As a listing agent, sometimes we play peacemaker and try to facilitate neighbor cooperation when something on the neighbor’s side of the fence may discourage buyers from seriously considering your listing for purchase. After all, the purchaser is not just buying a home, they are moving into a neighborhood that will have its strengths and its challenges.
I had a listing several years ago that was next door to a property that was unpleasant to look at, let alone consider moving in next door to. The owner had let the yard overgrow with weeds and what remained of the grass was at least 18 inches high. It was a contemporary home whose exterior had not been stained or painted in 12 to 15 years. This was June; the window drapes were all closed and were covered with sheets of plastic, left over from the prior winter to reduce the cold air draft. There were no flowers or other signs of landscaping other than a few azaleas.Believe it or not, there was an HOA. My seller and I had approached the owner more than six week previously and asked him to help out by at least cutting the lawn and taking the plastic off the windows. The neighbor agreed, but then didn’t do anything. My seller than approached the President of the HOA and the head of the Architectural Control Committee, whose responsibility was to conduct the annual property inspections. They indicated that the owner had been sent specific demands for work and clean-up to be done. The time period had lapsed and they would now pursue legal remedies.
At my sellers almost daily prompting an attorney was retained, final demands issued and a contractor was given list work to be done. Neighbor failed to do any of the work demanded. HOA attorney said, let the contractor do the work or you will be in court and will pay lots of legal fees in addition to the contractor. Neighbor agreed to let contractor do the work. Property was re-landscaped, painted and plastic sheets removed at a cost of $9,500. My seller’s property went on the market two weeks later and sold in four days.
Epilogue: I went back two years later. The plastic sheets were back on the windows (this was May) and the grass was a foot high.
Have you had listings where the condition of the neighbor’s property was going to be a problem? What did you do? Results?
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