Neighbor Talking Bad about Property

[Cody Bailey]

I purchased a home that was in pretty bad shape.   I put a lot of $$ into bringing the electric, plumbing  up to code.  Put new HVAC system in, carpet paint etc....

I also protested the taxes based on my purchase price, and the market appraisal the bank required and was successful in reducing it ~$20K (only a $65K property on the rolls anyway)

my tenant of 2 years just moved out, and i stoped by to check out the property.  I stopped by the speak to the neighbor and it turned into a very heated discussion with me leaving before things escalated.  He accussed me of cheating taxes, having bad tenants in there, and running the place down....He has my contact information and was very happy to see all the work i did when i purchased the property.

he is mad now

1- i protested and thinks i ruined values

2- claims the tenants were drug addicts (first i have heard of this)

Home was left in perfect shape, tenants paid on time i drove by 3-4 times a year and never saw anything out of the ordinary.

Today he further went on to  going over to someone i had sent by  that was possibly interested in buying.  He was bad mouthing me, the property, and i can tell this will be an ongoing issue.

How have you all handled this before?

[Jay Hinrichs]

@Cody Bailey  the know it all bad neighbor is very common I have been dealing with them since 1979.

here is how I handle it I defuse it up front. I tell any potential buyer ... exactly what this guys is going to do.. and also reverse phycology them .. I say I am sure your not the type that would let some stranger dictate what you do or buy... ( most common response is your damn right I would not) so they are ready for the offending neighbor.

Then if I am there and the neighbor try's that BS I say well not sure what your talking about if its so bad why do you live here in the first place. that shuts them up.

And if all else fails I tell the neighbor I may just rent this out to a half way house that specilize's in letting drug offenders and other felones get a second chance so its up to them do they want a nice new neighbor or would they prefer the felons.. since they will pay me double the rent.. you just have to be in their face