What to do with the neigbors?

Well your selling your house, it's updated, fresh and ready for the first showing.....but the neighbors house is another story.

Maybe it needs paint, the landscape is shabby or maybe the dogs bark like mad everytime a squirrel runs up a tree. What are you going to do to get your house sold?

I will tell my story.

In 2005 our house was going up for sale. We had purchased the 'ugly duckling' of the cul-de-sac and turned it into the 'swan'. Curb to back fence, room by room it was fabulous.
The neighbor's house was a hot mess! It had not been painted in 15 years plus. Some of the fascia trim was rotten and the over grown shrubs had been removed leaving the house with not one bit of curb appeal.

We wanted top dollar and a quick sale. What were we to do?
My very wise husband approached the neighbor about our painting her house. I will add this piece of information, she was a single mother of 4 children who was in terrible financial distress.

We rallied the other neighbors for their assistance, bought the paint, some wood trim and got busy.

In one weekend that house was transformed. Was the investment in material and time worth it? Absolutely!!! The neighborhood was thrilled to have that house painted.
The single mom had a new lease on life, and even scraped together enough cash to mulch her flower beds and plant a couple of flats of annuals.
Best of all when our house went on the market it sold in 10 days!

I would encourage sellers to help the neighbors improve their curb appeal when you can, mow their front lawn when you mow yours. Offer to weed the flower beds, buy them some fresh mulch when you buy your own.

Ask if they can park their trailers, campers and such off-sight during the sale of your home. Maybe you can provide inexpensive ideas for that or spring for the storage yourself for a month or two.

Barking dogs...can you offer to walk the dogs during your showings so they are not disturbing the buyers? Can you pay a neighbor kid to be the dog walker? Can you treat them to a little doggie daycare?

Never over estimate the power of food. If you need your neighbors help, a few homemade goodies may just do the trick in getting their full cooperation and you a quick sale!