Buying A Home
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Messy potential neighbors - WWYD?
I'm looking at a house that is pretty perfect, with the exception of the fact that the direct next-door neighbors (to the left) haven't exactly maintained their house to the highest of standards. In fact, it looks pretty run-down and generally a bit messy. The rest of the houses on the street are well-maintained and look fairly nice. What would you do in this case? Would you buy the house anyway?
Re: Messy potential neighbors - WWYD?
Wow that sounds really awful! The house next-door isn't THAT bad. I mean, it's not a filthy pit or anything like that, it just isn't up to the standard of the rest of the street. I guess it's unlikely it will improve unless they move. I just need to decide if I can deal with it, I guess. My driveway would border their property, so maybe the installation of a fence would help improve things? Hmm...
Personally, I'd walk away.
My IL's street is full of older (think 70's split levels and 60's ranches), but very well maintained homes. Then there is my ILs house.
Their house isn't anywhere near the mosquito inhabited duck pond that the PP described, but it is run-down. The shrubbery is overgrown, the siding and windows need to be replaced, most of the trees on the property are covered in poison and are dying, the driveway is cracked, a few un-used bags of mulch have been sitting at the end of the walk for 3 years, the flower beds are covered in weeds, the chimney is pulling away from the house and that side is covered in mold, the septic is in disrepair, blah, blah, blah.
They built the house 34 years ago and then never touched a thing (aside from mowing the grass each week). They don't have the money, inclination or know-how to do even the most basic of repairs or maintenance.
Every other house on the street is nice but every other house on the street is worth a little bit less because of the existence of their house. And the ones on either side... forget about it.
I guess if you intend to stay in this house for a long time, then you can take a gamble. But I'd find out if the people who are living there are older (which means hopefully in 10, 20 years family will take over the house and make it nicer) or if they're just young, lazy people who you'll be stuck with for the next 30 years.
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi#general
It is not incredibly rundown. It just isn't up to the same standards as the rest of the neighborhood. It isn't falling down by any means, just a lot messier than the rest of the street. Lawn isn't as well kept, they keep some junky things outside on the driveway/lawn, etc. The main issue is that their driveway and my driveway would be right next to each other, with no fence in between.
That is a good call, thanks for the thought. This isn't a house that I'm expecting to stay in for a long time...maybe 5 years or so. It isn't exceptionally large, so I'll need to find a larger one when it comes time to having children, etc.
If it's just a 5-7 year house, then walk away.
You might get a good deal on it now, but remember why you're getting a good price when it comes time for resale. Buying beside a turd means that you have to sell beside the turd.
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi#general
When DH first bought our old home it wasn't as bad as I described in my first post. She did maintain the pool and the house was rundown and DH had no idea if she mowed or not. But over the years the pool thing just got out of control. The first few years she would have chlorinated water in it and the grand kids would swim. Then the next year it started out ok then by July the water was green. Then the next year she didn't do anything. Then the next year the liner fell and the rainwater started.
Wht I'm getting at is that these people aren't suddenly going to start maintaining. If anything it's just going to get worse and for a maybe 5 yr house it's not worth it.
Separate question: most experts are saying you need to stay in a house for 7-10 years to "break even". Why are you only looking for a house you'll be in for maybe 5 years? I know the buying (and selling and moving) process is really stressful and expensive and I can't imagine doing it again in 5 yrs.
Well, as long as they live there, it is probably not going to get better and will likely get worse.
Personally, I would walk away.
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After having homes where we've had awesome neighbors on both sides, and seeing family members struggle with having crappy neighbors, I will strongly consider the neighbors before buying another house.
We looked at one neighborhood that had a lot of what we wanted (large lots, ranches or split levels, good location) but the neighborhood is a mix of people that have maintained their homes and people that have crammed every car part they've purchased since 1974 into their carports. The 'hood was a no go.
We have ended up buying the problem houses in neighborhoods and turning them around. This may be why we've had good neighbor experiences - they were happy to see the house look nice again.
I'm sure that it isn't the reason we couldn't sell our house, but it's still an eyesore that we and all the neighbors hate.
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