One of those "what would you do" situations...

[*Robin*]

Hey everyone...

I have a situation, and I really just don't know what to do.

We are in the process of getting our house ready to sell. In fact, it goes on the market next week. We live in a great neighborhood where 90% of the homes are well kept and wonderfully landscaped. Unfortunately my neighbors are in the other 10%.

I've always been a live and let live kind of person. I don't like to cause problems and I don't think it's my place to tell people what to do with their own homes. But we've had 3 realtors come through here and all have said that if they were the listing agents, they would call both the city (for weed abatement) and the association (which is basically worthless as far as I'm concerned or they would have done something long ago) to get them to deal with their yard.

I wrote them an email about a month ago explaining that we were going to move, told them what the realtors had said and asked if they would please just clean the basics so it didn't have to go that route. I offered to help and to even loan them garden tools if they didn't have them. I didn't hear anything at all.

About 2 weeks ago I saw her outside and went over, again explaining what was going on and asked if they would just clean out the huge weeds and pick up the junk around the house (like a kitty litter container that had been there for about 4 years, a recycle bin that has a yearly crop of weeds and a rabbit cage that has been there long enough to have grass entwined in it.) That's the stuff that's right by my house, and buyers would see it if they walked around.

She said they would do it, and now, after 2 weeks, still nothing. I'm so sad that it's gotten to this, and I honestly don't know what to do. Our landscaping is a big selling point to our home and my realtor is adamant that he needs to call...I keep telling him to wait...

anyone have any ideas? I even thought of cleaning it up myself, but at this point, I'm assuming they aren't liking us too much...so who knows where that would go...

anyway, just throwing it out there to you guys to see what you think...

Thank you!!

 

[Bren's Mom]

What a difficult situation!

I assume you don't want to list for a lower price to take into account the messy neighbor's house? Of course, no one would want to do that. But that is what will end up happening.

If you have spoken to the neighbors twice (once via e-mail and once in person) and they have not responded by either doing the work or letting you know why it's not getting done and if they're in violation of city/town and community rules then I would notify those agencies that you now need help in getting the place cleaned up. If it makes you feel better to let your realtor do it, go for it! He/she has a job to do as well and this problem is impeding them also.

Good luck!

 

[golfgal]

I would have called the city a long time ago. I would certainly do it now. There are laws in pretty much every town about keeping weeds out of your yard and in general keep things up.

 

[mirage162]

In my past experiance, every time I talked to my neighbors about the stuff on their property, it just made it worse. When I finally called the city, they hated me more, but it was cleaned up. It was only temprary though. Hopefully, if you call, they will clean up and not get worse. At least long enough to sell your home.

 

[Heidict]

Right now your main priority is going to be selling your house and getting the best price you can for it. Your neighbors obviously don't care about their property, their relationship with their neighbors or the price that you are getting for your house.

Time for you not to care about what they think either. Contact the city and the home owners association. Keep at them until something is done about it. Regardless if you were selling your house or not they are in violation of both city and HOA rules and/or bylaws.

 

[*Robin*]

Thanks so much you guys! No, we don't want to list for less...it doesn't make any sense to me, because if my house sells for less because of them, their house is worth less too...it's driving me crazy!

I think I have been slightly afraid of some kind of retaliation. The last thing I need is for someone to kill all my plants or trash my yard while we're away. (We're listing our house then heading to Florida so they can show it when they want)

I think I'll tell the Realtor to go ahead, but it makes me so upset that it has to go to this...thanks to you all for affirming what I really already knew...I just hoped someone had some kind of alternate idea....

 

[HM]

At this point, I think I'd actually get out there and clean it up myself (when they were not around to toss me off their property). You've asked them twice and offered help. Getting the city or HOA involved will take too much time. Good luck with your home sale!!

 

[barkley]

ask your realtors what your best recourse is. in some places there are rules about hoa's and disclosures-so reporting the issue to a non effective hoa board will only result in you (via your disclosure documents) putting up a red flag to potential buyers that (1) you've got problem neighbors, and (2) you've got an ineffective hoa. you probably don't have to disclose a complaint to the city if there are weed abatement or trash laws that would require the neighbors to clean up but in the end, if it's not a huge amount of work, and you are realy intent on getting the place cleaned up for the benefit of you selling-you might want to consider getting the owner's permission to just weed whack and toss the old junk yourself (i've known other sellers who finaly had to resort to this).

 

[Shmily1]

I would be afraid of snakes that live in that mess coming to my yard. I would have the realtor call.

 

[*Robin*]

HM and Barkley, I did offer to help at first...and I still would, all they'd have to do is ask. I wouldn't object to even doing it myself, as long as they didn't come back with a lawsuit about their million dollar kitty litter bucket and recycle bin.

I'm wondering now if I should have the realtor do it (this is a disclosure state for realtors, if they know and if someone asks, they have to let them know) Our HOA is pretty ineffective as far as I'm concerned...but there have been so many turnovers in the past two years with board members, I'm not really surprised.

I'll try to catch them out this week (they never answer their door) and I'll ask if I can just clean it up. That may at least spur them into doing something...if not, I may contact the HOA myself...as much as I really hate being that kind of neighbor...

You guys are the absolute best, thank you!! (and Shmily1 I hadn't thought of that!!)

 

[sbell111]

I'd contact the HOA and the city.

Remember, you are not trying to make friends. You are simply trying to ensure that they keep their yard somewhat presentable in the short term.

 

[KirstenB]

Right now your main priority is going to be selling your house and getting the best price you can for it. Your neighbors obviously don't care about their property, their relationship with their neighbors or the price that you are getting for your house.

Time for you not to care about what they think either. Contact the city and the home owners association. Keep at them until something is done about it. Regardless if you were selling your house or not they are in violation of both city and HOA rules and/or bylaws.

I love this advice!! OP, you sound like such a kind person, but in this case, you need to get the job done. I wouldn't touch any of their stuff. If they've hung onto it for this long, they might be like that Hoarders show (or just lazy!). Anyway, it would be trespassing, and you don't need that.

 

[JessicaR]

At this point, I think I'd actually get out there and clean it up myself (when they were not around to toss me off their property). You've asked them twice and offered help. Getting the city or HOA involved will take too much time. Good luck with your home sale!!

This is exactly what I was going to suggest.
It doesn't sound like the neighbors don't want it done since they agreed to do it verbally. I would just do it myself. Maybe they are just lazy. I cant imagine they would have a problem with someone making their property cleaner and neater.

Obviously this isn't the best solution but others options have failed and time seems to be of the essence.

 

[barkley]

HM and Barkley, I did offer to help at first...and I still would, all they'd have to do is ask. I wouldn't object to even doing it myself, as long as they didn't come back with a lawsuit about their million dollar kitty litter bucket and recycle bin.

I'm wondering now if I should have the realtor do it (this is a disclosure state for realtors, if they know and if someone asks, they have to let them know) Our HOA is pretty ineffective as far as I'm concerned...but there have been so many turnovers in the past two years with board members, I'm not really surprised.

I'll try to catch them out this week (they never answer their door) and I'll ask if I can just clean it up. That may at least spur them into doing something...if not, I may contact the HOA myself...as much as I really hate being that kind of neighbor...

You guys are the absolute best, thank you!! (and Shmily1 I hadn't thought of that!!)

do you know for sure that the residents of the home are the actual owners? you can ususaly check on the property assessor's site in your area to see who the legal owner is if you're not sure.

reason is ask is because i'm going to suggest something and you need to know who the legal owner of the property is-check if there's any law on the books where you live about property owners creating a situation that devalues a neighboring owner's home. we had a law on the books for this where we used to live and when i pointed it out to a homeowner whose renters were causing a devaluing issue for us he acted VERY QUICKLY to get them to correct the situation. i also had a co-worker who used this tactic with a neighbor to great success. we had only to get a realtor to write a letter saying what they perceived would be the difference between the fmv for our homes and what we would be forced to list them for because of the "view" of the homes to drive the point home that while the city or an hoa might only hit them with a couple hundred dollars in fines we had the basis to go after them for tens of THOUSANDS of dollars.

 

[joyjoy]

I would set up an appointment with a lawncare guy(s) and tell the neighbors what day they are coming over. When you tell them the day they're coming, point to the things in the yard (rabbit cage, kitty litter container) and say, "Do you want to keep that?" "How about that?". The yard guys can haul away trash, mow and edge and it will look 10X better. Expect to pay up to $100 depending on the size of the yard and the mess. Good luck. Neighbors are so weird.

 

[Karalea]

Unless you are looking for legal problems, stay out of the neighbors yard and don't touch their stuff. It is called trespassing. It doesn't matter if you like it or not, you can not go in someones yard and throw away their possessions. Their junk is their junk.

Go about it the legal and correct way.

 

[MaumeeMom]

At this point, I think I'd actually get out there and clean it up myself (when they were not around to toss me off their property). You've asked them twice and offered help. Getting the city or HOA involved will take too much time. Good luck with your home sale!!

I don't think this is a good idea. The neighbors could call the police on you for trespassing and, if anything were thrown out, for theft. I would stay off their property unless invited.

I'd contact the HOA and the city.

Remember, you are not trying to make friends. You are simply trying to ensure that they keep their yard somewhat presentable in the short term.

I agree, try the HOA and the city today to get the ball rolling. Do you have any surveillance on the home while you are away? I would consider some cheap cameras and someone to check on the house occasionally, in case something does go wrong while the house is empty.

We actually moved a few years ago due to nasty, nasty neighbors. It took us a year to sell the old house after the move and a few things did happen while the house was empty even though I would go over there and check it daily. I actually had to file a police report because they were taping notes on the door telling prospective buyers that we were crazy or liars, or nutty cartoons, etc.

Good luck, I hope the house sells quickly.

 

[diznygirl]

Unless you are looking for legal problems, stay out of the neighbors yard and don't touch their stuff. It is called trespassing. It doesn't matter if you like it or not, you can not go in someones yard and throw away their possessions. Their junk is their junk.

Go about it the legal and correct way.

Exactly. And this is why the HOA can't do anything either. All they can do is send a letter and threaten to fine them.

If the neighbor has been friendly, then I'd probably do as another poster suggested and ask if you could take care of the weeds yourself. That would actually be the quickest way to get anything done.

If they won't let you, THEN I'd call HOA and the city - if it's gonna be messy anyway then they might as well be fined for it.

Good luck.

 

[Nennie]

Maybe you could ask them if they would mind if you cleaned it up for them?

I was selling a condo years ago, and my neighbors across the hall would leave their kids toys and bikes in the hallway, and it was a mess. I told them that my realtor told me to try to keep the hallway clean, and would they mind if I straightened up, etc. They didn't mind, so pretty much every day I cleaned up their kids toys, and straightened up the bikes.

They weren't rude neighbors, just lazy and messy! I didn't mind cleaning up for them til the condo sold, so everyone was happy.

 

[JessicaR]

I don't see why anything has to be thrown away. It seems like the weeds are a big issue. The few items mentioned could easily be placed in the backyard.

I like the idea of hiring a lawn guy and calling the neighbor to ask if that would be OK.