Would this be rude??

[FreshTressa]

The neighbor behind us has garbage on the side of their house you can see from my upstairs windows. It is just junk...long broken poles, wood etc.

Well, we are putting our house on the market soon and don't want potential buyers to be turned off by this.

Would it be rude of me to offer to take it to the dump for them or to rearrange it so it can't be seen from my house???

 

[rt2dz]

I'd do it. Will have to do as my next door neighbors are the same. It will help your house show better and as long as you're nice about it, I think they'd have a hard time being offended by it. And if they are, who cares? You're moving.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Depends on the relationship you have with that neighbor and the way you present your solution.

 

[jbdreamer]

I would check your city regulations first. I know in my neighborhood you can't have your trash out except on trash day, and you have to keep your yard looking decent. Maybe the city can do your dirty work for you.

I honestly would be too embarassed to ask them to move it myself. No matter how you say it, I think it would be insulting to your neighbor.

 

[mickeyboat]

FT - Happy Birthday!

I would ask them to take care of it. They probably don't realize how terrible it looks from your house, and would be more than happy to relocate it or reorganize it.

Denae

 

[MouseWorshipin]

If you are on decent, or even nodding terms with them, I would. And I tell them why - you're selling your house and hope someone buys quick, so you want everything to look beautiful.

Can't hurt to ask, right?

 

[RitaZ.]

There is one in every neighborhood. In ours, they live next to us, they are the only people that do this in our neighborhood. They used to keep trash on the other side of the house, but since the neighbor on that side was constantly reporting them to code enforcement, they moved it to our side. I told DH that when we decide to sell our house, I'm calling code enforcement to report them. He says that he'll just go over and talk to them.

I like your ideas, give them a try. Good luck!

 

[sajetto]

I'd do it. Will have to do as my next door neighbors are the same. It will help your house show better and as long as you're nice about it, I think they'd have a hard time being offended by it. And if they are, who cares? You're moving.

My thoughts exactly. We were just in this situation ourselves. My DF just sold his home and his neighbors had a pile of junk laying in the backyard. The way the houses sit we were looking right at it. He just walked over there and told them he was selling and if they would mind moving it. The guy seemed a little offended at first, but then he moved it anyway. I guess he never realized how bad it looked.

 

[Disneyrsh]

I was in the same situation a few years ago. I asked him if he'd mind tossing it (our county takes EVERYTHING if you put it at the curb) and he just shrugged and said "whatever". Nothing happened.

So, I waited until he went to work and I moved all his junk around to the other side of his garage where you couldn't see it from my yard. He never said anything, and we finally got to move to a neighborhood where that sorta thing doesn't happen.

Oops, hey, my neighbor just dropped a giant rusty Dumpster in his front yard for a year long remodel.

Bummer, neighbors....

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My neighbor made sure to tell us when they were having open houses (house on market for awhile - WAAYY overpriced). I would make sure that everything was neat, trimmed, weeded, etc. for him. It was phrased nicely, not that we had junk, but we made an extra effort. Sometimes in the summer my weeds in the flower bed get a little out of control.
I agree with the others, if phrased nicely then most people wouldn't be offended.

 

[Steffi]

Well, we were "that family" for awhile years ago. We had moved a bunch of stuff out to our carport because a friend of ours with a truck had offered to help us haul it away (we couldn't afford to rent a truck at the time). Friend kept postponing, junk kept sitting. I would have LOVED to have a neighbor offer to help us get it out of the way!

So, it can't hurt to ask your neighbor. Chances are, they'd be thrilled to get rid of the junk, but just have no way to get it to the dump.

 

[TEENEE]

I would casually mention that you are putting your house on the market and doing some cleaning up yourself. Then offer to take their junk to the dump when you take your own (even if you aren't taking anything). This way they won't feel like you are looking down on them.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I would casually mention that you are putting your house on the market and doing some cleaning up yourself. Then offer to take their junk to the dump when you take your own (even if you aren't taking anything). This way they won't feel like you are looking down on them.

Excellent idea!!! I actually offered to mow a neighbor's lawn when our house was on the market. If it's worded correctly it shouldn't be any problem at all.

 

[LoriKay]

My SIL and her husband had neighbors across the street who desperately needed to paint their house, fix porch railings, etc. When SIL was about to put their house on the market her husband went over and offered to paint and do the repairs because they were sure they wouldn't be able to sell with that house the way it was. The neighbors were happy to let them do it (and pay for it!?!) and it worked. Their house sold fast.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would casually mention that you are putting your house on the market and doing some cleaning up yourself. Then offer to take their junk to the dump when you take your own (even if you aren't taking anything). This way they won't feel like you are looking down on them.

What a VERY nice way of putting it! I'm making a mental note of this one. Would you please be my neighbor? Or at least be available for advice whenever I need it?

 

[C.Ann]

I think if you ask politely if they would like you to take those items to the dump when you take your own, there won't be a problem..

Ironic because my DD and her DH recently put their house up for sale.. The next day, their 80-something-yr. old neighbor (who had surgery not too long ago to remove a lung and is now undergoing chemo for cancer in the other lung) was right out there raking and cleaning up his yard so it wouldn't have a negative impact on my DD's house.. My SIL went right over after work and told him to STOP - that he would take care of it himself - but the gentleman wouldn't hear of it.. They are the sweetest people, but sadly, just last week his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.. Now he's beside himself with worry, but says they'll still be driving up to my DD's new home so they can visit.. They even sent my DD flowers after they heard about her car accident.. You just don't find many neighbors like that anymore.. Makes us wish we could take them with us!

 

[Brianne]

I didn't realize you lived next door to me.

We finished a bit of remodeling recently & I've been nagging DH to get the debris over to the dump. Of course it's still sitting there. I'm sure my neighbor's about ready to kill us. It will be gone this weekend or there'll be hell to pay!

 

[drakethib]

Ask nicely, I don't think they would be offended.

 

[FreshTressa]

I would casually mention that you are putting your house on the market and doing some cleaning up yourself. Then offer to take their junk to the dump when you take your own (even if you aren't taking anything). This way they won't feel like you are looking down on them.

Thanks so much!! This will be perfect...and I DO have some stuff to take.

It really isn't that bad...and you can only see it from MY house because of the way our houses are situated (my backyard faces his sideyard).

 

[momrek06]

Last year we put our house on the Market and after I listed it I noticed my next door neighbor's (which is very close to my house) whole side facing my side was COVERED in that "acid rain" green mildew crap... I said to my DH, look at that, what will people THINK...

I think my neighbors are fabulous people, but they were not big on any maintenance.

Well anyway, people started looking at our house and before long we sold it and NOTHING was ever mentioned about my neighbor's house at all.

Bottomline: Do you think potential buyers will even notice...?

ALSO, check with your BROKER, ask their advice on how to approach the neighbor.

My kids were boy scouts growing up and the scouts in our community are always looking for little clean projects like that...would that be a possiblity. Scouts need "volunteer hours" as they advance rank!!