The once social neighbors start keeping to themselves. As time goes on the carpet like lawn becomes neglected. Then sheriffs deputies start showing up from time to time.
Odds are your neighbors are losing their home to foreclosure. Sadly, this is a common occurrence all across the country. While tiny in comparison to the tragedy the family is facing, neighbors also are put into a bind. With asset managers being spread all over the country, there is typically no one caring for the property.
The neighbors are then faced with a hulking, vacant property literally rotting before their eyes. Broken windows, intrusions by Vandals, and grass growth measured in feet all happen literally steps from other homeowners.
So what's a neighbor to do? The first step should be to call the asset company (usually there is a sticker on the front door), or the local agent if the home is listed. But what if they fail to act? Would you take matters into your own hands?
In the past I have mowed abandon properties next door. One home sat vacant for almost a year. Guess how many times the asset company mowed the grass? ZERO ! After a few weeks I became sick of the increased insects and critters (for some reason rabbits took over the back yard) and mowed the lawn myself.
Yes, I was trespassing. I prefer to think of my actions as protecting my own property. And guess what happened??? Once I cleaned the yard the number of showings increased. We now have a GREAT family next door who makes my lawn look like a foreclosure!
What would you have done in this situation?
