The value of real property when it comes to chickens is in question. How do we as a realtor community view this addition to a homeowner’s family?
I was asked to comment on how chickens affect the value of a property or do they have an effect? First we must define the difference between effect and affect…
We are tackling 2 different issues here, chickens and language. Effect (noun) is something brought about by a cause, affect (verb) is to have an influence on. Chickens most definitely affect people and their lifestyles however the effect they have on real property value is debatable.
Since when is any animal detrimental to real property value when it comes to subjectiveness. So what is it… the sound, the appearance, the eggs? Chickens are no more offensive than barking dogs, pigeons, a lawnmower, motorcycles, cars, snowblowers and the like. Appearance is no more unsightly than piles of trash, old cars, tacky decorations and tasteless architecture. Ok now the eggs…a pure joy, there is no comparison.
I asked some realtor colleagues of mine to comment on the topic and I received a varied response from a stigma likened to the proximity of Indian Point and high tension wires to “Who cares”. News to all, a town does not have to allow chickens for property to be devalued, it devalues due to other factors such as inability to maintain, lack of aesthetics, functional obsolescence, location, age and the list goes on.
It’s OK for a town to allow chickens with certain restrictions (and we are aware that Westchester County towns DO have restrictions and ordinances in place) however property size should not be one of them. Is it an embarrassment to show a property with neighbors housing chickens? Is it an imposition? What about this…view it as an improvement to the sustainability of life in general, a welcome addition to the landscape, an animal that gives us eggs. Let’s think on our feet and be creative instead of judging our neighbors by their pets.
Chickens as a stigma, I think not. The affect…an influence on lifestyle, the effect… a change in the way we accept others and what they value.
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