Annoying neighbours can do more than make you want to move:
They can also prevent you from selling your home.
So you are thinking of selling, but are worried that your neighbour might prevent it. From my esperience as a Realtor for the last 9 years, you have good reason to worry. Many buyers will look at the neighbourhood and neighbours of the home that they are considering buying. Ive heard many times from buyers and Realtors that they chose not to buy a specific home because of what the neighbouring properties look like.
It would be lovely if everyone got along and the problem required nothing more than a friendly conversation with the demons next door, but we don't live in a perfect world. Although, that would be my first suggestion.
Talk with your neighbours: Perhaps if your neighbour has an issue with you too, they may be more than happy to help. This give them a chance to welcome a NEW neighbour. Offer them an incentive, a gift, or cash reward if they maintain their homes exterior appearance until your home is sold. Maybe offer to help clean up their flower beds, shovel their driveway, mow their grass. Maybe hire someone to do this until your home sells.
If this doesn't work, there are other ways to handle nightmare neighbours.
Check the Municipal Bylaws
If your neighbour is 50 meters away and hidden behind trees then the fact that their lawn is continuously unkempt with junk strewn all over can be ignored. But when your neighbour's property is within easy viewing of your front door it becomes a larger issue. Problems with rotten or disturbing smells, excessive amounts of animals, constant noises, parties and garbage lying around might be addressed in the Municipal Bylaws of your area. Contact Municipal Bylaw Enforcement for assistance in the matter, especially if you have already tried talking to the lovely people and been ignored.
Common Courtesy
Shared driveways require the regular maintenance of both parties. Unfortunately, not everyone is courteous enough to follow through with the maintenance, such as shovelling, and weeding of shared areas. Short of filing a lawsuit, there's not a whole lot you can do to force the misery next door to shovel their half of the driveway. I would recommend that you very quietly assume all shovelling responsibilities, weeding etc., while your house is on the market. The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to realize what a problem you have next to you. And hopefully when you sell, the new home owner will get a long with the neighbour.
Trees
Ah, yes, trees on the property line can be a lovely, natural privacy fence. They can also be a nuisance that makes you want to rip your hair out. The simple rule of thumb is that once it crosses the property line onto your land, you can do what you want with it. While the trunk may not actually encroach on the line, you can address limbs and roots that are causing problems for you or your mower. Roots can be dug up and cut out while limbs can be snipped off at the property line. Care should be taken, however, that you do not seriously harm or kill the tree, or the nasty neighbour could wind up suing you. I'd also caution you that the tree should not wind up being unattractive on your side of it, or you could hurt your chances of selling.
Fences
Fences can cause a great deal of strife between neighbours. It may be true that you are erecting the fence because you're tired of dealing with their dogs or children, but you must take care about where the fence is placed. The first step is to have the property line identified. Existing surveys can be used, or you can pay to have a professional survey done. This may seem like a large expense and hassle, but it can save you further financial burdens and headaches down the road. The property line can typically be used as the fence line.
Most buyers like it when they buy a property that is already fenced. It saves them from having to do it themselves. Most buyers now adays, do not want to have to do much when they move in, and if they have to do any updating or modifying, then they want a better deal. Better to do it yourself.
It's tempting to ask your neighbour to help pay for the fence, especially if you believe it will benefit both of you. However, if you approach them about sharing the cost and they refuse you should not force the issue. If you are the one who wants the fence, you will probably be the one who pays for the fence.
I as a Real estate representative, am well-versed when it comes to handling nasty neighbours. I want to help you sell your home, and can offer valuable advice for addressing most problems. Hiring me as your Realtor, I could speak to the troubled neighbour and come up with a plan that everyone would be happy with.
I know that dealing with a nasty neighbour is unpleasant and uncomfortable, but remember, the long-term reward will be selling your home and buying a new home. Preferably it will be a home with better neighbours!
