Why Neighbors Matter
While you may see your neighbors eccentricities in terms of how they keep up with their home and property as harmless, a potential buyer may see the neighbors home as something they don’t want to live near even if your home is quite appealing. Think about it, a buyer looks at your home, then across the street to a neighbor that clearly doesn’t care about the appearance of their property. That image will be what they take of your home as well.
Neighbors matter when it comes to selling your home, so you will need to take a few steps to ensure that they do not interfere with your sale.
Be Friendly
It pays to be friendly to your neighbors, even if you do not intend on selling your home. They do not have to become your best friends, but you should be friendly to them right from the start and work with them when you can to maintain good relations.
This is because when you are considering selling your home and the neighbor is having issues with theirs, they will be far more willing to listen to you when help is needed. So, get to know those immediately next to your home and start building good relationships with them.
Pitch in on Improvements
A good way to help keep your neighbor’s property looking good is pitching in when they need improvements. You do not have to spend a great deal of money, but every little accomplishment can really add up when trying to sell your home. For example, if you are having a professional lawn care crew come by your home, go to your neighbor and ask if they want the same service.
They may be open to the suggestion or hesitant and remember, you cannot bully them into getting their home fixed up to make yours look better. However, it’s generally easier to convince a homeowner to have someone else mow the lawn or pull weeds on your dime so they don’t have to do the work themselves.
Let Them Know About Selling Your Home
Once you’ve decided to put your home on the market, let your neighbors know about it first. Most neighbors, even the ones who are not nosy, want to be in the know when it comes to sales in the neighborhood. By giving them early notice, it can be easier to ask for assistance later if you need it.
However, don’t tell them and then ask for help right away. Just let them know that you are selling, emphasizing that you wanted to inform them first before putting up a sign, and leaving it at that. They may offer their help at that point or not, but it still makes it easier to ask for assistance later.
The bottom line is that neighbors matter when it comes to selling your home, so it pays to act sooner than later if you need some assistance. The neighbors home can be an important selling point, so you want to make sure it is a positive one that gives you the best chance at a good sale.