Shriveled plants, weeds, overgrown bushes, peeling paint, or a cracked driveway are problems that sellers must often fix before their house goes on the market. But what if these problems apply to their neighbors' homes?
Most sellers know to groom their homes for the best sale, but it's difficult to counteract the effect of distressed-looking homes that are in close proximity to their property. The cummulative effect of neglected landscapes or homes can give the neighborhood a run down look.
How embarrased was I when a neighbor several houses away recently put her house on the market? A storm had just ripped off one of our shutters and replacements were backordered for weeks. The phone company's lawn reseeding, following extensive digging, and subsequent weed extermination had left a random pattern of brown patches in our yard. The weather wasn't cooperating for new grass growth either!
I was dying of embarrassment and even invested in some yard green plant spray to help the yard look better from a distance. ( It's some kind of vegetable dye that works-to a point) I really like our neighborhood and neighbors and wanted them to get a good price for their house. Add that to the fact that what I do is help homeowners prep their homes for staging, and here my own curb appeal was sorely lacking.
I share this because I often knock myself out to stage a home inside and out, only to see that the approach to the home or even next door there will be a house that would make only the Addams family happy. I am at a loss to understand how people can overlook the front of their home unless they come and go in the dark.
I am a gardener who is married to a non gardener so I understand that there may be forces at work that keep a home from being well maintained all the time. It's called having a full life and sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate when the time is available. But when someone on your street is trying to sell a house in a slow market you would think that common sense would spur a person into cleaning up their own property. After all, it protects everyone's largest investment to keep their own property in good shape. When it comes time for that person to sell, they will want to get the best price.
All common sense, right? So what do you do when your client brings up the problem neighbors with the junky looking yard? You might say, "Not My Job!" and leave it at that. What if the property is right next door and your clients don't want to do anything to help curb appeal because of the experimental weed farm their neighbor is harboring?
You could ignore it and hope that by osmosis or shame the offensive yard will be cleaned up. You might suggest that the clients contact the neighbors and ask if they minded if their yard service cut their grass so that it will be uniform for the web and brochure photos. If your clients are smart they will realize that the extra expense will be worth it when buyers come by and stop to come in the house.
Or if you are extremely personable and tactful you might drop by and introduce yourself. A well worded introduction just might get you another client and earn the gratitude of your client and realtor. So what would you say or do? What if the neighbors aren't home? Would you leave a specially written brochure about your services? How would you use your powers of persuasion?
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