New owners were due to move into a house in East Whitburn on the same day it was badly damaged in a bus crash, it's understood.
A single-decker coach ploughed into the front of the house on the West Lothian village's Main Street on Friday morning.
The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash but no-one else was hurt.
Ryan Scott, coordinator of the Fauldhouse Watch neighbourhood watch group, said: "The house was empty as it was auctioned off after the owner passed away a couple of years ago."
He told Edinburgh Live: "The new owners of the property were meant to get the keys to the house this morning (Friday) and unfortunately the driver of the bus took not well and went into the house.
Kirsty Maxwell - Family investigators return to Benidorm to seek answers after fall death
"The footpath outside the house is usually busy with children going to school or going to the shop adjacent the property but on this occasion no one was passing by which is very lucky."
Pictures from the scene showed the front entrance of the house was caved in, with damage extending to the roof.
The A705 was closed for much of Friday morning as police recovered the vehicle.
The house has been taped off by West Lothian Council.
To receive one WhatsApp message a day with Edinburgh Live's headlines, as well as breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07899067815. Then add the number to your contacts as 'Edinburgh Live'.
For more stories from across the Edinburgh area like our Facebook page , or follow us on Twitter and Instagram .
You can also subscribe to our newsletter: enter your email in the blue box at the top of this article.
