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AIBU?

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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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MrsPeacockDidIt · 31/08/2020 19:01

Another one here who would be put off and I think this is one of the reasons a friend of mine is having problems selling. The neighbours garden looks awful and the two bedroom at the back overlook it. Really off putting not would make me think that the neighbours don’t care for their property and might cause problems at some point I.e not maintaining borders.

areyoubeingserviced · 31/08/2020 19:01

My brother in law had to pay a gardener to clean up the neighbour’s garden because it looked so horrid. He also had to pay to get the neighbour’s fence replaced

OhCaptain · 31/08/2020 19:03

What’s all this prioritising their kids nonsense??

My kids are happy and don’t live in a shit hole.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive...

leiaskye · 31/08/2020 19:04

Yes, it would put me off. I want to have a pleasant view from my windows, but also it would make me think what kind of person lived there (sorry).

Also, there may be a pandemic, but that doesn’t seem to be impacting house sales in my area. I noticed last night, that practically every house with a board outside is sold.

Their property may be overpriced too, but if they are getting viewings despite this, that can’t be the only reason.

mummyoneboy19 · 31/08/2020 19:05

A garden full of flowers and veg would make me want to live near you...

... A garden full of scrap and weeds would make me pass on the property and keep looking, though.

AuntyPasta · 31/08/2020 19:06

I wouldn’t be out checking if their lawn had neat corners but heavily overgrown gardens and abandoned belongings aren’t a good sign.

makingmammaries · 31/08/2020 19:10

If they want changes to your garden for their own financial gain, I reckon they should be offering to chip in.

category12 · 31/08/2020 19:11

If you don't agree that it's unsightly, why are you clearing it?

Either it isn't, and you stand by that - or it is, and you shamefacedly scurry about tidying it.

jessstan2 · 31/08/2020 19:11

I never look in neighbour's gardens so it wouldn't put me off buying. Your garden sounds fine, pay no attention to them. They've obviously priced themselves out of the market but it is not fair to blame you.

Property is selling though..

Ginfordinner · 31/08/2020 19:13

But your garden isn't full of rusting rubbish as well @Allergictoironing. I don't always assume an unkempt garden is due to the householder being lazy. There are a lot of older people in our village and I usually assume an untidy garden is because the owner isn't able to do the gardening.

But yes, I would judge someone who was too lazy to clear rusting rubbish from their garden.

As for the comments about not tidying the garden, or doing housework for that matter - that's just an excuse for laziness. As previous posters have pointed out, the two aren't mutually exclusive.

lifesalongsong · 31/08/2020 19:13

It would put me off too, it doesn't matter what you think OP as you aren't going to be buying it, hoepfully the vast majority concensus will make you re-think and tidy up as quickly as feasible. It will be nicer for you too so no reason not to

SmellsLikeFeet · 31/08/2020 19:18

Yes, it would

Esspee · 31/08/2020 19:18

If a garden is unkempt it would discourage me from viewing an adjacent property as I would assume that the neighbours had low standards.

Ginfordinner · 31/08/2020 19:19

A garden full of rubbish attracts rats.

XingMing · 31/08/2020 19:21

@Liverpool52

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.

You may think that's a normal way of life. But I wouldn't want to live next door to you. If that makes me judgemental, then you are probably right, but I still would not buy property next door to you.
Thurmanmurman · 31/08/2020 19:21

It would put me off, I don't want to have to look at a scruffy garden. Sorry.

Cocomarine · 31/08/2020 19:23

You mention bikes plural and scooters plural.
You only mention one child. I have a vision of multiple rusty wheeled items strewn about -that would make me think you were (literally) trashy neighbours. So I’d be wary. I’d expect half an abandoned sofa on the front next!

If it’s a small number or well maintained items neatly stacked, it wouldn’t concern me.

ArabellaScott · 31/08/2020 19:25

OP, why on earth make changes you don't want to appease them? It's your garden.

I daresay that astroturf or lots of concrete & hard landscaping would be a deal breaker for me, but not wilderness. I like wilderness.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 31/08/2020 19:27

Yes it would definately put me off as another poster said, messy gardens attract rats.

Can you post a picture?

TorkTorkBam · 31/08/2020 19:27

My boyfriend and I once rented a flat in a block where the garden was a state. We got new upstairs neighbours. I asked if they'd been put off by the garden. Oh no they said, we are happy, it means it is the kind of block where we can make noise and nobody will mind. We minded. We moved.

OllyBJolly · 31/08/2020 19:30

A few of my neighbours are "rewilding" their front gardens. Most of my street is well-manicured lawns and carefully spaced bedding plants. It's quite obvious that it is a conscious decision.

A messy, overgrown, weedy garden strewn with detritus would most certainly put me off buying a house. I don't imagine I'm alone in that.

spaghettihoops16 · 31/08/2020 19:30

Yep, would put me off buying! I wouldn't want to look out my new windows and find a mess

Receptionwoes · 31/08/2020 19:31

Would put me off loads

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 31/08/2020 19:39

Just out of curiosity, why have you even got old bikes and scooters in your garden?

Thisismytimetoshine · 31/08/2020 19:41

@makingmammaries

If they want changes to your garden for their own financial gain, I reckon they should be offering to chip in.
It's hardly for their financial gain, they just don't want the price to be adversely affected by the squalor outside. It's not remotely the same thing.
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