Nosey Neighbors are A Mixed Blessing | They'll Watch Your Listing!

Nosey neighbors are sort of a mixed blessing in real estate.  Neighbors they can stir things up when you list a home, saying you are listing a home at too low a price, or they can sing your praises and tell others how diligent and professional you are.  It is always good to build rapport with them!  It is not as if you a guaranteed to get more business on the particular street or in the neighborhood, but it beats the alternative of having your home or listing trashed.  Sometimes the neighbors will call you to tell you that someone showed the home and stayed there for a very long time!  I love those calls! Other times they will call you to complain the grass is getting too high and need cutting, or just to give you their opinion whether you like it or not!   Most of us do not like to deal with the neighbors especially if their calls become a habit of boredom!  That seldom happens!

The plus side of having a neighbor that is a little nosey is that it is better than having your own neighborhood watch patrol!  This is especially true if you have a few listings that are vacant.  I would rather find out from the neighbors that lights were left on in the middle of the night, then to go to the home and find out it has been vandalized and trashed!  More often than not they will call you just to let you know that the previous agents left the doors unlocked, or to advise you that the sprinkler system is going on and off at all hours of the day!  Those calls are always appreciated and easy to deal with!    We once received a call a day or so before closing that our sprinkler system was left on.  We thought it was a crank call, because our owner did not have a sprinkler system.  We arrived, nothing looked out of place until we walked across the lawn, and water soon covered our shoes.  As we looked to the foundation, water was pouring out of the home.  A toilet tank had just burst due to a defective cast, and flooded the home.  Although we had a lot of work to do in a short time, we appreciated that we had found the problem rather than the buyer on their final walk through! 

When listing a vacant home, it is good to knock the doors on either side of the street and introduce yourself.  Hand out your cards, and have all your contact information included.  Also, have an emergency number and tell the adjoining neighbors to call you any time day or night if they see anything out of the ordinary!  It may generate some business for you in the future, but more importantly it is the right thing to do for all!

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