Real Estate Regret: 5 Things Recent Homebuyers Loathe About Their Yard
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Amid the pandemic-era buying frenzy, many first-time homebuyers rushed into purchases to take advantage of then record-low mortgage interest rates and score a sweet deal. We saw buyers waiving contingencies and making offers sight unseen in an effort to beat out the competition. But, as we’ve learned, buying a home without fully vetting it can result in a panoply of problems and, ultimately, buyer’s remorse.
One area of the home where buyers unearth a ton of issues that make them second-guess their new purchase is the yard. Frustrating problems like drainage issues and a high-maintenance lawn can surface and, if not contended with, can turn into long-term, pricey messes.
We reached out to real estate experts and new homeowners to find out what kind of yard complaints are most common—and what you should consider if you’re in the market to buy a home anytime soon.
1. Drainage issues
Standing water can attract mosquitoes and make it hard for you to enjoy your outdoor space.Getty Images
If you visit and buy your home under sunny skies, you might be in for a rude awakening when it pours.
“I’ve definitely seen unexpected drainage issues crop up in yards,” says Krystol O’Rourke, co-founder of the outdoor living design firm Spade and Sparrow in Cary, NC. “If the drainage issue causes standing water, it can attract mosquitoes and make it hard for you to enjoy the outdoor space.”
O’Rourke says you can either “divert a gutter downspout or regrade the property to improve gravity flow.”
A simple downspout diverter will run you about $25, but regrading the property will cost between 8 cents and $2 a square foot, or about $1,000 to $5,000 for an average-size yard.
2. Cross-property tree issues
Cross-property tree issues are a common source of strife between neighbors.Getty Images
Backyard surprises come in many forms for new homeowners; they even start outside your property line.
“Sometimes, a tree in a neighbor’s yard will hang over your property line and drop leaves and branches all over your yard,” says O’Rourke. “But if the tree isn’t on your side of the fence, you can’t be held responsible for trimming it.”
Cross-property tree issues are a common source of strife between neighbors. Going rogue and trimming what is technically your neighbor’s tree, could have legal implications.
If you find yourself in this situation, O’Rourke suggests talking with your neighbor about the issue. If a face-to-face conversation is impossible, a letter might do the trick.
Small-scale, tree-trimming projects can be relatively inexpensive and easy to do yourself. But if it’s a big job, you’re going to want to hire a professional, which could run into the hundreds of dollars.
3. Invasive plant species
Different species pose different issues depending on where you live in the country.Getty Images
It isn’t unusual to find your new yard is rife with invasive plant species that can overpopulate and threaten the health of your other plants.
“Homeowners often don’t realize how pervasive invasive species are until they move in,” says Martin Orefice, CEO of Rent to Own Labs in Orlando, FL. “Different species pose different issues depending on where you are in the country. But in the South, buckthorn, garlic mustard, and kudzu can all pose serious threats to your lawn and garden. These species can be incredibly difficult to fully eradicate without using herbicides, which present their own health issues.”
Your options include being vigilant and nixing every invasive species you see by hand, or tackling them with herbicides, which start at around $50.
4. A needy lawn
Completely rethinking your landscaping will save time, water, and money in the long term.Getty Images
A nice, bright green lawn has major curb appeal. But after a few weeks, many homeowners realize that gorgeous grass requires a lot of hands-on maintenance.
“I have noticed that a lot of first-time homeowners come to learn that they signed up for a lot more yard maintenance than they realized,” says Jon Stephens, director of operations at West Virginia’s Snowshoe Vacation Rentals.
Homebuyers who reveled in their lazy Sundays now have to contend with hours of mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and other lawn maintenance tasks. Or, if budgets permit, they can hire a local landscaper. Prices during high season vary but start at around $100 per visit for basic lawn maintenance.
You could also join the many homeowners who are rethinking their lawn altogether and swapping out their water-thirsty yard for drought-tolerant plants.
Completely rethinking your landscaping will save time, water, and money in the long term, but the initial outlay of hiring a landscape consultant and replanting can be expensive. Costs vary depending on your location and the scope of the project, but hiring a landscape designer starts at around $2,000.
5. Access to neighbor’s yard
If there is an unexpected entry point between your property and your neighbor’s, putting up a small fence is a manageable expense.Getty Images
Inspecting every inch of your backyard’s border may seem excessive, but it’s very much worth doing.
“When we bought our house, we didn’t notice that there was a gate in the fence between our backyard and our neighbor’s yard,” says Nick Mueller, director of operations at HawaiianIslands.com. “The previous homeowner installed the gate because they often went over to check on their elderly neighbor. The neighbor passed away before we bought the house, but the gate wasn’t removed.”
If there is an unexpected entry point between your property and your neighbor’s, putting up a small fence is a manageable expense. Prices for fences start at $35 at big-box stores like Lowe’s.
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