{"id":20769,"date":"2020-12-31T16:56:19","date_gmt":"2021-01-01T00:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=20769"},"modified":"2020-12-31T16:56:19","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T00:56:19","slug":"junk-in-neighbors-yard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/junk-in-neighbors-yard\/","title":{"rendered":"SOS: I\u2019m Selling My Home, But Junk in My Neighbor\u2019s Yard is Turning Off Buyers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your home\u2019s curb appeal is incredible, no, even immaculate. You painted your exterior the trendiest colors, replaced all of the trim, bought a brand new front door, and even splurged on those mature Japanese maples. You\u2019ve done everything in your power to craft the perfect curb appeal, but there\u2019s still one problem buyers can\u2019t see past: the junk in your neighbor\u2019s yard.<\/p>\n

While your neighbor\u2019s curb appeal (or lack thereof) seems beyond your control, it still influences a buyer\u2019s decision to purchase your home. In fact, according to the Appraisal Institute, a neighbor\u2019s messy yard can lower your property value by as much as 10%<\/a>; it\u2019s also likely to turn off potential buyers driving up to your home for the first time.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, you\u2019ve got options to get out of this sticky situation. We consulted a leading real estate agent and conducted extensive research to find the best ways to deal with junk in your neighbor\u2019s yard during your home sale. With these tips, you\u2019ll have the knowledge you need to eliminate that costly mess next door, or at least mitigate its effect on your home sale.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (ArtWell \/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Start by communicating with your neighbor<\/h2>\n

For better or worse, most of us spend our entire lives living next to neighbors. But surprisingly, a third of Americans don\u2019t know any of their neighbors by name<\/a>. Regardless of the relationship, you have with your neighbor, it\u2019s understandable if you\u2019ve hesitated to ask them directly to clean up their yard in fear of an awkward or heated conversation.<\/p>\n

However, top real estate agent Shannan Laudet<\/a>, who has sold over 280 single-family homes in Bremerton, WA, shares that sellers shouldn\u2019t talk themselves out of good old fashion communication. In her experience, most neighbors responded positively when her clients asked them to clean up their yard, especially when the client offered help.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most successful approach is going to the neighbor, saying \u2018I\u2019m going to be selling my house\u2019 and asking \u2018would you be willing to let me help you beautify your house to help us both out?\u2019\u201d advises Laudet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never had a neighbor who said \u2018no, don\u2019t hire a crew to help me clean up my yard.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While it might feel unfair that you need to help clean up someone else\u2019s mess, the effort will pay off. A yard clean up is relatively inexpensive<\/a>, typically costing around $500 per quarter acre of land if you choose to hire professionals to tackle the job for you. To put this cost into perspective, $500 is only 0.2% of a $250,000 home. Even if the clean up only increases your property value by 2%, you\u2019ll recoup ten times your investment.<\/p>\n

Support your neighbor\u2019s clean up effort by offering supplies or helping hands<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a good chance your neighbor has wanted to clean up their yard but just hasn\u2019t had the opportunity to do so. If you plan on renting a dumpster<\/a> while decluttering your own home, let your neighbor know that they\u2019re welcome to use it to clean up their own yard.<\/p>\n

Laudet shares that another common reason behind junk in a neighbor\u2019s yard is that the neighbor is elderly or unable to clean the yard themselves. In these situations, she advises sellers to team up with other neighbors to help clean up the yard. Not only will the cleanup improve all of your property values, but it\u2019ll also strengthen community bonds.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Siggy Nowak<\/a> \/\u00a0Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

See if you can relocate boats and unsightly vehicles<\/h2>\n

While they might not exactly qualify as junk, ATVs, dirtbikes, boats, and other motor vehicles in your neighbor\u2019s front yard can detract from your curb appeal.<\/p>\n

Ask your neighbor if they\u2019re willing to store these items in their backyard while your home is on the market. You can offer to help them move the items or even help them modify their fence, so it\u2019s easier for them to shift the items between the back and front yards. You can also help your neighbor research short-term storage options and even offer to subsidize the cost during the time your home is on the market.<\/p>\n

If moving the vehicle is a no-go, then see if your neighbor is open to investing in a quality cover<\/a> to reduce the item\u2019s visual impact.<\/p>\n

Consider involving an authority as a last resort<\/h2>\n

Even with all of your generosity and good intentions, some neighbors are just downright stubborn<\/a>. Nobody wants to get confrontational, but if the two of you cannot reach a reasonable agreement, you should consider reaching out to a local housing authority.<\/p>\n

Just over half of homeowners in the United States are part of a homeowner\u2019s association (HOA<\/a>). If you\u2019re one of them, your HOA may be able to help solve your messy yard woes. HOAs typically require homeowners to agree to a set of rules called \u201ccovenants, conditions, and restrictions<\/a>,\u201d or CC&Rs. To see if you have a case, review your neighborhood\u2019s CC&Rs by contacting your HOA or your county recorder\u2019s office<\/a>. If the CC&Rs include rules about yard conditions, the HOA can issue your neighbor a fine or even file a lawsuit<\/a> if they refuse to comply.<\/p>\n

If your HOA can\u2019t help, the government might<\/h3>\n

If your neighborhood doesn\u2019t have an HOA, or if your HOA is unable or unwilling to take action, the next step is to reach out to a local government authority. Start by researching your local and state laws on property disputes between neighbors using Nolo\u2019s helpful directory<\/a>. In some cities, such as Commerce, CA, the government even has the power to fine homeowners who fail to maintain their property<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve researched local government ordinances about messy yards, contact the appropriate government body. If you\u2019re still uncertain where to start, you can contact your local police department with your concerns. Just be sure to call the local station\u2019s 10-digit phone number \u2014 9-1-1 is only for emergencies!<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Siggy Nowak<\/a> \/\u00a0Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you can\u2019t clean up the junk in your neighbor\u2019s yard, try to block the view<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re getting nowhere with cleaning your neighbor\u2019s yard, you can at least modify your home to help block out the view. Here are some tips to help distract buyers from the mess next door:<\/p>\n