Tag: seller

Enhance Your Home’s Value Quickly and Inexpensively

If you are ready to sell, there are plenty of ways of increasing your home’s value that doesn’t require an extensive renovation project or a ton of money.

Your ultimate goal is to gain the maximum return on investment in the least amount of time. DIY projects can help to accomplish the look you want while staying within your budget. Whatever your circumstances are for renovating, here are a few cost-effective home improvement tips to increase the value of your home. 

1. PAINT

One of the most simple, cost-effective improvements of all is paint! Paint makes the walls in your home look brand new! It’s easy, affordable, and incredibly valuable. By painting over all the scuffs and nail holes on your walls, you’re going to make your entire house feel cleaner and newer instantly.

To maximize value, choose a light, neutral color. By going with a light color, you help the home appear larger. And by sticking with neutral tones, you help the home appeal to as many buyers as possible.  

2. REPLACE FIXTURES

Outdating lighting and plumbing fixtures can drag down the entire vibe of a home. But by replacing the old fixtures with either timeless or trendy ones, you breathe fresh life into the space. 

If you’re planning to sell in the very near future, trendy fixtures will probably get you the best bang for your buck. But if it will be a little while before you sell, and you don’t want to have to replace the fixtures again before listing your home, it’s probably best to stick with timeless fixtures that won’t instantly date themselves. 

Make sure your fixtures match the property in both style and quality. HIgh-end homes require more expensive lighting fixtures while mid-range homes can be updated with less expensive fixtures.

3. GET SMART

Smart home technology has become increasingly accessible over the past decade and is in high demand by buyers. Smart locks, security cameras, thermostats, and lighting all make your home more valuable, especially to tech-savvy buyers.

These systems can usually be installed without hiring a technician, so you won’t need to wait weeks for an installer to come out. Instead, you can boost your home’s value this weekend by installing these smart systems yourself. 

4. BOOST CURB APPEAL

In a world where first impressions are everything, the entrance to your home is a big deal. Not only is this how people will perceive your home when arriving in person, but it also sets the tone for your listing photos when buyers view your home online. 

Cleaning the front entrance, adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door, and sprucing up the landscaping in the front of the home all enhance your home’s perceived value without much time, money, or effort.

5. INCREASE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY

Buyers love energy-efficient homes. Many buyers are environmentally conscious and appreciate homes that work to conserve energy. And buyers are also aware of the cost savings that accompany energy-efficient homes. Buyers are usually willing to pay a little more for a home when they know they can save money on their utility bills month after month.

The Bottom Line: If you are considering increasing your home’s value so you can sell for top dollar in the near future, reach out to the best Realtor in your neighborhood.

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Title Problems Revisited

Every property has a history of owners.  That history is called an ownership chain, or more often, a title chain.  When a link in the chain has a problem, it’s called a title defect, or a cloud on title.

When purchasing a home, you may view title insurance as an unnecessary cost.  However, title insurance provides protection for both the seller and the buyer against title defects. Title insurance, as the name implies, insures against property title defects or ownership defects.  Some title problems may not become apparent for years. Others can hinder the sale of your home, and may even limit who you can sell your home to.

Here are some common issues that a title search mighty uncover:

PUBLIC RECORDS: Mistakes and errors happen but you do not want it affecting your home. The errors can be disastrous and cause you an undue financial burden to resolve. Simple clerical or filing errors could affect the deed or survey of your property.

UNKNOWN LIENS: Prior owners of your property may have left unpaid bills. And, even though the former debt is not your own, banks or other financing companies can place liens on your property for unpaid debts even after you have closed on the sale. This is an especially worrisome issue with distressed properties.

ILLEGAL DEEDS: While the chain of title on your property may appear perfectly sound, it’s possible that a prior deed was made by an undocumented immigrant, a minor, a person of unsound mind, or one who is reported single but in actuality married. These instances may affect the enforceability of prior deeds, affecting prior (and possibly present) ownership.

MISSING HEIRS: When a person dies, the ownership of their home may fall to their heirs or those named within their will. However, those heirs are sometimes missing or unknown at the time of death. Other times, family members may contest the will for their own property rights. These scenarios – which can happen long after you have purchased the property – may affect your rights to the property.

FORGERIES: Unfortunately, we don’t live in a completely honest world. Sometimes forged or fabricated documents that affect property ownership are filed within public records, obscuring the rightful ownership of the property. Once these forgeries come to light, your rights to your home may be in jeopardy.

UNDISCOVERED ENCUMBRANCES:  At the time that you purchase your home, you may not know that a third party holds a claim to all or part of your property – due to a former mortgage or lien, or non-financial claims, like restrictions or covenants limiting the use of your property.

UNKNOWN EASEMENTS: You may own your new home and its surrounding land, but an unknown easement may prohibit you from using it as you’d like or could allow government agencies, businesses, or other parties access to all or portions of your property. While usually non-financial issues, easements can still affect your right to enjoy your property.

BOUNDARY/SURVEY DISPUTES: You may have seen several surveys of your property prior to purchasing, however, other surveys may exist that show differing boundaries. Therefore, a neighbor or other party may be able to claim ownership of a portion of your property.

UNDISCOVERED WILL: When a property owner dies with no apparent will or heir, the state may sell his or her assets, including the home. When you purchase such a home, you assume your rights as the owner. However, even years later, the deceased owner’s will may come to light and your rights to the property may be seriously jeopardized.

The Bottom Line: The experts at Title First oversee and perform thousands of closings each year. When using Title First, you can sign confidently on the dotted line knowing that all details of your title transfer and closing are in proper order. We are here to answer any questions you may have about buying or selling a home, and our team will guide you through the entire process.

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Emotionally Detaching From Your Home to Sell

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average number of years people stay in their homes is anywhere from 10-20 years. Owners and their families end up having great and often life-changing events and memories that happen under their roof. Their home is the biggest investment made and they become attached emotionally.

Having buyers come in and walk through their home, opening closets, cabinets, and drawers, walking through the bedrooms, looking behind furniture, and then criticizing (!!!) their beloved home can be soul-crushing.

Thus, the first hurdle to overcome after having made the decision to sell is to let go emotionally. Time to start looking at it as a positive financial opportunity and become distant from all the aspects of the property where memories were created. It’s hard pulling hearts away from recalling the moments; the paint colors, the perfect carpeting picked, a child’s first bedroom, or a dining room that held so many family dinners. The secret is to acknowledge that selling the home is going to be stressful and emotional upfront and hopefully that will enable good decisions going forward.

Once personal items like pictures, knick-knacks, etc. are removed to begin staging which it won’t feel as much like “home”. A good Realtor will give great recommendations to help make the home more neutral – maybe painting or pulling carpet – all of which will make the home seem more like a product that needs to sell and help to remove emotion.

It’s common for a seller to overprice their home when they are emotionally attached. The price of the home should be based on the market and the comparable properties, not the value the owner, someone with memories, puts on the home. An experienced Realtor will establish the price.

If a low offer should come in, it’s best to look at it as good news! Someone loves the home enough to even make an offer. The Realtor will negotiate and learn what the seller likes and dislikes keeping the owner out of that process while simultaneously keeping emotions out of the equation.

The Bottom Line: Make sure you are truly ready to sell your home. Make a list of the pros and cons of why you want to move and evaluate. Have an experienced Realtor help you once you have made the decision and realize that sentimental value does not translate to monetary value so you will need help pricing your home accordingly. Keep your emotions in check, make a clean break, and put your energy and time into making your new house the home of your dreams!

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How To Stage Your Home for Sale

A well-staged home can make people feel comfortable and at home, which is likely to increase the sale price.

Staging your home well allows buyers to see themselves in that space, which can help them become attached to it. This makes it harder to walk away without feeling a loss. The more attached to the space they feel, the more likely they are to make an offer.

Clean and Open Up the Space

Before showing off your space, take time to clean and declutter. This includes putting away unnecessary furniture, throw blankets and pillows. If you have too much stuff, put some of it in storage. Make the space minimal, and then add a few touches to make it feel like someone’s home. The space should look livable, but not lived-in.

Don’t Make It Too Personal

When inviting people into your home, it can be tempting to show off your style. This is your space, and chances are you have worked hard to make it comfortable and appealing to you and your friends and loved ones.

Remember, you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible. More interest from buyers means more bidding, and that usually means a higher sale price.

If you want to appeal to more potential buyers, it’s better to play it safe with décor. Consider putting away personal and unnecessary knick-knacks. Think clean lines and safe colors. If you decorate with books or art, try to keep the selections relatively neutral.

Consider Hiring a Professional

While staging on your own can keep costs down in the short term, hiring a professional may be worth the cost when the home sells. We tend to become attached to our spaces and design choices. An outside party who has worked with a wide variety of audiences as a professional will have an eye trained for mass appeal. Hiring a designer may even pay for itself if it increases the sale price.

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Most House Fires Are Preventable

There have been many home fires on the news lately where entire families are hurt or killed. The tragedy is most fires are preventable. Actually, 95% of home fires are preventable and almost always caused by user error.

One of the first steps to fire prevention is ensuring that you have the correct number of smoke alarms in your home. You should have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and in every living space, basement included. Your smoke alarms should then be checked monthly and batteries replaced two times a year. Additionally, fire extinguishers should be located on every floor of the home, in a place that is readily accessible in the event of a fire.

A home fire escape plan is essential because when a fire breaks out, every second counts. A fire can turn life-threatening in 30 seconds. And the majority of fires break out late at night or early in the morning when everyone is asleep, so your family needs to know what to do before an emergency happens. Create multiple escape plans and practice them. Your plans should include escape routes from different areas of the house, tools for exiting the building (escape ladders, items to open, break out windows), and a designated meeting place. It’s very important to practice fire safety with your kids, so be sure to familiarize your children with the sounds of the alarms.

Faulty electrical outlets and outdated appliances cause most electrical fires. If your electrical outlets are old, have them replaced by a master electrician. Tips to help identify issues:

  1. Warmth or Heat. Use your hands to feel the outlet. If you detect any warmth or notice signs of scorching or melting on the plastic, replace it immediately.
  2. Smoke. Smoke from any electrical outlet is an indicator it’s a significant fire danger.
  3. Loose Connections. If any outlets are loose in the wall or they no longer hold a plug tightly (the plug falls out when plugged in), replace the outlet.
  4. Sounds. If you hear buzzing or popping sounds coming from an electrical outlet, turn off the power to that part of your home and immediately call a licensed electrician.
  5. Frayed Wires. Take off your electrical outlets’ plastic covers and examine the wiring. Wires can crack or fray from age, heat, or bending. Nails or screws can also pinch them. If you see any damage to the outlet’s wires, call an electrician.

Gas appliances should be maintained. Check your water heater, gas stove, furnace and dryer once a year to make sure all the appliances’ connections to gas lines are in working order, and that the gas lines themselves are in good condition. Many homes use natural gas for cooking, heating water, and powering the furnace. A leak in the natural gas lines or fittings could result in an explosion. Natural gas has no odor of its own, so they add an odorant that smells of rotten eggs for safety.

If you smell natural gas, get your family out of your home immediately and call 911. Never call for help while still inside the home. The sparks generated from the phone could cause an explosion.

2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Dryer lint that accumulates in your dryer’s removable filter is flammable. If the lint isn’t removed on a regular basis, it can cause a fire. Also, check for and remove lint buildup around the dryer’s exhaust hose at least once a year.

Cooking fires are a huge cause of home fires as well as home fire injuries. The majority of cooking equipment fires start with the ignition of common household items (i.e., wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc.).

  1. Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the room—even for just a moment—turn off the stove.
  2. Keep anything that can catch fire, such as food packaging, oven mitts and towels, away from your stovetop.
  3. Make sure you have the correct type of extinguisher and know how to properly use it.
  4. Crumbs in a toaster, built-up grease on the stovetop, and excess dust behind your appliances are fire hazards.
  5. Let grease cool before disposing of it in the garbage. Never pour grease or oil down the drain

Each year, candle fires account for hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage and hundreds of unnecessary injuries and deaths.

  1. Never leave candles unattended.
  2. Don’t use candles in the bedroom, or anywhere else where you may fall asleep.
  3. Don’t use candles when there are small children or pets around.
  4. Keep candle wicks trimmed to about a quarter of an inch.
  5. Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip over, and don’t let the candle burn right to the end.
  6. Be very careful if carrying a burning candle. Hold it away from your clothes or anything else flammable.
  7. Make sure the candle is not too close to a window, where curtains can blow near the flame.
  8. Use battery operated tea lights. They look just as good, but aren’t dangerous.

Fires are fast! Protect your house and your family from a fire at all costs. Implementing these fire safety practices around the house is just a start, but protecting your home doesn’t stop here.  Learn how to avoid fires and conduct preventive maintenance the proper way. The first and most important thing you can do is make sure everyone in the household is educated on fire safety measures, including children.

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The Partnership of a Realtor and a Title Agency

Title First Agency works hard to ensure a seamless experience for Realtors and their clients. From contract to closing, Title First handles all the details to help your transactions run smoothly and close on time.

ACCESS TO PROPERTY INFORMATION:

Title First Agency can help Realtors by getting the names, addresses, and phone numbers for properties that their clients are interested in buying. Maybe the buyer wants to find a home of a certain age or in a particular area – whatever it may be, a Title First Agent has the ability to access a lot of data and can find the information needed. Buyers often drive around neighborhoods that they want to live in and see the perfect home for their family. A Title First Agent can look up the information of who owns the home and how long they have been there at the exact address. This will enable the Realtor and the buyer to put together a homebuyer’s letter to the owner.

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING:

Title First can assist Realtors in promoting their business with our full line of marketing solutions. For your next listing, make a good first impression on potential clients and prospective buyers with a bound presentation of property information. We have the ability to help you design, print, and mail your full-color glossy, postcards. Use our Net-to-Seller tool that will help estimate a client’s profit and present it in a professional format to be shared. Or, give our Title First Agent App a try to provide a higher level of service to your clients. This app will enable you to give quick and easy estimates to any real estate financial question. The app features net sheets, quick estimates, closing, costs, prorated taxes, and much more. Finally, email us your MLS link, logo, and personal photo, and let us create a professional full-color info sheet for your listing.

Title First Agency has experienced real estate lawyers who have worked many years through settlements and closings. It’s an invaluable asset to always have legal experts on hand with a good title company. The buyer, seller, and you, the Realtor, can have peace of mind that purchases and end-to-end processes of closing on a property are performed seamlessly and on time.

The Bottom Line: At Title First Agency, we measure our success by your success. That’s why we offer a variety of services to help you grow your real estate business. Beyond the listed services, the issuing of insurance, and performing title searches, we can manage the escrow account for the home sale. We safeguard all money and documents related to the transaction for the parties involved, such as the deed to the home, closing costs, earnest money deposit, and the down payment.

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The Virtual Home Showing

Back in 2019, before the dreaded pandemic, there were occasional situations in which a home buyer was unable to view a specific property in person. Whether moving from out of state or navigating busy work schedules, when a buyer is unable to make an in-person showing, agents would show a home virtually, live or pretaped.

Now, the ability to have a virtual showing of a home to a buyer is crucial. The pandemic has put us all on a reboot. Everything has changed – how we buy and sell real estate how we shop, and how we interact with others. With limited ability to travel, or even be in the same room as someone who is not part of our household, many businesses and industries have had to change their game.

Technology can put agents and buyers in the same room as a potential home, to help narrow a buyer’s choices. Through platforms like Facebook, FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom, Realtors have been able to quickly adapt to the times without having to worry about draining their marketing budgets or struggling to learn new technologies.

Be ready! Just like an in-person showing, virtual showings must be pre-staged, the walkthrough must provide the clients with a sense of the layout, and the online experience must be easily accessible to all users. Don’t forget the outside of the home – where you should begin your tour as you would normally. You’ll want to make sure the buyer is getting a good look at the exterior from all angles. Buyers will want to get a grasp of the home’s curb appeal, the parking situation, and the surrounding neighborhood as much as possible.

You’ve got to drastically cut down on clutter, and make each space shine. Open the shades and turn on lights to eliminate unnecessary shadows. There is such a thing as too much light – which will overexpose your visuals and make things harder to see.  Let your Realtor run a practice showing a day in advance. Try to do it at the same time as your scheduled showing to replicate what the conditions are during the scheduled tour.

A live virtual tour will give prospective buyers the opportunity to ask questions on the spot and go back to certain areas for a closer look. Expect buyers to ask directions, such as zooming in on a spot, opening a closet door, or taking a step back. Don’t forget the attention to all the little details, upgrades, finishes etc. In addition give some brief information about the neighbourhood, local amenities, schools, facilities and so on.

The Bottom Line: More than ever, agents are relying on virtual showings for when their buyers are unable to see homes in person. Technology can now help you bring those clients into the listing virtually, and provide nearly the same experience as if they were standing in the home with you. 

You can record your livestream video and reuse it for YouTube or to publish on your website, Facebook page or other Social Media platforms. This can generate many additional leads and prolong the life of your tour. 

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Home Buyer Mistakes

On the hunt for your first home? Are you worried about choosing the wrong house or making a mistake and want to know what you should take into consideration before you buy a house? Buying your first home can be just as stressful as it is fun. It’s really hard to know all the right questions to ask. 

Some mistakes made include not doing enough research before looking at homes, not knowing what type of financing you will qualify for, failing to set a budget, and making an offer too quickly without getting all of the questions you need to be answered from the seller. By learning about these pitfalls now, you will significantly increase your chances of making a wise property investment. Here are a few common first time home buyer mistakes:

Be aware of the cash you have to spend

To close on a house, you will need cash on hand for your deposit and closing costs, which can include insurance, taxes, and the service providers’ fees. Since these costs aren’t included in the price of a listed home, they can sometimes come as a surprise to first-time home buyers. Knowing how much cash you have for your deposit and closing costs can help you decide which loan option is best for you and even what price point you can afford.

A conventional loan isn’t always the best

There are tons of loan options available and a conventional loan might not be the best for you right now. For example, if you don’t have a lot of cash to put down but have a good credit score, an FHA loan might be the better option because you’re only required to put 3.5% of the purchase price down as a deposit. If you’re a veteran, look into a VA loan, which helps you secure a home with no down payment or mortgage insurance requirements. Depending on which state you live in, there may even be first-time homebuyer grants available to you; these can help with closing costs, deposits, or home upgrades. Educating yourself on the options available to you can be tedious but will help you make the best financial decision.

Know what you can afford per month

Sometimes the easiest place to start with the home-buying process is to know how much money you can afford to spend on a mortgage per month. Taking this approach allows you to set a realistic budget and stops you from going house poor which is spending all of your available money on homeownership. To do this effectively, write down your monthly income and start subtracting all of your monthly expenses from that number. Then, factor in what you strive to save per month, other expenses like going out to eat, getting your nails done, or going to the barber. Finally, you will have a good idea of what amount you can afford to pay for your home.No matter what amount you’re pre-approved for, give the amount you would like to spend on a mortgage per month to your lender so you don’t spend all of your money on your home.

No big purchases during the process

Once you’re approved to buy a home, it’s important to not make big purchases until you close, specifically on credit cards or with another type of financing. You may be eager to finance a new couch or bed for the house but you have to wait until after closing. These large fluctuations in your credit can affect the purchasing process by changing your debt-to-income ratio and your credit score. This could force you to start over on your loan approval process and could change the amount you were once approved for.

Don’t get emotionally attached

This is a tip that’s easier said than done, every person that has looked seriously into buying a house knows the disappointment that can come if you lose out on it. For starters, only look at houses in person that you know you can afford and would want to buy. It’s not worth your time and energy to look at a house beyond your budget or so below it that you hate everything about it. When you do see a house you love, it’s easy to get caught up in imagining your life in this new home and feeling emotionally attached to it. Try to remember that every house has pros and cons, and your future home is out there now or ready to be listed any day now!

Know that there will be future expenses

Owning a home means that the expenses will likely never stop. There will constantly be upgrades you want to do, decor to buy, and bills you need to pay. Always remember that just because you’ve closed on a home, doesn’t mean you’re done spending the bulk of your money. If possible, have extra money saved to help you get settled into your new home. Whether you have a big home repair to do or just want to have your home decorated exactly how you’ve dreamt of, it’s important to save for these future expenses as well.

No matter how much you prepare, there will always be bumps in the road when it comes to buying a house. However, it’s an exciting time so try to enjoy the process and utilize the people around you that can help. Experienced professionals like realtors, lenders, and lawyers help first-time homebuyers every single day and should be used to your advantage so you can avoid common pitfalls on the path to buying your first home!

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MYTH: You Don’t Need Title Insurance and Other Fables

MYTH: Nobody needs title insurance

Everyone needs title insurance. You may think you know the entire history of the house you’re purchasing, but it’s impossible to know everything. Title insurance protects your right to the property in the event that a previously unknown heir claims ownership of the property if it is later revealed that the “sellers” were not the rightful owners, or if liens against the property resurface. If you have an owner’s title insurance policy, you will not be responsible for paying any of the fees associated with protecting your right to the property, should these types of issues arise.

MYTH: New construction homes don’t need title insurance

Your home could be brand new, but the land on which the house is built isn’t. Chances are, the land had several previous owners before construction began. Buying property on such land opens you up to certain risks tied to ownership issues from previous owners.

Disputed wills, easements, and property liens are just a few of the issues common to land ownership. You could get caught in between the mess and end up losing your resources or, worse still, your new property as well. Title insurance is crucial even for a new home and should be among your list of priorities during the closing process.

MYTH: If no one challenges ownership, then the title policy is a waste

At the closing, when you purchase a title insurance policy, the closing company does the bulk of the work behind the scenes. The title company goes through many steps to make sure that everything is in place by that time, including conducting a comprehensive title search and identifying any potential issues. The team investigates the entire history of the property to ensure that you, the buyer, will be aware of any problems that will need to be addressed before closing. By the time the closing comes around, the title company has completed a great deal of research and legwork for you.

MYTH: Title insurance offers only minimal protection

When you purchase a home, you receive the “title” to the property. This title is your legal right to own it. Early in the home buying process, a title search is conducted to review the history of the property and uncover any issues that could limit your right to ownership. Even after the most meticulous search of public records, there can be hidden title defects, such as tax liens, forged signatures, claims by ex-spouses, and recording errors. These title defects can remain undiscovered for months or even years after you purchase the home.

MYTH: Title insurance is the same thing as homeowner’s insurance

Homeowners insurance protects you so you have the resources to pay for any damage that might occur to your property. Title insurance protects you from anyone else claiming your home is theirs or for some prior owner’s back taxes or encumbrances or any other real property dispute

Title First Agency: Dedicated to innovation and passionate about service, Title First Agency is your comprehensive, nationwide resource for title and real estate settlement services. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Title First has branch offices throughout the Midwest and a robust virtual partner network throughout the country. Title First got its start in 1956 as an affiliate of a local law firm and has since emerged as one of the largest independent title agencies in the nation. Proudly servicing Realtors, lenders, builders, developers, law firms, buyers and sellers, Title First is equipped to serve your residential and commercial title and settlement needs.

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The Messy Next Door Neighbor

You’re about to put your house on the market and it’s in tip-top shape. You’ve done everything you can to make your home shine. You’ve hired the best Realtor, it’s been professionally staged and your home is priced right. But, there is just one problem. The messy neighbors next door could potentially scare away buyers. What is your game plan? Here are some peaceful ideas.

The first step of dealing with difficult neighbors should be to approach them in an open and non-confrontational manner. In a respectful and diplomatic way, let them know you are preparing to sell your home and would love their help, but without insulting their home. Let them know you would appreciate anything they can do to showcase the neighborhood well.

There may be reasons the outside of the home looks unkempt. The owner could be sick, or there is a new baby, to name just a couple of reasons. If they complain that it would be too difficult for them to do, offer to help clean up the mess, or hire professionals to get the job done. While it will be money out of your pocket, you won’t be forced to lower your asking price and in the end, you will be able to recoup that when you sell your home. A professional yard clean-up typically costs approximately $500 per quarter acre of land, so 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’ll recoup ten times your investment.

The next step if your efforts are futile would be to try city hall. Explore how they can help you. Many cities and counties have ordinances that prohibit things such as a vehicle on jacks, old tires, or an inoperable trailer/truck parked on a lawn. Beyond being an eyesore, it could be dangerous to a child who might wander onto the property, thus the police should be contacted. The fire department and health officials might be concerned about any tall, dead grass that could be a fire hazard and an attraction to rats or other animals.

The problem may not be the fault of the homeowner if they rent out their home and their tenants aren’t taking care of it or behaving in a way that impacts the neighborhood. If after you have had a kind conversation with them and things still aren’t getting better, you should find the owner. Your Realtor will be able to assist you in tracking him down and help in encouraging cooperation from him.

The Bottom Line: The effects of a messy neighbor can be major. The entire neighborhood can be beautiful, but if there is just one home that has overgrowth, messy gardens, waste, or junk spread about it can bring down the value of all the homes in the area. While you might be the only one putting your home on the market at the moment, you can probably get the other neighbors to help the situation. A clean yard benefits all.

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