Unkempt Yards Offer Opportunities

With many foreclosure homes sitting empty and some homeowner's neglecting their yard maintenance to reduce costs, cities across the US are looking more ragged than ever. Cities across the country are saying collectively that enough is enough and are instituting ordinances to fine such residences. When faced with stiff fines, banks and homeowners will be more open to contracting landscape maintenance professionals. This offers an opportunity for landscapers to get more work. The landscaper can either go direct to the homeowner, the bank who owns the property or even to the city itself. Below are just a few of the many cities that are instituting or considering such ordinance.

Cities Instituting Ordinances

Besides avoiding the costs of the fines, maintenance professionals can also cite the fact that well kept landscape makes a home easier to sell and will brings in a better sales price. Even banks know that keeping a foreclosure home looking good helps with sales price.

In Ozaukee County, Wisconsin the Port Common Council took the first step to crack down on people who don't care for their lawns. According to city spokesperson, the number of people neglecting their yards has increased substantially, especially as foreclosures have increased. Banks that end up with title to the properties are less motivated to maintain them regularly. So far this year, the city has sent out 10 letters to property owners who have not kept up their lawns, according to the Department of Public Works. Lawns were cut by the city and the property owner charged for the work.

Owners of regular and foreclosed homes in Rolling Meadows, Illinois who neglect their landscaping face increased fees and fines. The city council approved a reading of an ordinance allowing the city to cut weeds or grass, trim trees or bushes, or remove nuisance bushes or trees. The ordinance allows the city to perform the landscaping if the owners do not comply. In addition to the cost for the work, the new law would add an administration fee of $225 with interest accruing at 9-percent per annum. If the property owner does not pay the fee and landscaping charges, the costs are assigned to the property that must be paid before the city issues a property transfer stamp for a sale.

The city council suggested a fine of $1,000 rather than a $225 fee to encourage compliance by banks that own foreclosed properties.

In Mount Carmel, Tennessee the town's is looking at ways of dealing with overgrown properties. One option proposed was to hire an independent contractor for mowing properties at the owners' expense, then file a lien against the home's owner.