Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

So the house we are closing on soon (we have a clear to close but the seller is away until Labor Day), we drove by yesterday. The seller doesn't live there - she has another house but keeps some stuff at this one. Anyways, she has tons of trees and shrubbery in the front. When we first saw the house and at inspection it was very lush and more than we wanted but nothing bad. Well, yesterday when we drove by the trees were majorly overgrown and the bushes were leaning over from their own weight. The driveway and entrance are all blocked by all this. Is there anything we can say/do to make sure it is trimmed back and tidied up before we take possession??

Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

My house was horribly overgrown in areas too, but it never occurred to us to ask the seller to remedy it. I think at this point, don't bother asking them for anything because they've given you so much trouble already. Or if you really think its an issue, ask your lawyer to mention it to hers, maybe say, when will all the shrubs be cleared from the driveway because the access is obstructed.

Message edited 8/26/2013 6:59:13 AM.

Re: Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

I would talk to your realtor and attorney and voice your concerns. I'm pretty sure your contract states that they need to maintain the property until closing.

Re: Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

Same thing happened to us( we closed July 30). We drove past house a week before closing lawn was yellow and high..was green and beautiful before and bushes were over grown. We contacted our attorney..he said they have to maintain property..he called there atty and next day landscaper was there mowing lawn.

Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

Same thing with us. We just did a spring cleanup. Wasn't a big deal to me IMO as the spring cleanup address some of our other issues too

Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

Unless its horrific, like a tree laying on the house, I wouldn't mention it and hold up the process. Not worth it IMO.

Its a cost of homeownership. You'll have to deal with the lawn and shrubs 9 million more times.

Re: Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

oh god our new home is on 1.8 acres, no one lived there and it was WAY overgrown right before we moved in and there was a tree on the roof. You cant even see half the yard. The owners were going through a bitter divorve and we got a good deal, even after a bidding war, so they werent really willing to give us anything. They didnt want to deal with the house and they knew we got a good deal and they knew if we didnt want to move forward bc of the lawn/tree maintence someone else would so they werent willing to do anything. Depends on your situation, IMO if youre willing to wait a little longer, it cant hurt to ask

Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

Bil had the sellers take care of down fell trees and things of that nature but that was right before they closed.

Overgrown landscaping at the house we are closing on soon - any recourse?

I would contact your real estate agent. The sellers are supposed to maintain the property until the closing takes place, at which it becomes your responsibility. The house we bought was vacant and the same thing happened to us. I called our agent and complained and told them that the house looked clearly vacant and this made me nervous from a security standpoint -- people/teenagers trying to get into the house or the backyard to hangout. There was a landscaping company there 2 days after I called. Couldn't hurt.