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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have asked my neighbours to...

81 replies

Shadowboy · 20/01/2017 22:16

Have removed a item from their garden that was preventing our house from selling?

We have been inundated with viewings but the same comment keeps on coming up as to why potential buyers are not putting in an offer.

We are a semi in a fantastic area. The only semi in the area in fact. We've had 1/2 viewings per day since the house went online. Some are simply unproceedable and a few have mentioned they are concerned about the neighbours because of the item in the front garden. It was left there by the son who has now gone to uni. Parents have not moved it (a mannequin sat on a bench) it's very obvious from the road (especially as he was for some time dressed as Father Christmas so bright red and is now naked but making a certain gesture with his fingers.) parents seem completely fine with it being there but the estate agent have pretty much said that other than not having an en suite there Have been no other negative comments, simply a concern that the neighbours are 'odd' or 'weird' so EA asked us to pop round and ask it to be temporarily removed. I did but it didn't go well so now I'm wondering if I was unreasonable to ask?

I was very polite but perhaps they took it personally so it is still there for all to see (you have to dive past their house to get to ours)

Frustrating thing is they are actually fine as neighbours go!

OP posts:

londonrach · 20/01/2017 22:20

Lol...not helpful but loved the film mannequin and love the fact they dress it up at xmas. Im sure serious buyers will look through the mannequin. 🕵 Theres worse things to live next too

BigCockSuckyBalls · 20/01/2017 22:27

Think yourself lucky it's only a mannequin. My neighbours have 5 sheds and 3 caravans, it looks like a scrap yard

empirerecordsrocked · 20/01/2017 22:30

Arf. I thought it was going to be a giant camper van with no wheels or something.- mannequin, I'm sure you can get round it!

pipsqueak25 · 20/01/2017 22:37

very odd neighbours indeed, they might be nice but that is not helping your cause, i guess you could have another jokey chat with them about it other than that not really sure.

Gymnopedies · 20/01/2017 22:40

Bribery? Do they have a weakness like wine or chocolate?

mambono5 · 20/01/2017 22:41

You were not BU at all.

I don't know what to suggest. It will put people off, it's even worst with a semi, massive alarm bells ringing about the neighbours.

Apart from trying to sell to investors for the rental market (short straw), you could become unbearable to encourage your neighbours to do anything to get rid of you. (half joking, dispute with neighbours have to be reported don't forget)

HardcoreLadyType · 20/01/2017 22:44

YANBU to ask, but as they've said "no", there's not much you can do, I guess, except up the ante somehow.

Or kidnap it in the dead of night, and deny all knowledge.

steppemum · 20/01/2017 22:45

I think I would be a bit proactive with potential buyers, and say that you have good friendly neighbours. If they then comment on the manekin, just laugh and say the teenage son put it up as a joke and it has just stayed.

downwardfacingdog · 20/01/2017 22:46

Yanbu. It would put me off tbh.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 20/01/2017 22:47

Could you creep out and at least put some clothes on it? And reposition the rude finger gesture?

Original poster

Shadowboy · 20/01/2017 22:49

The thing is we don't do the viewings as we have a dog, toddler and newborn so when there is a viewing I remove all the kids/dog so I am unable to explain that it belongs to a 19 year old! Plus you see it before you get to our house.

It's not really an investment portfolio property (1/2 acre garden, substantial, extended and fully renovated property)

OP posts:

littlecabbage · 20/01/2017 22:50

I've got to be honest, that would put me off buying a house, especially as I have young children and there is a rude gesture involved! YANBU.

LucklessMonster · 20/01/2017 22:51

You weren't unreasonable to ask. They're unreasonable for not doing such a small thing to help you.

PovertyPain · 20/01/2017 22:52

Kidnap it and send them the rude finger. 😉

Original poster

Shadowboy · 20/01/2017 22:52

Do you think it's worth getting the EA to ask? Might seem less of a personal dig?

See I thought it might be putting people off!

OP posts:

gamerchick · 20/01/2017 22:53

Well you can ask but be prepared for a 2 handed salute as an answer on the thing.

TBH it wouldn't put me off buying a house, not everybody thinks the same.

FurryLittleTwerp · 20/01/2017 22:55

Dress it in a shirt & tie before viewings.

Palomb · 20/01/2017 22:57

If you're student you neighbours don't have CCTV then aquire the mannequin and hold it hostage in your shed until the day of completion.

You're not unreasonable to ask.. it must be obvious to your neighbours that it brings the place down.

Lemon12345 · 20/01/2017 22:57

Sounds like you are trying to sell an ideal family property with an 'ornament' in the next garden that is 'inappropriate' for small children. No wonder if is putting them off.

All I can suggest is to get who ever shows them around to mention the mannequin and say how hard it is for parents to let go... miss son terribly... it was his 'typical' prank... nice family but teens will be teens... Or similar.

I'd go around and apologise to the neighbours. Tell them you didn't mean any offence. It's never been a problem for you before, in fact dressed up for Christmas it was a nice decoration... Or similar bull. But EA asked you to ask if it could be removed until the house sells as it's making potential buyers think they (the neighbours) aren't as lovely as they actually are... Or spin it in some such way.
I think the only way forward is to talk to them, basically. Otherwise people are going to be put off, until you get someone with a similar sense of humour which might take quite a while.

Gildedcage · 20/01/2017 23:00

Really it's one of the biggest purchases you will ever make...I highly doubt, if your house is totally fabulous in all other areas that this would put all the buyers off. For what it's worth I'd have told you to do one as well. Absolutely not your place to tell anyone what they can or can't have in their front garden.

Trollspoopglitter · 20/01/2017 23:00

Well, they're the ones who will be stuck with whatever persons isn't put off with that, so let's hope they do regret it when you sell to a guy who likes to throw weekday parties and decorate his front garden in this style

pipsqueak25 · 20/01/2017 23:04

another 'i wouldn't buy ' but "lemons* anawer is good and worth a try

Original poster

Shadowboy · 20/01/2017 23:05

Gildedcage- this was exactly was I was wondering if I had been unreasonable. I understand it's their private space, I guess the big compromise with our house is that it is a semi- that in itself puts people off. I think quite a few have come to view to see if they can overcome that compromise. So when they see the mannequin they decide it's too risky. It wasn't there when we purchased the property, it arrived in September I guess when the lad cleared his bedroom out. He returned at Christmas and dressed him up, left again for the current term with an interesting gesture.

I did appologise for having to ask!

OP posts:

LucklessMonster · 20/01/2017 23:06

Do you think it's worth getting the EA to ask? Might seem less of a personal dig?

God no. They will know you've asked him/her to do it and they'll be even more pissed off.

WatchingFromTheWings · 20/01/2017 23:06

I'd have said nothing then got it removed in the night. Now that you've spoken to them about though, if it dissapears you'll be the first suspect.

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