Your house is on the market, you’ve got a Realtor in your corner and buyers will soon turn up for open houses and walkthroughs. Sadly there is one stumbling point that might very easily cause problems: poor neighbours. Below are some tips for selling your Roseville house to poor neighbours.
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AREAS
Perhaps you’ve got the stereotypical neighbor who seems unable to control the volume of their stereo system or the nosy sort who can’t help themselves from strolling around to talk to potential buyers when buyers come by to check out items.
What comes down to is that your potential clients are searching for their own location and providing them with some isolation and privacy away from the outside world’s noise. Some neighbors might think that coming over and talking to potential buyers and telling nice things about the neighborhood are beneficial. Comments like “this neighborhood is perfect for kids,” however, could scare some buyers away. Perhaps those buyers don’t want children, or prefer a smaller, more isolated neighborhood.
DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH YOUR REALTOR
When you see your agent for the first time, let them know what happens to your neighbor’s troubles.
Their years of experience gave them some tools to deal with these situations, so they could call in extra help to help you sell your house to bad neighbours. It is likely that your Realtor will be happy to bring the problems to their attention and defer to you–the seller–any initial steps to solve the problem.
Your realtor is always there to have your back, however, so you shouldn’t feel like you’re crossing a line by requesting their support.
BE UP-FRONT ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS
It’s important to be up front and honest about any problems with your home during the sale process. This includes any problems that may arise with neighbours.
The last thing you need is buyers who just come over for an inspection to get spooked by an unknown neighboring circumstance, and then run for the hills. Trying to warn prospective buyers of issues with your neighbors in advance will prepare them for any possible future circumstances and create trust in you for possible future negotiations, allowing you to sell your house to bad neighbours.
TRY TALKING WITH THE NEIGHBOR
Now that you’ve been talking to your agent and prospective buyers about stuff, it’s time to finally approach your neighbours. This is where things can get very dicey, so it’s a good idea to start diplomatically addressing the neighbours.
Instead of making a worse situation down the road, try to smooth over any wounds or persuade them to help you out. A suggestion that could sound odd but might make a huge difference is to give them a little treat, as though you were welcoming someone with a housewarming gift to the neighbourhood.
Let those neighbors know you have a lot to do with this and you need their support rather than their indifference.
CONSULT AN ATTORNEY OR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Often wanting to sell your house to bad neighbors means you need to get a homeowners ‘ association’s help if you’re part of one, or hire an attorney. An attorney can be an unwelcome requirement in some cases where personal protection may be an issue.
Trying other approaches first is a good idea but don’t be afraid to take the risk and get the support you need if things go wrong. Hopefully, none of these would be a move you will need to take into account, however they are available if appropriate.