7. 7. Enter before/after photos, materials used, and any hazard flagged (active leak, structural rot, suspected lead paint) into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Pre-1978 home with peeling/chipping/disturbed paint on the work surface -> STOP: do not scrape or sand; route to an EPA RRP lead-safe certified pro.
• Active roof or plumbing leak, sagging gutter run, or structural rot found -> document and route to a licensed contractor; this scope is maintenance and prevention, not structural repair.
• Any ladder work above 6 ft, or an eave/gutter only reachable from the roof -> STOP this entry/intermediate scope; route to a credentialed crew.

What counts as done

• Before and after photos of gutters, downspouts, envelope gaps, and the cleared perimeter from matching vantage points
• Downspouts confirmed discharging away from the foundation (not pooling at the wall)
• Patched/sealed gaps are weathertight with no exposed raw gap remaining
• Perimeter debris cleared and staged/bagged for removal

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.