Will my house sell even if my neighbors house looks like crap?
Tonight there was a news story on this problem. Especially foreclosure homes that banks/mortgage companies are not maintaining. Several neighborhoods have formed committees to work this issue. Even to the point of taking the banks to court to force them to maintain their assets. Shouldn't they maintain the properties they own???
RE/MAX Unlimited 10850 W. Church St. Lexington, Tn. 731-249-5376
Linda Lipscomb 731-695-1118 LindaLipscomb.com
"Will my house sell even if my neighbors house looks like crap?"
That's a question I've heard many times lately, especially with so many foreclosures on the market where the property hasn't been maintained properly. There is nothing worse than driving into a neighborhood thinking "wow, this is really nice!", then rounding the corner to find an eyesore sitting next to the house you were so excited about seeing.
If you need to sell your house and you have an eyesore for a neighbor, you have a few options to consider.
-- If the property is vacant ... find out who the owner is and call them. Your real estate agent can help you with this. If the owner is a bank, have other neighbors call as well, especially if they are customers of that particular bank. If the condition is cosmetic, consider fixing the problem yourself. This could include mowing, watering, pruning, power washing etc.
-- If the property is rented ... call or write the owner. If you write to them, include a couple of photos. If they are from out of the area, they might not even know there is a problem. If you find that the house is managed by a property management company, call them as well. Be relentless, only squeaky wheels get the grease.
-- If the property is owner occupied. Go over and talk to your neighbor. Offer to help them with the upkeep of their landscaping or painting. They may be experiencing a hardship that you aren't even aware of.
It's a tough situation when you find yourself next to a neighbor's property that is in disheveled condition. If you don't or can't do anything about it, it will take longer to sell your house, and most likely for a price lower than what should have been.
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Cynthia Larsen
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