Would a messy garden next door put you off buying?

lilyann1

We are looking to move and have seen two lovely houses,but unfortunately they are both by derelict looking houses,with caravans and rubbish all over the place.
It has really put us off and even though the 4 bed house next door is 100k less than we can afford , we are not willing to move into somethng that could have a potential problem next door.
Avoid and find somewhere else to do up.

densol_2

I drive past a house like this nearly every day. It has been in the same mess for years! I notice that houses near it take a very long time to sell.

I would avoid - you may get it cheaper but you would probably have to sell it cheaper and your profit may not be as great as it seems

Mrs_Optimist

On one side of us live neighbours with a messy overgrown garden (front and rear) but in 10 years we have never had a problem with them - they happily take in parcels for us if we are out, and just don't enjoy gardening. They will occasionally have a half hearted attempt at tidying up, but the garden always looks overgrown. However this has worked to our advantage because in the summer they cannot use their garden so we have total privacy - always two sides to a coin.

DKLS

I wouldnt touch it with a barge pole, I just knocked back a stunning terrace which ticked all my boxes, for adding value improving etc, But next door, but one had the equivalent of steptoes yard in the 180 ft back garden, hence no offer, even a cheeky low offer, The Vendor even said that "Steptoe"was in his 70's so it shouldnt be a problem for long.

Dasnookster

It would definitely put me off. Due to past experiences I would never buy a house such as the one you describe. It may be that they are perfectly reasonable people, but once you have bought it, its too late to find out that they are not. For most people it is probably the largest purchase they will ever make and I certainly wouldn't take the chance.

clutton_2

it would definitely put me off

seven-day-weekend

When I worked in the Enforcement section of Town Planning, (seems like a lifetime ago!) this was one of the biggest complaints from the public, so obviously people don't like living next to a garden full of scrap cars and it would put me off if I was buying the house.

RHemmings

I would be put off as well.

Sujamjen

willis wrote:

Hi,
I'm looking for a house to do up and make a bit of money on, so I'll have more equity to put into buying a long term family house. I have modernised a house before and made money, and want to do it another time as I can't afford a house in the areas I would like to live long-term so need more equity!

Anyway, I plan to live in this house for around 6 months while I do all the work, then sell it. I saw a house today which is well within budget, a lovely big house in a reasonably nice area with lots of modernisation needed. I have done some research and believe it could be quite profitable.

The main problem with the house is the neighbours. Even though it's an ok area, the neighbours houses look pretty rough and I am worried it will put people off when I sell. There are about 3 caravans in the drive of the house next door, plus a big pile of rubbish (scrap metal, wood etc etc) in their back garden. There is also a pile of rubbish in the other neighbour's garden. It does just seem to be the immediate neighbours as other houses in the road are smart and obviously well cared for.
I don't really mind as I won't be there for that long, but I'm really worried it will put potential buyers off when I come to sell. Is the large potential profit worth the risk? Do viewers look at how well cared for the neighbour's houses are or is that just me?

Thanks

I would never buy a house next to a house like you are describing!

bylromarha

Yes it would put me off.

In the house we've just sold, our buyers have let our old front garden go to pot...our old next door neighbours are trying to sell and having no luck. I know their house is overpriced, but I would also assume our old front garden is putting off people too.