Should I be concerned? Neighbor issues.

[Hoopz]

That would have made a kick ass fort to play in when we were kids.

Let's be honest... it'd make a kick ass fort to play in now that I'm an adult too.

[Vigo]

New update on the neighbor painting situation. This morning I found a note on my car from the neighbors saying that the painters will be back and they will be painting by hand and they want me to move my car for the day. The letter was polite as well, but given my history with my neighbor, I am having a hard time agreeing to even this. On the other hand, if I let them use my driveway, we will just be done with this whole situation. My wife is sick of watching our property like a hawk. We got better things than fight with our neighbors even more.

Here is the short list of why I don't feel up to clearing my driveway.

• When we first moved in to our house, the neighbors asked to use our driveway for yard work. We agreed, and they chopped down our fence on us. The only reason we didn't call the cops is we were new and didn't want want to burn bridges.
• Nobody has enough courtesy to tell me about these things more than the day of.
• The painter was a real ---tallywhacker--- to my wife. If I was there, I would have been tempted to take a swing at the guy. I'll leave it at that.
• In the last year, the neighbor has also had roofers in and a carpenter redoing their porch. On both occasions they made home of our driveway as well.
• Our roses got pretty badly damaged on Monday.
• Our city has a property lookup that is public to view. We searched our property yesterday, and found the neighbors posted this bogus complaint on our house:

"The house is in shambles and they don't take care of it. Their exterior paint is peeling, their retaining wall is crumbling and the front of the house isn't even usable and the roof is falling apart. When is someone going to do something about this house?"

The last time the neighbor's made a complaint against our property, they said that we were housing illegal immigrants in our attic. Out of reaction to the complaint, the city took away our Homestead property tax exemption, which meant our property tax went up by like $2000 among other issues.

[HaRuMaN]

That would have made a kick ass fort to play in when we were kids.

Let's be honest... it'd make a kick ass fort to play in now that I'm an adult too.

No kidding.  If I win the lottery, I'm buying it and turning it into my own personal nuke-proof arcade.   

[Vigo]

That would have made a kick ass fort to play in when we were kids.

Let's be honest... it'd make a kick ass fort to play in now that I'm an adult too.

No kidding.  If I win the lottery, I'm buying it and turning it into my own personal nuke-proof arcade.   

It's also a good platform to use the phrase - "I'll be in my bunker." 

[ChadTower]

The last time the neighbor's made a complaint against our property, they said that we were housing illegal immigrants in our attic. Out of reaction to the complaint, the city took away our Homestead property tax exemption, which meant our property tax went up by like $2000 among other issues.

Was that a valid complaint?  If it wasn't you can sue them for harrassment and damages.  There may be city and/or state laws they violated as well that are worth speaking to your city clerk about.

Given this new information... and assuming those complaints are bogus... don't allow them to use your driveway for anything.  Ever.  No more.  Don't ever do a single thing for them for any reason. 

[Vigo]

The complaint was most definitely not valid, but the city bit on it hard because the property was a rental before we bought it, and there was a sign at the end of my driveway that said "Tenant parking only" I just never got around to removing the sign. I'm lucky the city did not get ICE involved, because that would have been a huge pain as well.

I talked to the head city inspector about the damaging issue of their complaint. Their response was that anyone is allowed to put up any complaint they want, and the city will look into it as part of their policy. They don't offer much help in that area, because they want to keep retaliation issues at a minimum.

[HaRuMaN]

Their response was that anyone is allowed to put up any complaint they want, and the city will look into it as part of their policy.

Time to complain that your neighbors have a huge pot growing operation in their attic and cash / guns stashed in the walls?

[ChadTower]

The complaint was most definitely not valid, but the city bit on it hard because the property was a rental before we bought it, and there was a sign at the end of my driveway that said "Tenant parking only" I just never got around to removing the sign. I'm lucky the city did not get ICE involved, because that would have been a huge pain as well.

I talked to the head city inspector about the damaging issue of their complaint. Their response was that anyone is allowed to put up any complaint they want, and the city will look into it as part of their policy. They don't offer much help in that area, because they want to keep retaliation issues at a minimum.

That's why I said city clerk.  This sort of thing is part of their job.  In your town the clerk might not be the actual person to handle this but the clerk will route you to the person who does handle it.  Either way, they cost you a substantial sum of money through a false accusation, and you do have a civil case against them.  Also, pursue the matter with the town, because they raised your taxes without proof, and that's not reasonable either.

[t3design]

Most people don't realize that there were 384,000 house fires last year (2010). 27,500 of those were intentionally set.

Just saying.

[spoot]

Vigo,

After reading your above posts.......I'm shocked you aren't in jail for shooting those wankers yet.   

[Vigo]

@Chad - Well, to clarify, we did get our homestead tax rate reinstated after a couple months. It was a lot of time and effort, and I had to take off of work quite a bit, undergo multiple inspections of our home, have conference calls, fill out forms, the whole 9 yards. I guess I am not that into pursuing a litigation route since that issue was eventually resolved, but I am just bitter as hell about it. You are right though, the city was the most unreasonable in this case, I am sure these bogus claims come in all the time, they should know better.

Most people don't realize that there were 384,000 house fires last year (2010). 27,500 of those were intentionally set.

Just saying.

Is that an idea, or something I should watch out for?  At this rate, I am a bit worried about my house. Before we moved into our house, our neighbor was digging without permit in their front yard. They ruptured a gas main and the whole block had to be evacuated while the city repaired the line. 

Vigo,

After reading your above posts.......I'm shocked you aren't in jail for shooting those wankers yet.   

The trick is to enjoy the small victories of their idiocy. Last year they had a bunch of scrap metal in their yard that they needed to get rid of. They spend over $500 renting a dumpster and getting a permit to have the dumpster on the street. After they finished filling the dumpster, it was no more than 10 minutes that a scrapper drove by, saw the metal, and took it all so he could recycle it for profit. When the dumpster company came to pick it back up, the amount of stuff in the dumpster could have easily fit in the neighbor's trash can.

[Mikezilla]

Haha thats pretty funny.

Seriously though man, burn the house down, then move away from where you are. Youre in Minnesota right?! GET OUT OF THERE!!! 

[Vigo]

Haha, well if my house burns down at 3am right after I conveniently was out taking a walk with the family...and my arcade machine, I'll be sure to get ---my bottom--- somewhere closer to the equator.

[NiN^_^NiN]

New update on the neighbor painting situation. This morning I found a note on my car from the neighbors saying that the painters will be back and they will be painting by hand and they want me to move my car for the day. The letter was polite as well, but given my history with my neighbor, I am having a hard time agreeing to even this. On the other hand, if I let them use my driveway, we will just be done with this whole situation. My wife is sick of watching our property like a hawk. We got better things than fight with our neighbors even more.

Here is the short list of why I don't feel up to clearing my driveway.

• When we first moved in to our house, the neighbors asked to use our driveway for yard work. We agreed, and they chopped down our fence on us. The only reason we didn't call the cops is we were new and didn't want want to burn bridges.
• Nobody has enough courtesy to tell me about these things more than the day of.
• The painter was a real ---tallywhacker--- to my wife. If I was there, I would have been tempted to take a swing at the guy. I'll leave it at that.
• In the last year, the neighbor has also had roofers in and a carpenter redoing their porch. On both occasions they made home of our driveway as well.
• Our roses got pretty badly damaged on Monday.
• Our city has a property lookup that is public to view. We searched our property yesterday, and found the neighbors posted this bogus complaint on our house:

"The house is in shambles and they don't take care of it. Their exterior paint is peeling, their retaining wall is crumbling and the front of the house isn't even usable and the roof is falling apart. When is someone going to do something about this house?"

The last time the neighbor's made a complaint against our property, they said that we were housing illegal immigrants in our attic. Out of reaction to the complaint, the city took away our Homestead property tax exemption, which meant our property tax went up by like $2000 among other issues.

Honestly don't do it.

I can see them spilling and dripping paint all over your drive way and what happens when they clean the brushes? they will use your tap as it's closest to their can and who know where their splashes and flipping of the brushes will go.

I would make sure that they can't have a car in your driveway they can use the place that's getting painted or park in the gutter.

Just cause they were nice in the letter doesn't mean the actual workers will care about your property and if something does happen then what? the company won't fix it and your neighbours sure as hell won't it's safer if you just don't get involved and tell the people who are trying to use your driveway to go away politely

[Vigo]

I got a feeling you are exactly right on how it would all pan out if I let them use our driveway.

Funny thing is the painters never showed up today.  

My neighbors did however leave a treat on my mailbox....



Yes, that's a moldy bagel. 

[ed12]

welp where i live
we call it pay-back-time
u got a stereo ? if so find 11
u walk around in scant colth's
leave a wreck or 2 in the lane-way
leave a note on there mail box that u are going to invite your
redneck bro's over for a few week's
would they mind if they camp out on there lawn ?
they will get the point

ed

[Well Fed Games]

What the hell? Are they trolling you in real life?  

My neighbors did however leave a treat on my mailbox....


Yes, that's a moldy bagel.  

[Donkbaca]

Up the ante - go moldy quiche on their porch

[Luigi]

Damn, reading this reminds me of some sort of tv show 

I can't believe all this happened and you didn't tell them that you NEVER want to see them again on your property and there is no chance you will do ANY favor to them. In Germany, when stuff like this happens you could go to court and have it made clear that some specific person is not allowed to step on your property. You may call the police if they don't obey.


I'm really glad that we have a good neighbourhood around us!!

[ChadTower]

A moldy bagel?  That's just weird. 

There is only one good course of action for you here:

TREBUCHET

[Nephasth]

Hatfields vs McCoys. Queue the banjos.

What was for breakfast this morning?

[Vigo]

I gave that bagel a high lob into their backyard. One of their dogs will happily have it for breakfast.

[ChadTower]

I gave that bagel a high lob into their backyard. One of their dogs will happily have it for breakfast.

We have a winner! 

Next time put laxatives in the bagel.

[Malenko]

I think its time for you find a reason to spray paint thinner in the air near their house (on your property)

[Mikezilla]

That is insane. You should go get a fish and throw it on their property, hopefully in some bushes near a window or something.

A moldy bagel? What scumbags! You should leave some milk out in the sun for a few days and then put that on their mailbox. In the jug, out of the jug, whatever you prefer. 

[Vigo]

You know, the funny thing is a moldy bagel on top of my mailbox is such a lame ass trick that my wife and I just burst out in laughter at it. One time I caught him putting an empty cookie tray on my doorstep as well. Where is the creativity?

I think the suggestions above are pretty darn clever (and hilarious) ideas.   

[ChadTower]

Few things are worse than discovering your dogs have uncontrollable diarrhea.  They'll probably bring the dogs in, have them mess up the floors and throw them back out, bring them back in and have them mess up the floors, and the cycle will go on for a while. 

[Vigo]

 

Yeah, they have 3 dogs, 2 large and 1 medium. I have only dealt with dog diarrhea on a little dog and that is horrid to deal with.

[Vigo]

 

[Dervacumen]

Thanks for that. So the insurance should show the names or address of the property they are insured to work on? I highly doubt they have us on there.

I believe that you can require anyone to add you to their insurance as an additional party for any event; in this case being on your property on a ladder and using a product that may cause lasting and significant damage to your property.  That way if anything happens, you can report it to their insurance instead of your own and they will bear the consequence rather than you.  In other words, you don't take the insurance hit, thus no increase in premium as a result of their negligence.
I'm not in insurance nor am I a lawyer so I cannot offer this as advice.  I only suggest it might be something to discuss with a qualified party.

Wow, that sounded annoying at the end but it illustrates why I'd do this.  No doubt if something needed to be remedied, the insurance companies lawyer's get paid to duke it out, not you.

[Dervacumen]

New update on the neighbor painting situation. This morning I found a note on my car from the neighbors saying that the painters will be back and they will be painting by hand and they want me to move my car for the day. The letter was polite as well, but given my history with my neighbor, I am having a hard time agreeing to even this. On the other hand, if I let them use my driveway, we will just be done with this whole situation. My wife is sick of watching our property like a hawk. We got better things than fight with our neighbors even more.

Here is the short list of why I don't feel up to clearing my driveway.

• When we first moved in to our house, the neighbors asked to use our driveway for yard work. We agreed, and they chopped down our fence on us. The only reason we didn't call the cops is we were new and didn't want want to burn bridges.
• Nobody has enough courtesy to tell me about these things more than the day of.
• The painter was a real ---tallywhacker--- to my wife. If I was there, I would have been tempted to take a swing at the guy. I'll leave it at that.
• In the last year, the neighbor has also had roofers in and a carpenter redoing their porch. On both occasions they made home of our driveway as well.
• Our roses got pretty badly damaged on Monday.
• Our city has a property lookup that is public to view. We searched our property yesterday, and found the neighbors posted this bogus complaint on our house:

"The house is in shambles and they don't take care of it. Their exterior paint is peeling, their retaining wall is crumbling and the front of the house isn't even usable and the roof is falling apart. When is someone going to do something about this house?"

The last time the neighbor's made a complaint against our property, they said that we were housing illegal immigrants in our attic. Out of reaction to the complaint, the city took away our Homestead property tax exemption, which meant our property tax went up by like $2000 among other issues.

Wow.  Okay, the gloves are off.  I'd park as close to the property line as possible and take a vacation day, then open up the car doors on your side of the property and spend all day giving it a meticulous cleaning, so you can observe the whole thing.  I'd also set up a camera on a tripod to film it so the background also gets the side of your neighbor's house in view.  Tell them you're taking video for a website.  You are.  You can post it here when the time is appropriate.

[Dervacumen]

I don't get it - why would anyone leave a bagel or cookie tray on your door step?

I'm hoping this doesn't go to P&R but the bagel and tray are both derogatory references to Jewish culture.  Could be a starting point.
I need to learn how to respond to multiple posts within one thread.

[Dervacumen]

Think about it - is this really worth stressing over?  Why not be the better person and let them paint their house? 

If you've been singled out and targeted it's likely you'll get fed up at some point.  They call that going postal.

[gabe]

Some people on this thread are -really- weird.  Poisoning dogs and setting up cameras?  Threatening to call INS to harass a bunch of poor guys that have to paint houses for a living?  REALLY?


Think about it - is this really worth stressing over?  Why not be the better person and let them paint their house? 

My thoughts exactly.

It sounds like you deserve to have one another as neighbors. I'm glad I don't live next to either one of you.

[Vigo]

I've laid out a lot of my history with my neighbor's. They have asked to use our driveway before for yardwork and we were happy to help. My wife emptied the driveway for the day and we came to find they chopped down our fence.

We have in fact been the better person on many counts. They once wrote us a letter stating that they are going to trample our flowers that we put up in place of the fence that they tore down. I wrote back that I wanted to discuss this face to face and we can work things out. I even gave them a bunch of candy as a gift with the letter as a peace offering. That was a week before they dumped a cookie tray at our doorstep.

The truth is there is not one thing I have done against them, lobbing the bagel in their yard is probably about as bad as I have gotten. I have reported them when they parked in front of my driveway before, and when they put out their garbage in the middle of my driveway ramp, I push it back to their property, but that is about it.

We haven't even had to tell them they couldn't use our driveway in this case. When the the guy came to my door and talked to my wife, she didn't even say no, she just said that they would have to wait for me. My wife offered the compromise right away and they refused that day. Yesterday, when they agreed to the compromise via note, they didn't even show up so we couldn't even talk to them. 

Some people on this thread are -really- weird.  Poisoning dogs and setting up cameras?  Threatening to call INS to harass a bunch of poor guys that have to paint houses for a living?  REALLY?


Think about it - is this really worth stressing over?  Why not be the better person and let them paint their house? 

My thoughts exactly.

It sounds like you deserve to have one another as neighbors. I'm glad I don't live next to either one of you.

So I guess I am wondering, when haven't I been the better person, and what is a single thing that makes be a bad neighbor to live next to?

[CheffoJeffo]

I see a lot of the same stupidity in this thread that PBJ does.

Document, document some more and report to the authorities.

Don't play any stupid game or think that because you have taken the high road in the past that you have a right to do something stupid.

Or you could stop whining about it and just nuke the site from orbit ... it's the only way to be sure.

[Mikezilla]

Some people on this thread are -really- weird.  Poisoning dogs and setting up cameras?  Threatening to call INS to harass a bunch of poor guys that have to paint houses for a living?  REALLY?


Think about it - is this really worth stressing over?  Why not be the better person and let them paint their house? 

This is a joke right?

[Mikezilla]

Some people on this thread are -really- weird.  Poisoning dogs and setting up cameras?  Threatening to call INS to harass a bunch of poor guys that have to paint houses for a living?  REALLY?


Think about it - is this really worth stressing over?  Why not be the better person and let them paint their house? 

My thoughts exactly.

It sounds like you deserve to have one another as neighbors. I'm glad I don't live next to either one of you.

Lol why is everyone getting so serious about this? Has anything anything like this happened to you Gabe? The neighbors are the ones that were jerks to Vigo first, hell, they filed a complaint/lie about having tenants and it screwed up his finances. That incident alone would have pissed me off, not only are they on this property but they are going to mess up HIS paint on HIS house. You guys are ridiculous.

[gabe]

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

I only have this thread to base my opinions on, but from the sounds of things you're both acting like children... Actually, probably not children, as they are usually lacking the social skills required for the type of passive aggressive behavior exchanged across your property lines.

Instead of passing notes and bagels back and forth like a couple of 12 year old girls, why don't you just walk over there and knock on the door? Seems pretty simple to me.

My neighbor's house is very close to my driveway. I can't imagine demanding how or when he paints his house.

Live and let live.

[Mikezilla]

Thats kind of a "holier than thou" attituide if you ask me.

Im assuming you havent read the entirety of the thread or else you wouldnt have commented the way you did.

I bet you could "imagine" it when a bunch of dudes roll up in a unmarked pickup truck in your driveway telling you they are painting your neighbors house and if there is any back spray they arent going to be responsible.

Live and let live. Pffft. Tell that to the dude who put a moldy bagel on his mailbox.