Hi all, need some advice. The seller of the house next door to me rang our doorbell. They state that a prospect buyer didn't like my garden flag due to religious beliefs. They asked if it could be removed until the house sells.

    Now I am fine with helping out and being neighborly, but I can't help but feel a certain way about it. Sure, I can take it down until the house sells but then what? Just put it back up and hope the buyer is fine with it?

    Obviously I want to do the right thing and not hinder them selling their house, but also I love how my house is decorated and I am not fond of the idea of hiding a religious garden flag… even if it offends people. I am just not sure what to do in this situation.

    Thanks in advance for advice!

    Since so many are asking, it is a This House is Protected by Witchcraft with a pentagram. I am pagan. I was raised pagan. It is my belief. I know it isn't "mainstream" but it is MY religion.

    Seller asking to remove home flag..
    byu/LinkLover1393 inRealEstate



    Posted by LinkLover1393

    35 Comments

    1. Nope, that new buyer is going to be an issue. They will bully and target you when you put it back up.

      Solid nope.

    2. Honestly that’s a pretty bold ask from your neighbor. Your yard, your flag – you shouldn’t have to hide your beliefs because some potential buyer gets offended. What happens when they move in and see it back up anyway? Seems like a temporary fix to a problem that’s gonna resurface

    3. ThickAsAPlankton on

      No. If they buy and you put it back up, you will have an endless conflict. Next stop: r/neighborsfromhell

      You have the same rights to your religious beliefs as does the prospective buyer. They can pound sand if they are so intolerant.

    4. Greedy-Neck895 on

      The last thing you want is a new neighbor that cares too much about what you do on your own property.

    5. Beautiful-Report58 on

      Yeah, sure. Would you like me to stop practicing my religion too. That’s not a problem for us. Anything else I can do you, like give up right to freedom speech?

      Put up more flags, large ones just so they won’t buy the house.

    6. Ordinary_Sail_414 on

      As a buyer, I would want it to stay up. That way I can determine whether or not I would want to purchase the house next door.

    7. imthefakeagent on

      Flying a pentagram flag or something that the lay person could misconstrue for something more insidious?

      It’s pretty bold of a seller to ask you to pull your flag down as a vast majority of people wouldn’t care what the neighbors do on their own property as far as displaying interests/religious/military/sports etc.. but I can see how if you live in a more conservative area/state it might hurt their potential sale.

    8. How is that different from this house protected by smith and Wesson or pit bulls or fairies? Keep the flag. It will ward off bad buyers.

    9. StackIsMyCrack on

      Please tell us what the flag is…geez. I wouldn’t take it down, but I’m an asshole. Also, I wouldn’t want a new neighbor that is that much of a snowflake.

    10. Jupitersd2017 on

      Hahaha who in this day and age cares about a flag with a pentagram on it? I feel like be polite and say no, you wouldn’t ask them to remove a cross from their home, it’s your religion. Anyone that has an issue with it (most likely their stupid RE agent asked them to ask you) you wouldn’t want as a neighbor anyways and whoever buys the house will have to learn to live with the flag. The neighbors can say that you are an amazing neighbor and leave it at that if asked.

    11. Agree or disagree with your flag I would never ask for you to take it down. I would want prospective buyers to see the neighborhood and neighbors as they are. And choose to live there.

    12. SpicyPorkWontonnnn on

      Yeah that’s a no. I don’t care if it’s Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Pagan, Wiccan. It stays UP. Full stop.

    13. Comfortable_Candy649 on

      They’re leaving and new folks are moving in…the new folks can decide if they like the neighborhood and should do so armed with reality not fakeness.

      Leave it up and they can deal.

    14. Alarmed_Newspaper334 on

      First its the flag…..then next it will be something else.  tell them “Hell No”

    15. Keep the flag, but be nice and neighborly. Wave, say “good afternoon”, and be welcoming.

    16. PaintIntelligent7793 on

      Honestly, the person moving in needs to be aware of what they are moving next to, just as much as you need to be able to express yourself and your beliefs, otherwise you’re all asking for problems — which of course the seller won’t have to deal with.

    17. Just No. Maybe add another. Remember that the seller is leaving and then you live next door to a person who hates your faith.

    18. MLSurfcasting on

      It’s your property, don’t do it. You live in a free country. If it offends a potential neighbor, better they don’t even move in.

    19. I am looking for a home. I thought I found the perfect place on paper. When I arrived the three homes across the street had tons of flags and signs supporting a political candidate that I find offensive.

      I arrived for the showing and told the agent I was not interested. He tried to change my mind. I pointed out the violent and sexual signs and said, “I am just not a match for this location.” When she saw the sexual messages she understood.

      I would never be a good neighbor for those people. I am not sad I got to see who they are. I am sure who ever lives in that house now is also fine with it.

      So keep the flag. You are who you are and you should stay there. The flag alerts those strongly opposed to just move on.

      Your flag would not change my mind one way or another. I some point I would ask you to tell me more about your religion. I won’t convert. I will chat about it and learn more.

    20. handcraftedbyjamie on

      Meh, I think you are fine if you move it and fine if not.

      The house I bought a few years ago had several “in this house we believe in science, your right to choose, my body my choice…”, etc. type signs out front (and included in their real estate photos).  They also had a few Obama books and what not on full display. 

      Those were the vibes I was looking for, so it worked for me lol but I could totally see it turning off some people as well.  

      Maybe keeping it up will attract the right people and you’ll luck out with great neighbors!

    21. Hahahah fuck em. If any buyers actually have a problem with it, you’re saving your neighbors from having a nightmare of a sale with buyers from hell. Anyone that’s nosy about the neighbors’ beliefs will definitely make the sale difficult.

    22. BeefcakeRenigus on

      One reason we didn’t buy a certain house was because there was a confederate flag flying right across the street. I’m glad it was there when we were hunting and didn’t go up after we bought the place.

      Keep your flag. If someone doesn’t want to buy a house because of your beliefs, that’s on them. It’s not your problem.

    23. Wandering_aimlessly9 on

      As a Christian…LEAVE IT UP!!! Seriously if they won’t buy a house bc of your flag and beliefs you don’t want them living beside you. They will make your life miserable. Leave it up. Leave it up. Leave it up. You live in a place that respects your religion…you want a neighbor who respects it as well.

    24. Excellent_Speech_901 on

      If the potential buyer doesn’t approve of your flag then what will they think of you as a neighbor? Do you want to encourage someone like that to move in?

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