Have gotten in touch with city codes regarding the tents?

tents in front yards in our small town might last a few weeks before owners would be getting cited by our code enforcement team.

I haven't. I've hesitated and debated and debated with my husband to as well because I realize that this is a greater mental health issue. I've spoken with a hoarding non-profit in town and she said it is difficult to manage. A city police officer who also is really into styling her home just moved across the street and we have become friends. I want to gingerly approach her and see if it a. bothers her and b. if she is willing to talk with them (she deals with a lot of individuals). I fear aggravating them and creating a more hostile environment.

I'd politely talk to them and put it on your broad-shouldered realtor. lol

Plan A: As in, my realtor says that many would-be buyers will likely not consider your home due to their outdoor storage. Would they be willing, with your help, to move some of the items for a month or two.

Plan B: Call the authorities and report the situation.

I don't understand why a police officer that happens to live near you should be expected to do the heavy lifting.

Our code inspectors do not tell someone who reported the violation, mostly because they should have seen the violation before a citizen called it in. That is their job, that our taxes pay for. (We are lucky enough to live in a small enough town that we see the code inspectors on their rounds almost every single day.)

you say they take care of their yard, is there any concern that there may be critters (rats) in whatever is stored in those tents? Or, worse case scenario, might they have moved things out of the house to make room for a grow house or meth kitchen?

No, I think it is more likely a case of classic hoarding behavior- probably related to some sort of trauma or depression era generation. I know hoarders who are lovely people, they just have difficultly letting go. I definitely don't suspect any suspicious behavior- they are a couple in their mid 60s with adult children who visit and I never see any unfamiliar guests. I think the adult daughter moved in to start college and her child (very nice boy-no problems there) could go to high school in this good district. She is often the one mowing and even recently was tossing a few things from the tent (which got me VERY excited). That prospect alone makes me think that maybe they want help getting rid of things. They even have a new garage sale sign- another prospect, but some irony too.

It isn't that I am putting it on my neighbor, the police officer, but if it does bother her (and she is very new to the neighborhood), we can work together for a solution. She has hinted at it once, but I didn't want to discuss it in front of other people, out of respect and privacy. If I find out, for example, they need help getting rid of things or moving them, then I would be willing to help- even offering to pay some movers. She is used to and comfortable approaching delicate situations.

Code enforcement doesn't go out looking, I am told, but I could file a violation. In the end, I am not sure how anonymous it would appear as they could probably guess from a few people who it might be. We have been here 2 years and never made a fuss, so I am not sure it would be assumed it was us, but it could.

I've never noticed any rats or vermin- and have looked closely. If I did, then yes, I would be very concerned. They are mostly storing furniture type items.

The sad thing is- I have LOVELY neighbors all around me too. The kind that give you a cup of sugar when you need it, borrow tools, shovel your snow when you are on vacation during a bad snow storm....... They aren't as perturbed even though it's not subtle.

And, to add, things are slow to move in and out. It isn't a constant shuffle of items.

@maddielee- great that your city does that so thoroughly! I should move there. :)

So, your main complaint is that they have a tent in the front yard in which they store furniture? It sounds like here are two issues:

1. It bugs you now. (Maybe talk to the daughter?)

2. You're concerned how it might affect resale in a few years.

I had similar neighbors, which didn't affect resale at all. Similarly, you say that you entered into a bidding war despite these neighbors.

@nosoccermom- it's good to hear your experience. And, true, that there was a bidding war and according to my realtors, offers coming in after we closed (at least, that is what I remember my realtor saying, but it could have been just to puff us up). I suppose I am paranoid and haven't enjoyed the risk of purchasing a home. I hope we don't regret buying what we could afford, versus really stretching our budget for a more 'polished' neighborhood.

If its a desirable house, priced right and in a good area I don't think one unkept neighbor effects anything. A house a few doors down from us went up for sale a few weeks ago. They got 5 offers In the first 4 days, three of them above asking price. Needless to say, it's in escrow.... despite the house next door to them looking like the Zombie Apocalypse is upon us with a garage literally falling down and weeds that are often taller than the fence. (We all like the tenant very much despite his lack of landscaping abilities so no one causes trouble for him by calling the city. If anyone did have a problem they would have the decency to speak with him directly and not hide behind an anonymous complaint.)

I think, if you want to mention anything at all to anyone, let your neighbours know that you can help if they would like your help. But I don't think it's a good idea to start discussing them with the people who are new to the area or with any other neighbours.

@tete- thanks, I will take the patient route and think about it before acting.

File a complaint with Code Enforcement before they have two more tents in their front yard. Hoarders do not get rid of things, they add to it. I have a hoarder in my family and things do not get better.

That's my fear Voila. How would your family member react to a code violation? Or, are they used to it?

File a code violation now. That way, they will get rid of it now and not associate you with the complaint, which they would do, if they saw a for sale sign go up in your yard at the same time they get cited.

I would absolutely be bothered by it and would call code enforcement asap.

IMO it is not about "the decency to speak with him directly and not hide behind an anonymous complaint" but all about allowing the city officials to do the job you pay them to do via your taxes. This is what code enforcement is for- protecting residents and property values.

I had a house in a very nice neighborhood with very desirable schools. My lot was a corner lot and the house across the street was a true zombie house. The roof had a hole in it, the porch was falling down, etc. It was owned by a retired postal worker who happened to be a decent man. Even though he was constantly gardening, even his garden looked like it was unkempt.

I sold my house there at the peak of the recession in 2010. It took me 6 months to sell. However my house was the only house in my school district to sell during that whole time and it was during "prime" the selling season of spring/summer.

My point being that as long as it's not disgusting, it shouldn't be a problem to sell when you decide to.

I wouldn't talk to them - the odds that you bringing it to their attention will cause them to move the things is slim to none. Call code enforcement.

They can rent a storage unit like everyone else if they can't store their things in their home.

Edited to add, there is a situation like this a few doors down from me - the guy piles up stuff in his yard, and every month or two code enforcement, the police and city workers with a truck come clean it up. The cute house next door to him is for sale - it WOULD make me think twice as a buyer. Rats, etc. Plus, a bad neighbor.

Does the cute house seem heavily discounted? :) are you ever tempted to call code enforcement?

whitedove5a - 1) not yet, and 2) I have, but not on that guy.

I agree with calling the code enforcement folks. If there is a real problem, you may be starting a process that encourages the family to get help. That would be especially important for the young boy.

Any attempt to get a hoarder to stop hoarding or clean their yard will be viewed as a hostile attempt so asking a hoarder to do these things is begging for trouble. Therefore, I agree with others that you should ask the city to intervene for code enforcement.

http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/bad-neighbors-can-reduce-property-values-appraisal-institute-warns/

We lived next door to a hoarder as well, and it drove me crazy. The last straw was when he brought a toilet from somewhere and put it beside his house, but it faced our field (we had a 4 acre hobby farm) and could easily be seen by everyone coming and going from our house. I threatened to move it at night when I knew he wasn't home, but my husband said that would still be stealing and trespassing. We live in the country in middle TN, and a friend suggested I plant flowers in it since my husband vetoed the other plan. My friends laughed about it all, but I was just mortified. Ultimately, though, we sold the house at full asking price, and it wasn't an issue at all. That was a year ago, and it is still there!

We had a home for sale next to a neighbor who had a very messy back yard -- think stacks of car parts, he hoarded bags and bags of aluminum cans, general clutter, overgrown, etc. Nice guy, really -- we got along very well. When we went to sell, however, it became a problem. Comment cards from showings would say things like "great house, wouldn't live next to your neighbor" and stuff like that. In the end, I offered to pay for a privacy fence with a full price offer, which I received shortly thereafter. I never confronted him about it -- frankly it didn't bother me -- but buyers saw it differently.

Similar story with my sister, except she was the one who had a messy back yard. She had an above ground pool that was not longer in use and other odds and ends.

Her neighbor actually asked her to do something about it! You could see into the yard from the deck of the neighbor's house. My sister put up a trellis type partition, problem solved.

Thanks so much for the feedback. Fortunately- many of you who had the experience of selling with the far from ideal neighbor didn't have much trouble. I am so conflicted and remain so, but at least less anxious about the experience of selling. I CAN find joy in my living space and garden and with careful attention to budget, I can update the home in a reasonable way.

As a side note, there are many homes like this our neighborhood. I recently drove by (all really close by, within a few mins) all the comps in the last year or so and looked around. Many were across the street from homes that needed major maintenance. I know my attention to detail and design is a bit more sensitive to others. Hopefully the next buyer won't be the same as me (or at least appreciate the details in my home).

One other thought- would any of you worry about (anonymously) citing and then getting retaliation in return? There is something to be said about the fact they they are private and quiet, but I suppose if you anger them, that might not be the case. I doubt those things remain anonymous forever (and you DO have to put a name down and number).

Ask code enforcement if they ever divulge names. Tell them the neighbors are nice people and you do not want hard feelings, but do want the tents removed.

Good thought voila.

Interesting development- they had a GARAGE SALE today! Glimmers of hope, people, glimmers. They haven't had a garage sale in at least the 3 years. Hoping that perhaps they are ready to get rid of stuff. I hope they have another day tomorrow. I have been contemplating sending my handy man by to purchase some of the big items so that they disappear.

Hopefully that will take care of the problem to some extent.

I wouldn't except them to give any form of retaliation. They are nice people, just hoarders.