I live in an affluent neighborhood of expensive, although older homes.
The vast majority of homes are very well-maintained and manicured. Many have had major remodels to look like brand-new homes.
However, there are a couple of homes that are in serious need of a facelift!
One home in particular is a complete eyesore.
Although it is worth over a couple million dollars, the lawn is dead, there are high weeds where the lawn should be, paint doesn’t match and/or is faded in
places, wood facia is rotting, along with other significant cosmetic problems.
There do not seem to be any code violations that would get the city involved.
I am not aware of the owner’s financial situation, but they have been there long enough where there should be significant equity to refinance and pull out money for repairs – or sell and move to a less expensive home.
Any suggestions on how to get this family to fix up their house, or even move?
Other neighbors have left notes, to no avail.– Frustrated Neighbor
Dear Frustrated: It is so generous of you to provide such a detailed list of repairs that need to be made to this property! You’ve obviously inspected the property quite closely.
You’ve also extended your generous attitude toward these strangers by offering suggestions for how they might finance improvements to their property in order to meet your needs, including the idea of them moving.
What you haven’t done is offered to mow their lawn. Or offered to get a group of people together to help with some cosmetic repairs to the outside of their home (oh, the horror of faded paint!).
What a neighborhood! People leaving notes and developing repair punch lists and investment advice – and not one person finding out who these neighbors are and asking if they need a hand.
I suggest that you approach this by putting human values ahead of property values.
Changing your own orientation and approach should improve the neighborhood.
Real Life of an MSW 
Amen! Does this person not know his/her neighbors? I’m so grateful for neighbors who care for one another. I don’t care how affluent the neighborhood is, if it’s full of strangers who don’t care about one another, I’d rather not live there. (Or I’ll start knocking on doors … 😏)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I too wondered if this individual ever spoke to their neighbor because communication and kindness goes an extraordinarily long way. I don’t go knocking on my neighbors’ doors, but I surely say, hello when we’re both out in the neighborhood, or I am ankle deep in dirt in one of my flower beds. My neighbors and I also take turns cutting the shared hedges, and bringing in each other’s receptacle when we are on holiday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We were coming home from a vacation down south, and back home it had snowed several FEET! Driving home from the airport after midnight, exhausted, we wondered how we would get in our driveway and how late we would finally get to bed… But when we drove up to our house, the neighbors, who had known we were coming home that night, after getting their driveway cleared, sent the snowplowing service over to do ours, too. That’s just one of the many kindnesses we’ve experienced over the years. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it! That is the neighborly thing to do. ❤ You might enjoy this post “Radom Act of Kindness”
LikeLike
Yes, I loved “Random Act of Kindness,” 💕although my phone would not let me “like” it, and my laptop is in the shop. 😒
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Amen!” was exactly my first reaction. Fascinating how quickly some people are willing to complain and not show one shred of humanity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine too! We need to all remember communication, and kindness goes a long way!
LikeLike
Yes, I love the response because before I read it, I was thinking this neighborhood to do without the complainer, so how about they move!
LikeLike
Exactly if it’s such an issue and their unwillingness to check in on a neighbor or help it may be in their best interest to sell and move elsewhere, as they sound like the worst neighbor to have.
LikeLiked by 1 person