Undoubtedly, one reason that you or your family purchased a home was because of the financial and investment opportunities that accompany property ownership. Your neighbors purchased the property in your neighborhood for similar reasons. They may become concerned if one or several properties are not adequately maintained according to community standards as that can depreciate their property’s value and negatively impact the reputation of the area. Frequently assess your property’s appearance to assure acceptable maintenance. Here are some tips to assist with your assessment.
 

• Look at your neighborhood. College is a great time to develop and maintain your sense of style and individualism. At the same time, you probably selected the neighborhood in which you reside because of its location, reputation and collective appearance. Survey other residents’ properties to determine what the formal and informal community standards are for the area. Take note of house colors, appropriate porch and lawn decorations, vehicle storage and parking, and other elements.
   
• Get to know your neighbors. While this is an excellent tip for good general neighborhood relations, this can also help you understand the commitment others have made to setting acceptable community standards related to property maintenance.
   
• Keep it clean. A clean residence is a place where people will want to live. If the common areas are filthy and unkempt, it will give other residents (i.e., roommates) a bad impression of the rest of the property. Consider setting basic rules for cleanliness of the property. Both the interior and exterior of your home should be kept clean and safe. Mosquitoes can breed in standing water and pools that are left unattended and rodents can gather if trash is not disposed of in a timely manner. Pet waste that remains on the lawn for long periods of time is unsanitary and can attract insects and animals.
   
• Make timely repairs. One of the most common reasons that neighbors complain about other’s property is infrequent or nonexistent repairs to the exterior of the house. Invest the time and money that is necessary to keep your property in top condition. This includes rehanging shutters, realigning and/or patching fences, repaving broken driveways or sidewalks, replacing broken fixtures, and other similar repairs.
   
• Spruce up the exterior. You may need to determine whether the exterior needs to be washed or painted. This can dramatically improve the look of your property. Landscaping is very important to making your property appear “homey.” It also exemplifies that you are a serious resident who has a long-term vested interest in your property.
   
• Maintain your lawn. Keeping the lawn mowed and shrubs and bushes trimmed is an extremely easy way to improve your property’s appearance. It is also an excellent safety precaution. Remove all litter from the lawn immediately after gatherings. Indoor furniture should not remain on the lawn or on the porch permanently. Evaluate the “tastefulness” of lawn decorations before adding them to your landscape. Sports and recreational paraphernalia should be properly stored out of sight when not in use.
   
• Maintain your streetscape. Overflowing garbage bins can be a sore subject with some neighbors. Dispose of all garbage properly based on regulations identified by city-parish garbage collection agency. Move your garbage bin to the street on the days designated for trash collection only. Remove the bin once the garbage has been collected. Consider recycling as a way to manage and disperse your garbage.
   
• Maintain the streets and byways. Some neighborhoods have limited driveways and curb parking. Consider this when purchasing a home as you will need to park your car and other residents’ vehicles properly without blocking the street or other driveways. Visitors to your residents should also be notified about proper parking procedures. It is against local ordinance to park on lawns and sidewalks.

NOTE:  Please be sure to check our Resources section for much more information, including additional worksheets and checklists.