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Neighbors have junk in Backyard - what do you suggest?

By Vinny Goldsmith

Real Estate Agent with Anne Arundel Properties

February 08, 2008 08:21 AM

I have a house about to go on the market this weekend and today some painters came in to give the whole thing a once over. I asked them what they thought about the house.

They said I should clean up the yards of the next door neighboors.

Unfortunately, the house is in a part of the county where a very nice 4 or 5 bedroom house worth about $300-$400K can be right next door to a house that is only worth about half that - and sometimes with a cluttered backyard (huge piles of firewood - not neatly stacked, rusting lawnmowers and bikes, weathered and useless construction supplies, and just junk in general.

In the case of this particular house - there are messy backyard on both sides.

I've thought about paying a few thousand for a treeline to cover it up - but that seems a little out of the ordinary.

I thought about a fence - but that too seems extreme and will seem really out of place.

I'm hesitant about going to the neighbors directly since it isn't MY house, and the HOA is useless and will take entirely too long - even if they could do anything.

Suggestions?

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Scott Hutchinson

REAL ESTATE - Lago Vista, TX

Lago Vista Real Estate

i would say something like this, " Dear sir/madam Ive noticed you have some things that would be of use to a community organization (church, habitat for humanity...) I belong to. If you wouldnt mind donating some of your belongings to this worthy cause it would really help out the truly needy.

or PLAN B-

I'll give you $200 bucks to move all this crap!

Feb 08, 2008 08:29 AM

Mike Russell

Mike Russell Real Estate Group - Overland Park, KS

Overland Park Kansas Real Estate

offer help. If it is really bad and they refuse call neighborhood services.

Feb 08, 2008 08:34 AM

Chris Frantz

EDU Real Estate Group - Indianapolis, IN

Its really too bad that some people can't show enough respect to keep their property clean to benefit the neighborhood

Feb 08, 2008 08:47 AM

Michael McEleney

Urban Acres Real Estate - Coralville, IA

' Honesty. Integrity. Loyalty.'

Bad neighbors can kill the sale of a home. I think you just have to ask them to do something and offer to help pay.

Feb 08, 2008 08:50 AM

Keith Kenner

Hometown Properties - Hiawassee, GA

I liked what Scott had to say, Plan 'A' and Plan 'B'. Mike Russel had a good comment also. Then there is always the old adage "Pick the fight that you know that you can win!" There comes a time when you just have to, look at a house and say " Could I live with that?" or " Would I pay that much for a house surrounded with that junk?" and finely" Could I spend my advertising money better elsewhere?"

Feb 08, 2008 08:58 AM

Matt Torgeson

Keller Williams Flagship of MD - Severna Park, MD

I just saw a TV show about a neighborhood that banded together and totally rehabbed a womans house for the same reason. The difference was she was a single mom and not capable of doing it on her own, plus the neighbors seemed to know each other really well.

Feb 13, 2008 10:13 AM

Neighbors have junk in Backyard - what do you suggest?

Comments(6)

Vinny Goldsmith

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