A few years ago, I made a blog entry about the neighbors across my back yard, whom I often observe from my deck during the summer. At that time, I noted some issues they each had with family members who just didn't want to move out.
Now that I'm working from home, I have a chance to observe these neighbors more frequently -- not by choice, but by virtue of simply looking out my window a few times a day. My update on them is, so much has changed, yet so much remains the same.
My elderly widowed neighbor to the east is rarely seen outside anymore, but there's more activity there than ever. Her disabled son is no longer around, and neither is her prodigal granddaughter and boyfriend, but they've been replaced by others. Now her recently separated or divorced adult grandson lives there, and from time-to-time, he's joined by his kids and girlfriend. You'd think this living arrangement would have the grandson taking care of their house and yard, but this would only be true if you defined 'taking care of'' as letting the property look like an unkempt trailer park.
My neighbors to the northeast haven't changed the number of occupants (unless you count the dog dying), but therein lies the problem. Their adult, mostly unemployed, high-school dropout daughter still lives there. In the past year, in addition to the usual shouting matches, there have been multiple visits by police, fire, and rescue units. Her dad has admitted these are attributable to the daughter's addictive lifestyle, but he and his wife won't kick her out, because, well, they're bad at parenting. Their house and yard were TP'd this week, which I thought was only a high school thing, but at least it's better than hearing gunshots.
Like I said, much has changed, yet much remains the same, and none of it is good for my property value.
No comments:
Post a Comment