the text message wasn't the best way to go about it - i know if our we have inspection and next door neighbours yard is a bit scruffy, or vice verse (both through same agency), the RE will give a call and say they were in the neighbourhood and noticed it was a bit unkempt. it's not done in a nasty way, just as a reminder that it needs to be done. gentle and polite is always better. they may have simply driven past (i'm not sure how likely that is) and noticed as opposed to actually spying kwim?

we had an inspection four days after DH had his second cancer surgery, so we'd had weeks where neither of us was able to mow the lawns - there was a comment on the inspection that the lawns had some length in them, but were generally well kept - which i seen as a polite butt kicking cos the lawns weren't done. i'm just thankful it was raining so she didn't venture into the back yard and see the really badly overgrown vegie patch lol