Normally I head out the door with my attention on getting to work as probably most of us do.  But this was a Saturday, and I decided to take it easy and ride around the neighbor. What I saw was disturbing.  There wasn’t just a yard here and there that was in apparent neglect, there were whole sections of the neighborhood.  When I returned home, I found a newspaper in the driveway– the North Raleigh News.  And this article caught my eye, and said just about everything that needs to be said. It’s by Jason Foster.  Here’s some exerpts.

As I roam the northern part of the city looking for a place for my family to live, I keep coming across middle-class neighborhoods that are, shall we say, lawn work challenged.

That’s not to say the overgrowth has reached jungle-like proportions, but it’s enough to make me wonder whether mowing the grass and lawn care in general have fallen out of fashion. And it’s not just one or two houses per neighborhood, It’s row after row of suspect lawns, and it gives me pause.

It’s frustrating to see a great house listing, then drive to the neighborhoods and be greeted with a first impression that says “You don’t want to live here”.

Full disclosure: I dread mowing the lawn as much as anyone.  It might actually be the thing in life I enjoy the least.

But there comes a point when the uncut grass, weeds growing in all directions, the kids toys strewn about send the message that the owners just don’t care anymore. Maybe some really don’t care. But if that’s the case, I have no desire to live in your neighborhood. 

To be fair, there are well manicured lawns in each neighborhood I’ve visited.  It’s obvious these people want their yards to have a pleasant appearance/  I applaud them.  But for you folks who are strangers to the mower, what’s the deal?

It’s frustrating to see a great house listing, then drive to the neighborhoods and be greeted with a first impression that says “You don’t want to live here”.

Is it apathy? Are you on vacation all summer? Are you just too busy? Is it just not that big a deal to your homeowners’ association?

Here’s my thinking and Id guess the thinking of others looking to buy. If someone doesn’t care about the appearance of his yard, them he probably isn’t giving his house the attention it deserves.  That attitude spreads throughout the neighborhood and a ‘why bother?’ feeling gains a foothold.  Over time, that doesn’t bode well for property values and resale potential.

I’m not saying everybody needs elaborate landscaping, or should hire a lawn service or spend large amounts of money to make the yard look nice.  Just do your part to keep things presentable.  Appearances do matter.

(reprinted with permission from Jason Foster, Editor, North Raleigh News, an N&O publication, Sunday, August 8, 2010.)

[There are nearly a dozen letters going to homeowners this week concerning their lawns. -Paul]