The old saying “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” isn’t always accurate, and a new survey found that a neighbor’s crummy lawn could imperil a homeowner’s effort to sell their residence.
The organic lawn care provider NaturaLawn of America commissioned a survey of 1,115 homeowners last month and found more than half (56%) of respondents said they would hesitate to buy a residence next to a home with a poorly maintained yard.
The survey also found 87% of respondents worrying about neighboring lawn conditions affecting the sale of their home, with 45% claiming they would consider contributing financially to a neighbor to improve a lawn if it could help their home sell faster or at a higher price.
As for the impression a lawn makes, 95% of respondents said neighboring lawn conditions impact their first impression of a home to some degree and 93% indicated that a poorly maintained neighboring lawn signals lower home value to some degree. Furthermore, 50% of respondents admitted that a neighbor’s lawn condition motivated them to increase maintenance of their own lawn
“People don’t just notice lawns, they make assumptions about the neighbors behind them,” said Theresa Smith, senior vice president for NaturaLawn of America. “Our research shows a well-maintained yard does more than boost curb appeal; it shapes how homeowners are perceived in their community and can even influence buyer and seller confidence during the home-selling process.”
