Real Estate Blog - Selling Your House? But What About Your Neighbor's House?

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Selling Your House? But What About Your Neighbor's House?

You've done all the things needed to spruce up your home and get it ready for market! Your home really shines and now you are ready to welcome potential home buyers! Except there's just one problem, What about the neighbor's house?

If you have a neighbor who doesn't keep up their home's appearance, it will affect the value of your property negatively. This is a very tough situation to be in. If your neighbor happens to be the unreasonable sort, you could risk starting a feud if not handled very carefully which could be worse than just putting up with the neighbor's mess. Unfortunately, your options are fairly limited.

So, what can you, the seller do?

Try tactfully discussing your concerns with your neighbor and offer your help with sprucing up.
Ask for the support of other neighbors when discussing your concerns with the offending neighbor. However, if the neighbor's home is only offensive to you and does not affect other neighbors, then it becomes a private matter between you and the offending neighbor.
Check police reports to see if there has been a history of other complaints against your neighbor.
Report "enforceable" issues to local authorities.
Consult an attorney.
File a lawsuit against your neighbor but the final outcome is uncertain and can be costly.
Be sure to document well and take photos.
And...Worse case, you may have to lower your home's listing price if neighbors won't cooperate.

Since it is highly unlikely that your neighbor will strike oil and move "ta" Beverly , Read more information about what to do with a problem neighbor when it negatively affects the sale of your home.

Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor
North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains
Mountain Investments of North Georgia
706-633-0644 cell
www.move2northgeorgia.net
donna@ellijay.com

Posted by Donna Yates, Georgia Realtor Georgia Real Estate,Blue Ridge Mountains on 01/23/2008 07:02 PM

Comments (26)

north georgia blue ridge mountains, real estate, homes for sale, neighbors, donna yates realtor, localism, home sellers

Originally posted at: North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains Real Estate Blog, Donna Yates, Realtor: Selling Your House? But What About Your Neighbor's House?

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26 Comments on Selling Your House? But What About Your Neighbor's House?

JAN

2008

I have rehabbed houses with troublesome neighbors.

I bought one house where the neighbor to the rear had a big pit bull dog in a cage. It barked crazily whenever someone stepped in the backyard. I spent $500 and had a 6 foot privacy fence installed. The dog amazingly did not bark anymore because it could not see anyone in my yard.

I had another house that had an ugly house neighbor next door. I got the permission of the owners to have my handyman paint their house for me. Then I put a tall hedge along the property line to cover them up some. Cost me $3000. But I sold my house for a great profit, so it was worth the investment.

However when it is a listing I am considering taking, that makes it much more difficult. There is only so much you can do to fix the problem without spending your own money.

Donna,I think this is a bigger problem in Rural areas, when WYSI in photos is NWYG when you actually drive up to the home. Some folks are not a visual as others and will pay no mind to something that would drive me crazy. Excellent post and reference link.

I like your pictures... that may be some of my kinfolk....

JAN

2008

Donna - These is an interesting topic, and, sadly, one that affects many properties. I have a listing right now in north Austin which has this exact problem (mainly junk in the back neighbor's yard).

I have always kinda liked granny's cabin! lol Might just be that we watched that show so much as kids!

Your friend in Charlottesville

Rob: That's an excellent point that I didn't include is to spend your own money to put up a privacy fence, hedge, etc. but the mess still remains no matter. That's why sensible covenent and restrictions are a good thing. Thank you for sharing some of your experiences. This is just the kind of comment I enjoy seeing.

Ginger: I agree that this is a problem moreson in the rural areas than in the metro areas with developed subdivisions or in the city but it doesn't just stop at an unkempt house or lot but there is also noisey neighbors, loud music, wild parties, barking dogs. Those sort of things know no boundaries. This is why CCRs are a good thing if they are reasonable and senisble. Thank you for your comment.

Robert: You made me laugh and that's a very good thing! Thank you.

Jason: It really is a tough situation. I had a listing last year with this problem and it was a nightmare. Needless to say the home did not sell and the problem still exists. The home is no longer on the market. Very sad.

Charles: I always liked Granny's cabin too if I was in a witness protection program. LOL The long johns hanging on the clothesline really give it that special ambience! Gotta' love it.

Donna, This is so important! One of my clients was undecided whether to purchase a home next to one that is almost identical to your picture (honestly). It belonged to an elderly woman who couldn't keep up with it but wasn't going to part with it. In the end my client LOVED her home and purchased it---and helps out her neighbor when she can!

This situation does happen often. Even if the buyers like a particular property, the condition of the properties next door or on the same road can influence the buyer decision in a negative way.

JAN

2008

"My" Donna...

After I finished reading your blog post...I read the article on Inman...

It reminded me of why we don't work with Buyer's. I can't imagine having a judge make a ruling like that one.

I firmly believe it is not my place to bad mouth neighbors or neighborhoods. Back when I did work with Buyer's I would tell them getting to know the neighborhood was their job. Not mine. I would suggest that before they made an offer that they drive around the neighborhood several times a day and get to know it better.

It looks to me as if perhaps Buyer's Agents need to get something in writing to protect them from being sued this way. That whole thing sucks :)

The world is getting to be a place where you sue or be sued. That sucks too :)

TLW...ROAR!

JAN

2008

I agree....Buyers should do drivebys and most want to, having said that, a messy house does not always mean bad neighbours, maybe just the way they live. It's always about price, I'm sure the run down house was there when the current buyer bought. It's like selling a house on a busy street it needs to be priced right, in fact I found older people like to be on busy streets so they can watch cars and people and they feel more secure.

It's always takes longer, mainly because of a Sellers expectations, because there is a buyer for almost every house....most of the time.

Cheers

Fred: Thank you for you thoughts. My area is very rural and so we have quite a mix of different homes and yet so many of the people who own the worst to the best are simply wonderful people. To me, there is no excuse for at least keeping a property tidy whether it's a modest, comfortable place to live or a showplace,

JAN

2008

Donna - That's a fine line. You make some excellent points and I love the photos.

Tom: Thank you always for your comment. I appreciate your time and thoughts.

JAN

2008

Hi! This is timely. I just showed 5 homes yesterday and the buyer discounted 3 of them due to neighboring properties. One was so bad that I don't think the Clampets would have considered living there. The home we were viewing was a renovation and the owner did a beautiful job. But right out the picture window in the kitchen, up the hill was a property that would make Fred Sanford wince. Junk everywhere. Missing roof shingles. I think it was even leaning! I felt very bad for the investor who spent money fixing up the home only to be thwarted by his slovenly neighbors.

I see some of the same things. Often times, buyers don't want to look out of their back yard at some one else's messy house, inside and out.

Susan: This really can be a serious problem and there's not much recourse it seems, except to sue if the neighbor won't cooperate and that can be timely and expensive with no guarantee of the outcome so the seller usually has to reduce the price of the house in order for it to sell. It really is odd to me that some homeowner's have no pride of ownership whatsoever. Thank you for your comment.

Latonia: I know I don't want to look out of any of my windows and see someone's mess. It's really a shame and shameful, Thank you for your comment.

FEB

2008

Donna: As usual another great post and just had to comment on your pictures...you rock girl! They are too funny.

Patty Ledford Exit Realty

www.LedfordProperties.com

FEB

2008

Patty: You are very kind. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. I really appreciate it.

FEB

2008

Donna- I have a home that my son lives in and his neighbor is eccentric. We have asked her not to talk to agents and buyers that come to see the house.

Mark: Thank you for your comment.

FEB

2008

Donna,

Great post and I love the pictures. Right now my yard is the one in the need of tidying up, and I think my across the street neighbors decided to move after I got several chickens only to find out quite a few of them were Roosters. They do not only crow when the sun comes up, they start way before and last all day long. We have happily sold all but two of them, and I'm sure my neighbor is estatic. You definately need to check out you're neighbor before buying, they may be alot like me and just happen to love chickens and fresh eggs, LOL

Bonnie Lelak

TheHomeInspectorsWife

Bonnie: You make me laugh! I actually like chickens and my mother used to have a rooster or two and we were in a subdivision. There is a difference between being a bit untidy and being blatantly trashy. As for me I do like to hear a rooster crow but I have to admit, I wouldn't care to hear it all day long. :) (I'll tell you this so don't tell anyone else - ok! My yard needs a little work too)! Oops. Thank you for your comment.

FEB

2008

I'm not selling my home... but I have neighbors just like that. Someday I plan to sell and hope they get it all cleaned up before then! Maybe they'll move!!!!

(I wrote one of my first posts here about them.... Blue Tarps)

Martin: It is a very tricky situation for sure. Thank you for your comment and I do hope your neighbor will clean things up for his sake and others. I'm off to read your blog.

FEB

2008

Donna,

Thanks for commenting on my post. I am going to try and talk to him in the spring. I am concerned about rodents under the tarps and will also be talking to our local board of health.

Martin: Maybe that will be the leverage you need because if the tarp is harboring rodents and snakes for that matter, maybe the health department can do something about it. I hope it works out for you. It's not an easy situation. I think talking to your neighbor first and giving him/her the benefit of the doubt is the best approach. It's always good to get both sides of the story. You never know what someone else may be going through and there could be a good reason.

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