Neighbour with overgrown garden and a WWYD?

I think I can speak for both JK and myself when I say we wouldn't be the least bit offended if anyone offered to give our garden a makeover for nothing.

UPDATE: JK says "I'd be bloody thrilled!"

Thanks Mr and Mrs JK!

I think my husband is secretly thinking if he offers to help then it might give him the kick up the ass that he needs to sort it out

I think you have to be careful, he could either love it or totally go off on on at the suggestion. I'd be miffed at first (but then our garden isnt a jungle just a bit untidy). I really dont think another houses garden would put me off a house I liked though (tahts just me obviously)

My Dad's garden was like this. He told the neighbour where to go when she mentioned it. Our next door but one neighbour's garden is so overgrown it has 6ft of brambles/weeds/etc taking over the whole garden. It pushed our next door neighbour's fence down. She said she's put notes through the door saying she's going to sort out the front garden unless she hears otherwise, then just gets her gardener to cut back the massive bush (fnar) that takes over his garden and hers at the front. Unfortunately, in our terrace of six, his is the only garden with a bush. It looks a right mess out there. Our house is on the market and I'm considering getting out there with a step ladder and loppers. He doesn't speak to anyone so can't ask him to sort it. Good luck.

? I wouldn't count on it...I'd imagine if he isn't insulted he cares so little about it he won't be bothered to do anything about it. If he is insulted, I imagine he'd dig his heels in and refuse to do anything himself.

Still, if you are planning on moving, you've nothing to lose by asking. Just make sure it doesn't descend into a dispute that you'd need to report to any prospective buyer if they asked. I wouldn't be fussed by a future neighbour's garden, as long as it wasn't imposing on the house I was looking at (that is no overhanging trees, sagging fences, invasive weeds). As a potential buyer, an out of control garden next door would prompt me to ask who is responsible for the shared fences (and walls if a terrace)/access/waterpipes and so on as I'd imagine he'd be difficult to work with the neighbour on shared projects.

Thank you everyone for your replies. We dont hardly talk to him thats so dont know how he will react. We cut any branches that overhang our garden and the fences are fine - no problems there.

Oh I dont know - we have a few jobs such as painting the inside of the house that need to be done before we actually put the house on the market that time will the issue with sorting out next door's gardens. Its good to know that it wouldnt put some people off as prospective buyers.

I wouldn't be put off by a jungle-garden. I'd be put off if it had rotting cars in it or the neighbour's house was clearly not being maintained though. One house we looked at was a semi that looked fine, but the adjoining house seemed like it was going to collapse at any minute.

I don't know. I think if I felt it really needed doing I'd offer to do it for him, or to pay someone to do it - after all, it's obviously not a priority for him. What I'd probably do is tidy up my side of the fence and cut back anything encroaching on my garden, then hope no one notices.

I have a similar issue with next door and their bloody dogs. (Although probably offering to borrow FIL's shotgun and dispose of them all for them wouldn't go down well.) I'm worried that they'll put people off our house. They have big signs in the front windows of rottweilers, designed to put burglars off, and a big "WARNING - dogs running free!" sign on the door. In the summer there's usually a snarling rottie hanging out of each top window and you can't go in the back garden without barking, growling and snarling drowning out your conversation. It also frequently makes our garden stink of dog sh1t. They run some kind of rescue centre for badly trained rottweilers, which is a fcuking brilliant idea in a small terraced house IMO, as well as having at least 3 of their own and currently I think a litter of puppies. I don't want to do anything which would escalate into something which I'd have to tell buyers about, and I don't know if I'm being unreasonable in even thinking about asking nicely if they could keep their dogs indoors (and preferably drugged) if we get anyone around to view it.

Obviously the best solution would be for some more pig-ignorant, common, dog fanatics to buy our house then they could be besty friends...

Thanks LF - His property is fine. Nothing wrong with it not going to fall down and looks tidy enough. Its just the outside.

PL - I think we will just keep our side tidy and then see in a couple of months if we havent had any offers or any feedback etc. I feel for you though, I dont know what to suggest in your situation. Fingers crossed the dog fantatics turn up soon