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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Our garden is not the cause for the lack of sale

416 replies

maoiBYRD · 31/08/2020 17:33

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. :(

OP posts:
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5
12309845653ghydrvj · 31/08/2020 17:53

Would definitely put me off! More so than an issue with the actual property itself, because at least I’d actually be able to change that... but nobody wants to look at other people’s mess everyday

Londoner99 · 31/08/2020 17:53

You sound annoyed at the idea of tidying the garden. Even from your own description, it sounds messy. It would put me off buying to be honest. So yes, YABU.

BigBlondeBimbo · 31/08/2020 17:54

@Devlesko

Yes, it can. Our neighbour won't replace their fence, keep arguing it's ours, it's on our deeds as theirs. There garden is overgrown and a bloody mess. Of course it impacts on neighbours especially as you say you need a scrap person. Look after your garden, nothing wrong with planting veg and flowers, just keep it well weeded and tidy.
Oh God, how annoying! They probably want you to get tired of it and have it fixed so they don't have to! Cheeky fuckers.
Doccomplaint · 31/08/2020 17:55

Yes it would put me off.

Cakestandkitchen · 31/08/2020 17:58

We are in the middle of a pandemic and no one is buying at the moment

We are going through our busiest ever run of sales and new property coming to the market. Certainly since the 2008 financial crash.

AvoidingRealHumans · 31/08/2020 17:59

Yes, the sound of your garden would make me think you were rough and I wouldn't want the hassle of living next to that.
Really judgey I know but still

Sanjii · 31/08/2020 17:59

A slightly overgrown lawn & a few weeds is not an issue. Bikes, stuff for the tip like sofa ,washing machine,broken chairs, dog faeces everywhere etc screams problem neighbours.

that!

CultOfWax · 31/08/2020 18:01

I don't know where you are but properties are flying off the market for over and above asking price in my area.

From your own description of your garden, if you need a scrap man to help clear it then yeah, it'd put me off buying the flat above looking out onto that - I'd be picturing you sat in your garden in your dressing gown with a spliff and a can of special brew at 10am every day - sorry! Grin

workaround · 31/08/2020 18:02

I absolutely would not buy a property that overlooked a messy, overgrown garden (I mean more than a slightly long lawn).

There are (rare) exceptions when people's lives have temporarily got out of hand where it is not indicative of anything concerning, but too many bad experiences have taught me that almost always mess = chaos, noise, antisocial behaviour etc.

Also the view from above may be so much worse than you realise OP. We have similar neighbour issues and its even worse seen from an upper floor where we are, than at ground level.

mineofuselessinformation · 31/08/2020 18:03

Sorry, but yes it would.
Discarded bikes and scooters in amongst an over-grown garden would make me wonder what the neighbours were like.

Liverpool52 · 31/08/2020 18:03

We often have an overgrown garden and we pick up after our dog but not every day. Because we both do jobs that takes us away alot and doesn't pay enough to get a gardner in nor do we have family nearby who could hel.

Given how little we are here, we can't possibly be nuisance neighbours just based on our garden.

People need to be less judgemental. There must be loads of people missing out on their dream home because of what next door's garden looks like. Ridiculous.

KrabbyPatties · 31/08/2020 18:04

Scrap man?

Yes that’s the problem

Too much junk

InDeoEstMeaFiducia · 31/08/2020 18:04

We are in the middle of a pandemic and no one is buying at the moment.

We're no longer in the middle of a pandemic. Plenty is selling. No one wants to look at your messy garden.

lachy · 31/08/2020 18:05

Yes it would make think twice.

The housing market has gone crazy, people are buying properties as soon as they are taken on by estate agents, even before boards are put up.

Our neighbour is currently travelling and we have maintained his garden because an unkempt garden does have an effect.

YouUnlockedTheGateAnd · 31/08/2020 18:05

It woul absolutely put me off.

But think about it this way OP. The only people who dont mind will be right messy fuckers. And that’s who you are going to be stuck living next door to..

Dominicgoings · 31/08/2020 18:06

we pick up after our dog but not every day’

Who looks after the dog if you’re away so much?

SantaClaritaDiet · 31/08/2020 18:07

A picture would help, but reading your description and the need for a scrap man, yes, it sounds bad enough to put me off.

Some neighbours have specifically planted wild flowers on their front lawn, it looks lovely but done in such a way that it looks the opposite of unkept: it's clearly a statement, not a rubbish tip.

Redyoyo · 31/08/2020 18:07

Surprised that you are thinking houses aren't selling just now, I'm not in a particularly high demand area yet houses are selling in days, most going to closing dates.
There's something putting buyers off your neighbours house.

SunbathingDragon · 31/08/2020 18:07

Yes, it would stop me. Flats can come with enough problems as it is.

SantaClaritaDiet · 31/08/2020 18:08

@YouUnlockedTheGateAnd

It woul absolutely put me off.

But think about it this way OP. The only people who dont mind will be right messy fuckers. And that’s who you are going to be stuck living next door to..

very good point!
raddledoldmisanthropist · 31/08/2020 18:09

Regardless of the answer this is not your problem, OP. I'm surprised you seem to have jumped to placate them.

I'd certainly tidy ours up for our lovely neighbours but if someone was rude I'd be ignoring them or offering to let them pay a gardener.

Liverpool52 · 31/08/2020 18:09

He's in kennels or with my parents. Doesn't mean he doesn't go in the garden when we are here.

alfrew · 31/08/2020 18:09

Is this the flat above you, that overlooks your garden OP?

DarkMintChocolate · 31/08/2020 18:09

Yes, a messy garden with scrap, would put me off. It would suggest noisy, problem neighbours and is probably why the vendor is trying to move!

We are looking for bungalows, and some appear to be selling within a week, so it’s not true to say, no property is selling atm!

WhatamessIgotinto · 31/08/2020 18:09

Honestly? Yes it would put me off. My friend's house took 3 YEARS to sell and all but a handful of the viewers said it was because the house next door was a shambles. Overgrown and messy and it really did put people off. They lost countless houses they wanted because theirs took such a long time to sell and it's a beautiful house.