Our garden is not the cause for the lack of sale

[maoiBYRD]

Neighbours have just blamed me because our garden is a mess. That’s why they can’t get their sale for the flat upstairs.

They are selling for 10 grand over the asking price. You can get a three bed in the next road for 5 grand less, they are going with an online estate agent and you have to do viewings yourself. We are in the middle of a pandemic and no one is buying at the moment.

I’m currently clearing the flower bed of the “jungle” of wild flowers, potatoes and garlic that I created with my little girl, and trying to find a scrap man to take away the bikes and scooters and wondering how how I “shape” a bush that we really want to keep because my mother planted it.

Would a neighbours garden really influence your purchase of a property?

Im digging up the unsightly veg bushes. I will clear the garden. We don’t have any rotting cars or rat nests. It was just a bit overgrown with wild flowers and veg. :(

It would absolutely put me off but you're not selling so it's not really your problem.

It’s your garden, unless you infringing laws or encouraging pests, I don’t see how it’s any of their business what you do with it. I’d smile and say you’ve seen their internet ad, the flat is way overpriced and the photos are not great. And I would do exactly what I want with my garden.

I think you’re mad to hide your children to facilitate their sale! You could end up with the neighbour from hell who complains non-stop about normal kid noise. Better the new owner is aware from the start and you put off anyone prone to being unreasonable about children.

This thread is sounding stranger and stranger.

You do not need to disclose your neighbour’s children when you sell.

Stop hiding the children, digging up your garden, and pandering to these lunatics. This is insane.

The reason why I have to hide the children is because they are not disclosing the fact that there are children in our flat to buyers

eh! who told you to hide the children? you don't disclose neighbours children when you try to sell property. This is just weird.

When you say “upstairs flat”, do you mean it’s directly above yours?

If so, then I can understand people being put off as the garden would optically be part of what they are buying into.
Untidy plants alone may not put them off but totally overgrown and full of scrap metal is not a visual that many people would want associated with their new flat

When you say “upstairs flat”, do you mean it’s directly above yours?

I think it's a four in the block so yes, it would be. Some of the shared gardens in these properties are physically divided from each by means of a fence but others aren't.

It would put me right off.

I don't know now, from what OP describes her garden doesn't really sound bad enough to be genuinely off-putting, particularly if the potential buyers are keen. It doesn't sound like they are though, so I think OP makes a fair point that the asking price of a flat without any outside space of its own is too high. When a property doesn't sell, chances are the asking price is too high for what it is. Of course there could be other aspects that put people off, but a slightly messy garden next door - as opposed to a Steptoe-like yard and impenetrable bramble thickets - probably isn't a significant factor.

It's odd that your neighbours want to deceive potential buyers about your children living next door. How are they expecting to get away with that?!

I really don't understand the children issue... I mean children live pretty much everywhere, apart from retirement complexes??? It's puzzling. The only thing that comes to mind is that there's more to the story, for example would it be due to them misbehaving regularly... we just don't know, do we. This is a very odd story.

OP, you've also made a comment that sheds cost several hundred pound, they don't. The cheapest ones which are perfectly fine will likely cost between £100-£150, or you could get one second hand or build one if you advertise, I'm sure there will be options if you try.

It's a council estate and you say that people fly tip by a certain bin which is then collected, your neighbours don't want people knowing there are dcs in your flat.

You seem to have a lot on your

If they want the garden a certain way (and if you don't care one way or another) then tell them that they can do what they want to the peripherary - but they must LEAVE the bush alone - of the garden (not touching the main grassed area of it). You can tell them that you have neither the time or the money to clear everything yourself. Please do not keep your children hidden, or any quieter than normal, as you have to live underneath your new upstairs neighbours, and don't want them hating you for your complicity with your existing neighbours, who have turned out to be CF's!

It's sounds like your garden is a mess and if the flat is over looking your garden it would make an impact on the saleability of their home. You are also right that other factors would also do this too.

I think you should have a weekend going to the tip, clearing out buying a few cheap plants and just making it tidy. It will massively benefit you and your children in the long run. My garden has been a god send during the pandemic

OP, I think your current neighbours are being out of order, asking you to tidy your garden and hide your children. If they keep complaining, just ignore them. They are moving, so it doesn’t really matter if you get on well with them.

Your new neighbours are the ones you want to have a good relationship with, therefore stop trying so hard to please your current ones and just act normally. You are less likely to get awkward new neighbours if they see and hear your children prior to buying, as they will know what to expect!

It is not your problem that the neighbours are trying to sell glass as diamonds.

Enjoy your veg. Enjoy your children.

The market has gone wild here, messy gardens or not