Selling your beautiful home, which sits beside a not so beautiful home, can be… challenging.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: curb appeal is everything. Curb appeal can be defined as, “the visual attractiveness of a house as seen from the street.” It has big impact on your home’s first impression. We may be warned against judging a book by its cover, but when it comes to buying a home, buyers are immediately making judgements and assumptions on the quality of the property based on the first glance they get. This is why it is so incredibly important to make sure your property has good curb appeal!
While you can do whatever it takes you increase your own property’s curb appeal, the land around it is out of your hands. Whether owned by the city as a public space, a private business, or a private resident, you are legally not allowed to make any alterations to their land or the structures on it. Attempting to do so could land your charges for trespassing, property damage, vandalism, or more. Simply put: do not touch.
Despite this, the area surrounding your home will affect a buyer’s perception of your property. So, what are things you can do to up the curb appeal of your neighbours?
First, consider talking to your neighbours in a roundabout way. You could drop by to let them know you’re selling, so if they see strange people coming and going that’s why. This will put the fact that you’re listing your home on their radar. A considerate neighbor will keep this in mind and may tidy up.
Second, be willing to put in some work. If the land is overgrown, mention you’re doing a big clean up since you’re selling your home, and ask if they would mind if you also mowed their lawn, or pruned the hedges. If there is junk you’re taking to the junkyard, offer to take stuff in their yard too.
Third, reach out to the city for resources. If it is public land, they can send people to deal with anything that is causing major obstruction or may be breaking a bylaw. Read up on the requirements for maintaining property, and don’t be scared to make a report if someone’s property next to yours is wildly out of line.
Do what you can to make your space as beautiful as possible, be creative in cleaning up the space around your property, and most importantly, ask permission before making any big moves.
Posted by Ken Richter on
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