Put in the contract that the backyard needs to be cleaned up and the snakes removed! And in the meanwhile don't go in the backyard.

Have you had your inspection yet? If not, make sure the inspector is aware of what you've seen and have him/her note it in their report. Then you can use it to ask for the backyard to be cleaned up. If you've already had the inspection and did not ask for anything, then you're really on your own. :)

Get rid of the overgrown back yard once you move in, and the snakes will go away. They are there for the food, which is there because the yard is a great source of hiding spots and food.

NC is right. The snakes are there because of the food source and cover. And they are probably harmless. Most are.

Just make sure that the home is well sealed from any vermin so that when the brush is cleared the snake's food doesn't end up being home invaders.

Most snakes in Tx are not harmless and should be taken seriously. I had 3 Rattle snakes in my yard for the first time in 7 years just last summer. A friend *encountered* a Coral snake at her front door, and someone in my neighborhood had a Cottonmouth. No matter which you *choose*, they're all dangerous. Be on guard!

Personally, I think it would not be right to ask the sellers to clear up.

The price of the house probably reflected the fact that many people would have shied away from the get-go, as soon as they saw the overgrowth.

Also, bear in mind that they might have liked it that way. Presumably they had a reason not to tame it a little. It doesn't seem fair to request it now.

Unless it's in the contract, what you see is what you get in the back yard. It's too late to insist the sellers do anything.

Before you panic, IDENTIFY the snakes. Texas may have a few venomous species, but they also have a large number of harmless ones.

http://www.texassnakes.net/pictures.html 

http://nature.gardenweb.com/forums/reptile  will help you if you have pictures.

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Your first priority should be the pool - it's cost to repair is way higher than the cost of removing some overgrown shrubs. Get it cleaned out and on a good maintenance program.

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Before you tackle the jungle, IDENTIFY what's growing there and post a request for help in the garden forums. With pictures. Usually it's not as bad as a novice thinks it is, and can be salvaged in a couple of weekends.

Garden Restoration: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/restoration

OR, more active forums:

Landscaping: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/design

Texas Gardening: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/txgard

Have you had your inspection yet? If not, make sure the inspector is
aware of what you've seen and have him/her note it in their report. Then
you can use it to ask for the backyard to be cleaned up.

Inspection should not be used to make the sellers take care of things that were bloody obvious when the buyers saw the house.

If the inspector feels it to be a safety hazard, he or she should certainly note it. If I were the buyer, I would certainly ask that the safety issue be mitigated by the seller. Bloody obvious or not. lol

Snakes aren't safety hazards. They are indigenous and people disturbed their habitat. They are darn useful in keeping the rodent population at bay. Better snakes than rats. I love my friendly old king snake that hangs around my shop!

Same here Live Wire! I have 4 foot King Snake that has been around the home for about three or four years now. They actually are known to eat Copperheads, and of course, rodents.

Someone here said to ask the sellers to remove the snakes as part of the deal. How would a seller perform this and how would a buyer verify?

I've lived in South/Central Texas for forty years, mostly in rural small towns and have only had a Coral snake to contend with. Plenty of garden, rat and Hognose snakes. Most are completely harmless and simply part of our ecosystem. That's not to say Rattlesnakes aren't around because they are, but they generally have a calm demeanor and stay away from populated areas for the most part.

If the poor condition of the yard wasn't a problem when you went under contract, then take possession and clean it up. No big deal.

The safety hazard is not the snake(s), it is the environment that attracts the snakes. Don't try to make this about pet snakes. lol

No one is suggesting getting them to remove all the snakes in Texas - just clean up the yard so as to not attract them.

I had roof rats in my yard and pool area in San Diego. We rid them by thinning out the Ice Plant

I have a wooded yard with a creek here in MD presently - all manner of snakes and other critters. I don't try to harm the snakes, indeed they are a helpful addition, but on the other hand I don't pile brush up to provide them a habitat next to the house.

Don't make this into something it isn't. If the seller doesn't clean out the overgrowth, the buyers will likely do it early on.

Sheesh.

At this point, you could try to include it in the inspection report of things you want fixed, and if they say no, then hire someone to do the work. Doesn't hurt to ask. I know I went back and forth with them on several things, even on after thoughts--after the offer was given. It worked out. I have no more stumps in my yard! Either way, you're not in close contact with the snakes. Good luck.

That was my point exactly SaltiDawg.

I think it would actually be rude to ask the sellers to clean the place. I can't believe that anyone would think otherwise.

Every man and his dog knows that the way to get the best price for your house is to have everything clean, sparkling and stripped of anything remotely verging on natural. Straight, clean lines. Not a blade of grass doing anything other than standing up straight. The world has gone mad in my opinion.

When someone has 'neglected' their garden and it contains life, many would-be buyers run for the hills. Only more or less normal people are left to make an offer. Be glad that you got the place for the price you did.

I don't have a problem with asking for something as a rule, but it has to be reasonable.

Guess everyone has a different point of view!! tete a tete, I find it rude the sellers would leave the house in bad shape. At least, I was displeased when they left the remnant renovating materials at the curb for me to carry away. I asked them to take them to the dump. Why should I do it?

"I think it would actually be rude to ask the sellers to clean the place",

why is it rude? Leaving a place in a shape that others would request to clean is rude.

Because it would have made a huge impact on what $ amount they could put on the house. Please re-read my post. It sounds as though the 'mess' is something that was always present, not suddenly appeared.

Oh, what is your estimate to clean up the yard?

One person's ''overgrown'' is another's ''lush landscaped tropical haven''. It's a matter of taste. It's the former to the OP, and likely the latter to the sellers. And was fully visible the entire time the home was for sale. It's like asking someone to remove a pool because they don't like it. You want that to happen, do it after closing, with your own money. Or buy a different house.

OP here... Love the debate and thankful for everybody's input. I requested the seller clear the landscaping behind the pool due to it being a perfect habitat for snakes... And the seller agreed to clear it out. Congrats to those who thought I was being reasonable for being right!

Just because the seller agreed to do it, doesn't mean it's a reasonable request. :)

But I'm glad things worked out for you.