When A Neighbor’s House Tanks The Value Of Yours, Here’s What To Do: Block Talk

Chris isn’t alone in saying people who maintain eyesore properties shouldn’t shrug off neighbors’ concerns about how that affects the value and marketability of their homes.

“Your home value shouldn’t be compromised by your neighbors. It’s not fair,” the Columbia (Maryland) Patch reader said in response to our informal survey asking what to do about the home-value crasher for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column.

A couple of readers said that rather than risk a quarrel, homeowners who are preparing to sell should just figure out that helping out the neighbor is an investment in getting their house on the market. It may cost them some money upfront but perhaps result in a higher selling price and happier buyers.

“Explain your planned house sale and ask your neighbor's permission to clean it up, or pay to have it cleaned up) yourself,” said Barrington (Rhode Island) Patch reader Dianne.

Most readers said the issue isn’t how an eyesore will affect a sale. They just want to enjoy their homes.

A Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader whose neighbor is a home-value crasher said the problem is that too many people “don’t recognize they have any civic obligation” to keep up their properties.

“It’s a conflict of freedoms we cherish and the civic obligation to truncate them in the interest of others,” the reader said.

Show Some Empathy

Several readers said such situations are opportunities to be a good neighbor.

“Be a good neighbor, make time, talk, know the living situation,” Burlington (Massachusetts) Patch reader Roz said. “They may be elderly, not have the resources, etc. Work together to find solutions. That’s what being a good neighbor is about!”

“Please be patient,” a California Patch reader agreed. “Sometimes the last wish of a neighbor is to live out their lives with their loved ones. It’s hard on everyone, not just the neighborhood, so offer help instead of complaining. Their loved ones are willing to pay reasonable rates.”

The reader’s disabled mother is in that situation and the homeowner association has extended her grace. And by the way, the reader said, being a good neighbor in a situation such as this is a two-way street.

“I try to abide by their rules, but her neighbors are unkind, especially the newer ones. They don’t wave back, or they follow me around. My mother is fragile. She cannot be put in elderly care, as this is her wish. I am also partially disabled, so my son tries to help,” the reader said. “I keep telling myself to be patient not just with her but with her neighbors. We value human lives, so we try to put up with it.”

“If the property owner is elderly, offer to help with mowing and yard chores at the same time you are doing those chores in your own yard,” said Arlene, who lives in Wappingers Falls, New York, and reads Mid-Hudson Valley Patch.

“Enlist additional help from your children and other neighbors if necessary. Be kind and compassionate about the situation unless the problem property owner is nasty about it — in which case you should then go to the town and let the clerk or supervisor know about the problem. Take lots of pictures to back up your complaint.”

But overall, be patient and give the neighbor the benefit of a doubt, Arlene said. It’s possible the property owner has been ill and it’s a temporary situation.

“When the concern becomes an annoyance, check with the property owner and offer to help him/her right then and there — not next week, etc.,” Arlene said. “If you determine this situation is going to be chronic, offer to help them find an affordable lawn or property maintenance service.”

She added, “Getting authorities involved should be a last-ditch solution. Being a nice neighbor is always the better choice.”

Whose Job Is It?

How obligated are neighboring property owners to address another’s blight, no matter how sympathetic they may be to the homeowner’s personal situation?

Elmhurst (Illinois) Patch reader Windyee isn’t sure. Her neighbors, who are older and have health issues, have let the backside of their property grow wild with weeds and scrub trees.

“If anyone were to see it, you would think that the house was abandoned,” Windyee said. “I feel like there is nothing I can do at the moment except keep complaining to the city. I like the people who live there, but I’ve been taking care of this problem for a very long time — years, in fact.”

So far, city officials haven’t taken any action.

“I would like the city to step in and find some help for seniors to try to clear up the property somewhat but I don’t know who to talk to,” Windyee said. “I know that they can get help, but I don’t know exactly who.”

‘4 Able-Bodied People’

Doing the job yourself is inviting problems, Anne Arundel (Maryland) Patch reader Mike said.

“I try to get to know my neighbors a bit, and have a sense of what’s going on in the neighborhood. Barring any prior knowledge about old or disabled occupants, I tend to go straight to code enforcement,” Mike said. “Having experienced hostile neighbors in the past, I’d rather save myself the hassle of getting my house egged by the unhappy occupant.

“Code enforcement officers are being paid for with tax dollars and will also make reasonable accommodations for the occupant if needed,” he said.

“I would definitely not do anything to their property. That is their private property,” said Plymouth-Canton (Michigan) Patch reader J. “Contact your city or township to see if they can help.”

“Talk to them first, send them a letter, and if that doesn’t work, call code enforcement every day until they do something,” New Port Richey (Florida) Patch reader Kathy. “I have done all of the above. The one neighbor called me every name in the book, and the other ran around with my letter. They did clean up after I called code enforcement but didn’t last long.”

Both attempting to resolve the situation diplomatically and through official channels were a waste of time, an Evanston (Illinois) Patch reader said.

• Previously in Block Talk: ‘Poop Cleanup In Aisle 9’: Hard Pass On Dogs In Stores

“Four able-bodied people — adults and teens — live in the house, and the yard is an overgrown dump,” the reader said. “The city has utterly failed to enforce its own laws. It is time Evanston stopped passing nonstop restrictions on homeowners’ freedom in their own properties and started addressing the enforcement of existing laws that pertain to safety issues like pests and fire hazards.”

‘Mosquitoes And Duck Poop’

Readers in other parts of the country shared similar frustrations with code enforcement.

“Unfortunately, inspectors don’t seem to be able to enforce rules,” said Vienna (Virginia) Patch reader Lou, who reported a property with a back yard full of junk and vehicles, including a school bus, to county officials. Nothing has changed.

“I spoke to my neighbor and offered to help. When that didn't work, I phoned code enforcement. Ongoing problem,” a Cinnaminson (New Jersey) Patch reader said. “Please maintain your yards. Nobody wants mosquitoes and rats.”

Robin, who reads East Greenwich Patch and Portsmouth Patch, both in Rhode Island, tried without success to talk her neighbor about a solution to the “swampy, broken in-ground pool filled with mosquitoes and duck poop, rats coming and going and two unregistered cars.”

Robin was met with hostility and inaction.

“This was more about health and safety, although horrible to look at,” Robin said. “We finally had to call the town. She had some work done, but now it’s going right back to what it was.”

‘Purposely Creating An Eyesore’

Phoenixville (Pennsylvania) Patch reader LalaReads said involving code enforcement authorities can cause the situation to escalate very quickly and doesn’t advise it unless the person is “wholly unreasonable or threatening,”

“There are some neighbors who purposely create the eyesore,” the reader said. “In cases like this, you really need to understand the history of the situation and tread lightly to have success.

“If the neighbor has a history of being retaliatory, then you’ll have to decide if it’s worth the risk of talking to them first. In that case, you may just have to submit an anonymous complaint and act surprised if they approach you about it. Gotta do what ya gotta do.”

• Previously in Block Talk: You May Be A Bad Neighbor If You Do These Things

“We have this kind of neighbor in an upscale neighborhood. For 30 years. We’ve involved code enforcement, and left them notes. To no avail,” said Clearwater (Florida) Patch reader Ava. “I built a fence, grew bushy bushes and trees, and hopefully my future buyers can’t see them.”

The front yard is a parking lot with unlicensed cars, a trailer and three boats. Code enforcement officers cited them at the request of Ava and her neighbors.

“They park their cars better and painted the front — only the front — of the house,” Ava said. “When you have trash for neighbors, trash thinks it’s funny and tries to aggravate the neighbors on purpose.”

“It’s sad that I’m going through the same thing, with a 90-year-old neighbor, a pastor, with two young men living in his house able to do these things,” said White Plains (New York) Patch reader Loren.

“He and his family have brought bugs into my house because of the back yard,” Loren continued. “Sinkholes? The money talks. So he’s able to sail through. Sickening.”

‘Build A Bigger Fence’

North Providence (Rhode Island) Patch reader Phol recommended addressing the situation head-on.

“Tell them to clean it up. If that doesn’t work, offer to help them clean up. The next step is to complain to the town. If that doesn’t work, build a bigger fence.”

Phol added, “People are lazy so you need to help them, but they can be defiant so you need to be stern.”

Narragansett-South Kingstown (Rhode Island) Patch reader Dewey’s neighbors are seasonal residents.

“We have funded and performed maintenance tasks with limited satisfaction,” Dewey said. “It’s very disrespectful to those members of the neighborhood who are dedicated to landscape care — through their own self-performance and/or engagement of third-party vendors.

“We put up a tall stockade fence and then landscaped in front of our fence to always have an appealing view on our side,” Granby-East Granby (Connecticut) Patch reader Kaye said.

Or Mend Fences With Neighbors

Altadena (California) Patch reader M understands the dilemma.

Two of the eight homes on the cul-de-sac where M lives “are in desperate need of repair,” including the “eyesore” next door that has bars on the window, needs new paint and has “zero curb appeal.” Although the house across the street doesn’t have bars on the windows, it also needs paint and overall TLC.

M bought the property knowing the condition of the houses because it met M’s criteria: It was on a cul-de-sac, it was a small home on a good-sized lot, it was close to the office, and it was affordable.

• Previously in Block Talk: Here’s What To Do When The Neighbor’s Dogs Bark All Night

Six years into homeownership, M saved enough money to landscape the front yard so it had the same curb appeal as most of the houses on the cul-de-sac. M hoped the neighbors would follow the example, but that hasn't happened.

What did happen is that one of the neighbors, who lives in a rental house and got minimal property upkeep help from the landlord, volunteered to help M put back 60 feet of wooden fencing that blew down in a storm

“I did not ask for help, we don’t speak the same language, we were never formally introduced to each other. It was his abundant kindness — ‘being neighborly,’” M said. “Since that weekend of fence work, the neighborliness grew to smiles, salutations, waves of hello and goodbyes or ‘have a nice day.’ It continues through today and the sweeping of fallen leaves are shared by he and I,” said M, who also has built a relationship with the other neighbor just by being friendly. They share holiday dinners and everyday exchanges.

Neighborliness overcomes the eyesore “and would be a key selling point, if I ever have to sell, which I don't. I don’t plan or even want to move away,” M said.

‘Get Over Myself’

Why fuss about it? Several readers said there’s no need to turn how someone keeps their property into a whole big thing.

Windham (Connecticut) Patch reader Bev doubts that the way her neighbors keep their property would have much effect on the sale of hers. Besides, not everyone agrees on what constitutes a problem.

“Garbage is a problem and draws vermin. But so do composting and veggie gardens. Someone wilding their landscape? Mind your own business!” Bev said. “Not everyone wants to waste time and money growing grass. Grass isn’t good for anything and looks ugly unless it’s on a golf course.”

Pam, a Temecula (California) Patch reader, said she finds it helpful when annoyed by her neighbor’s property upkeep is to “get over myself.”

“Busybodies should mind their own business, as they are not perfect and are themselves ruining the neighborhood,” Pam said.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with “Block Talk” as the subject line.

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