The Hoarders Next Door

[Taylor Ferrell]

I am looking at a duplex to purchase in a good part of town. The owners have been trying to sell the property for 3 years.

Even with the massive repairs the duplex needs, the numbers work based on rents for similar size units just down the street after we rehab the property.

The biggest hurdle is the next door neighbor's house (not a rental) is on a corner lot that you have to drive past to get to the duplex. There are mounds of trash and piles of junk all over the yard. This property is in the county and not the city. It is not part of an HOA. These homes are all close together, and to get the quality of tenant, at the price point the area dictates I am concerned will be difficult with this next door.

Has anyone dealt with this situation before or have recommendations on how to get the house next door cleaned up?

Thank you.

[Scott Mac]

Hi Taylor,

Put on a pair of denim pants, and a sweatshirt and go knock on the door.

Explain you're "thinking of" buying the house next door but want to rent it out to "a nice family" but are worried about people thinking the "Valuable Items" out front of his place might scare off the "better families".

Tell him you know it would be a lot of work to move all of this "Valuable Stuff" (what's junk to you might be welding steel to him or something else, who knows), and would he be willing to let YOU hire a crew of guys to come over an move it to the backyard or haul some of it off.

If he says OK, Craig's list for the workers and (finish it during the due diligence), if you let him do it, it will probably not be satisfactory.

If he says no or he's a "Scary Unpleasant type" move on, b/c any tenant you get will probably want to do the same.

Just my 2 cents.

Good Luck!