How Troublesome Neighbors Can Ruin Your Home Sale

Most homebuyers know that they're shopping for a neighborhood in addition to a home, which means in a roundabout way that they're also shopping for neighbors. Savvy buyers understand that neighbors can make a big difference in the quality of life--for better or worse--and they'll definitely be scouting the neighbors while they check out your home. Understanding how troublesome neighbors can impact your home sale will ultimately make it easier to navigate the obstacles that those neighbors present, and get your home sold.

• The Jungle Next Door
  With all of the work that you do to prep your home for sale both indoors and outside when selling your home, a poorly maintained property next door can ruin the aesthetic. If the yard next door is overgrown, with a tall, tangled lawn and shrubs intruding in every direction, buyers will take notice. You may be able to convince the neighbors to clean things up, but in many cases, an overgrown lawn is a sign of an abandoned home.
• Too Many Foreclosures and Empty Homes
  Most buyers want to live in a neighborhood that feels like its on the upswing, and it's hard to feel that way if the neighborhood is filled with empty homes. That's doubly true if those homes have been foreclosed upon, or if they've been sitting on the market for months without generating any interest. Some buyers will still consider the neighborhood, however, if they think they can get a good deal.
• Neighbor's Best Friend
  No matter how much you or your neighbor may love dogs, not every buyer will feel the same way. That's especially true if the dogs next door are aggressive, or if they're allowed to run around unsupervised. While you can't control the neighbor's pets, you can make sure your own home is as safe as possible.
• Too Much Action
  Do your neighbors love loud music, or constantly have people coming and going while you're selling your home? Loud, rowdy neighbors will make any buyer think twice about whether your neighborhood is the right fit, especially if they're creating noise in the middle of the day when buyers are coming to see the home.
• Guilt by Association
  Does your neighborhood have a homeowners association with strict rules and regulations? If you have a neighbor who refuses to follow those regulations, that may be a problem. Buyers who appreciate the benefits of a homeowners association will think twice if they see that the neighbors are flouting the rules.
• The Eyesore Next Door
  Every neighborhood seems to have at least one home that stands out for all of the wrong reasons, with a paint job that's years past its sell-by date and little regard for home maintenance. If that home happens to be located close to your own, it may draw attention away from all of the positives of your home.
• Outdoor Storage
  ​​​​​​​Does your neighbor's yard look like a used car lot or an outdoor storage facility? Too much stuff stored outdoors is yet another way that neighbors can create an eyesore that will turn buyers off from shopping in the area. If the neighbor does have stuff strewn across their lawn, there's a good chance they're committing some of the other sins on this list, too.

While troublesome neighbors can make life more difficult when selling your home, all is certainly not lost. You may be able to talk neighbors into being more accommodating, and you can still sell potential buyers on all of the positives that your neighborhood has to offer.

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