Last night I was on the way to a high school football game, about an hour away, when my phone cell phone rang. I was driving on a I95, in bumper to bumper traffic and it was pouring rain. I couldn't see the hood of my vehicle. It was terrible. I don't care to drive in that kind of weather.
I let the phone call go to voicemail as I wasn't going to attempt to pick the call up in those conditions.
After 35 minutes we were out of the worst of the weather, so I played my voice messages. One of the calls was from the neighbor of a house I currently have for sale. The man was quite distraught. His message indicated that he was quite upset with the way the lawn company was cutting the grass, on the home next to his. He said he knew they had been hired by the bank that owned the property. He indicated that they were scalping his lawn, and throwing lava rock everywhere. He was insistent that he be told who was in charge, as this situation needed to be handled asap. He wanted the name of whomever was in charge at our company or whomever had ordered this inexcusable lawn company.
I could hear the frustration in this man's voice.
When I got off the road I returned his phone call. I listened to his story, and did not interrupt him. He wanted my supervisors name or the name of the bank manager.
"Mr. 'Jones', I'm sorry that you are having so much difficulty with the lawn company on this home. It sounds as if you are in quite a frustrating situation. It sounds like you have a particular way you like to keep your lawn, and they are coming over the property line and damaging your grass. But, unfortunately, this home is not a bank owned property, the home belongs to the seller. We are not involved in who is cutting the grass over there. Perhaps, you could speak to the lawn company, the next time you see them. I'm sorry it is such a difficult situation for you. I will mention it to the owners of the property the next time I talk to them."
He was very gracious, thanked me for calling and said he thought the bank owned the house.
I understand this man's frustration. BUT, You know it strikes me oddly with homes on the market today.
This home is sitting vacant and the owners have left town.
They are having the lawn maintained on a regular basis until it sells.
Most owners are either no where to be found, don't care about the lawn when they move, or the banks won't get the lawns cut at all.
Code enforcement is called when the grass gets to be waist high, for fear of mosquitoes and snakes, with all the rain we have been getting.
This scenario reminds me of just how fed up some people are getting about things happening with homes in their neighborhoods.
Oh, what's a neighbor to do?
Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate
Brevard County Real Estate & Investing
I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.
that for you
So many people get frustrated by how the lawns are kept. We need to let go of the perfect lawn and all it represents
Hi Sandy-It is an unfortunate situation for people that live next to a vacant property but as you stated there isn't anything you can do. There are a lot worse things that happens than this but none of it is fun. Have a great weekend. :-)
Sandy, our sweet next door neighbor's lawn was mowed by volunteers who evidentally did not see our tall survey markers and would mow our lawn extremely short, which we did not appreciate. After speaking with the volunteers several times, to no avail, we installed a 6ft cedar fence along the side line. Solved our problem and kept a good neighbor :)
Tall fences make good neighbors
Sandy - We've had that type of problem here locally too. There is a home just a few doors away from my own. It has been vacant for 2 years this coming October. Some of the neighbors came together and contacted Code Enforcement, and at least the weeds were whacked. But, there is no water on at the property, so everything is brown. Finally the bank seems to be getting involved. So perhaps we'll have new neighbors that will care for the property one day.
Sandy
There are a lot of frustrated neighbor with the current market and a number of code issues that no one enforcing. It' going to take sometime to work though the issues.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Sandy, I'm sorry the neighbor took his frustrations out on you and you handled it so well. I don't really blame him for his frustration, I've seen homes here that are vacant for a long time and they're not maintained and not bank owned....If the sellers want them sold, they shouldn't look so neglected.
Sandy, as I see it, he is lucky that the absent homeowner is even taking care of the lawn! You did handle it very well, and why think that Realtors have the control of everything that goes on with a home. He should have talked to the lawn care guys to begin with!
I wish all people would get the facts before giving the agent a frontal lobotomy. How often though do we get attacked for maintaining a house?
Wishing you a great holiday,
Paul
Russ, Yes, many are quite concerned about the perfect lawn.
Pat, It isn't any fun and many people are just plain frustrated.
Steven and Marti, I know, sometimes fences do have to be installed to make everyone happy.
Myrl, I know we have lots of similar situations here. It can be incredibly frustrating.
Lou, There are currently many code violations today. And code enforcement is having a difficult time keeping up - you're right!
Carole, We have many vacant homes in our area where you can barely get to the front door of the house.
Caren, He is very fortunate that the lawn is been maintained on this vacant home, however some just don't see it that way.
Paul, I know. Somedays we're just darned if we do and darned if we don't.
Good for your sellers to keep the property maintained. You handled it perfectly.
The Sale sign can bring both pleasantries with a sale and unnecessary interrogations at other times. All in a day's work so they say.
Hey Kevin, Funny, I suppose that people view things differently, don't they? You're right, it is all in a day's work.
You handled the situation well.
Thanks Jim. Not much we can do when a neighbor is complaining about the grass being cut on a vacant house.