Comments on: Strategies for selling your home when your neighbor is preventing it.

By: Go Ahead, Make My Day | Seattle Real Estate | Rain City Guide

Go Ahead, Make My Day | Seattle Real Estate | Rain City Guide — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:04:36 +0000

[...] about creating Zillow XML feeds or developing Real Estate based Google Maps mash-up as I know about selling a home with a troublesome neighbor or if a property is next to a graveyard, does it lower the value because it’s creepy, or does [...]

By: Reba Haas

Reba Haas — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:34:39 +0000

We helped a client that had this problem last year with first approaching the offending neighbor. While the guy was nice, he would just tell us what we wanted to hear and then not do anything. I ended up paying for a few yard clean ups, my clients and I picked up garbage in the area in front of their fenced front yard (his 5 boys would leave trash everywhere) and we eventually got a broken down car towed away. This was done by me getting a bunch of the neighbors to do a massive call in effort to the local city police, plus me calling and expressing concern that the derelict car would bring crime into the neighborhood – and this was at a time that vacant houses for sale were being broken into and having appliances stolen.

Our clients loved us for it and it helped them “save face” by not having to go head to head with the neighbor on their own. The neighborhood called this guy and his house “the pig house” since so much garbage was accumulating in the back yard and some out front. One neighbor was planting a hedge to block their view of it. I’m sorry, but if you’ve got 5 sons, you can all do some yard work.

By: sherry

sherry — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:40:14 +0000

I would contact the city and see what type of ordinances there are regarding yard upkeep and number cars in the driveway. We just forced a neighbor to mow his jungle by getting the city to send a letter of code violation. I would also take some photos in case the city workers need some proof.

By: Chuck Marunde, J.D.

Chuck Marunde, J.D. — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:37:41 +0000

on a temporary basis.

By: Chuck Marunde, J.D.

Chuck Marunde, J.D. — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:36:56 +0000

I think the best answer will depend upon one critical issue: are the neighbors decent people or the “neighbors from hell?” Having litigated many disputes with the “neighbor from hell,” I learned that you don’t negotiate with such people. Give them an inch, and they’ll want a foot. Give them a foot, and they’ll want six feet. Ask them to clean up their mess, and you’ll get a sarcastic and negative response of some kind. But, and this is a big but, if they are reasonable, although messy, they would accept cash to clean up. Cash is king, right? So you get it sold, but is the solution permanent. Not. People don’t change, except

By: Kary L. Krismer

Kary L. Krismer — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:37:20 +0000

I’ve seen flippers mow next door neighbor’s yards.

By: Pam Pugmire

Pam Pugmire — Sat, 31 May 2008 07:16:23 +0000

My brother-in-law had a neighbor like this. The summer he was sellling his home, he would mow, fertilize and weed the neighbor’s yard. He had a nice talk with the neighbor and the neighbor cleaned up a few car pieces etc… and tried to do a better job. I think if you are willing to help them clean it up, not just threaten to call the authorities, most people are reasonable. Most is the operative word though! If not the sellers may need to get nasty, and that is never fun.
Hope it all works out! Your neighbor’s home really does effect the sale of your home.

By: Kary L. Krismer

Kary L. Krismer — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:01:16 +0000

Rhonda, you’re right a HOA doesn’t help the buyer’s current situation. But it sure makes them feel better when they can finally move. I’m speaking from personal experience here! (We waited out the bad neighbor.)

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:24:01 +0000

We’ll in Snohomish Co. they are apparently cracking down on neighbors and or landlords with tennants that are storing vehicles, trash etc..

I recently read in the Everett Herald about a recent action where it took police and officials years to evict an owner (I think).

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:51:14 +0000

Check and see if the local Police Dept has mediators. Many cities do have trained volunteer mediators who will try to facilitate a resolution. We have it in Hillsboro…and the service is free to residents. We mediate all kinds of neighbor conflicts.