Should I be concerned? Neighbor issues.

[Vigo]

Thanks, Mike! You know exactly how much of a pain a bad neighbor can be, and have actually read the thread. 

@Gabe

You are assuming that I am doing the same thing as my neighbor. Bad assumption. I have gone to my neighbor multiple times to talk, they don't answer their door. When they wrote a note to me about trampling my flowers, I asked please talk to me face to face. That is the only note I sent them. I also never told them they could not paint. My wife told them we didn't want them spray painting when the wind is blowing towards us. We had zero notice ahead of time, and my motorcycle was locked on the driveway.

There is a difference between Live and Let Live and protecting your property.

[gabe]

@Vigo and Mike - I've read the thread. I get it. Vigo - perhaps you have exhausted all options. I'm obviously not an expert on your situation. Looking in from the outside, it seems like this should be REALLY simple to resolve with a little bit of communication/understanding. I guess that is difficult if they won't answer the door. Perhaps offer your phone number?

I'm basically of the opinion that you both need to live next to each other. You might as well try to make the best of it.

What is the point of trying to make one another's lives as miserable as possible? Who wins in that competition?

[Vigo]

I know exactly what you are saying. I wish this was all done and over with on Monday. The longer this goes on for, the more I have to put up with. My point of view has always been protecting my property.  I am not very vindictive guy, but I have just made vow that my neighbors are not going to harm my property again. When they had the roofers in, we just made it on our terms. They wanted to put a dumpster in our driveway and just dump everything off of the side of the house. We talked to the roofers and told them they need to take it down by hand or make a chute, because I did not want a heavy dumpster left in my driveway, nor wanted thousands of pounds of asphalt dumped on my bushes. The roofers agreed and we all got on with our lives.

This time there are a lot more variables that put me at liability, and can damage my property and the car that I am watching in my driveway. It all be on my terms if they plan to work out of my driveway, and I am going to do what I must to ensure that.

What is the point of trying to make one another's lives as miserable as possible? Who wins in that competition?

That's what I have been wondering of my neighbor for years. I have no idea what their problem is, nor what it achieves to their end. From my understanding, the fence thing was because they thought it made their property look smaller, but beyond that, I have no clue.

[yotsuya]

Vigo-

Why not put a fence up on your side of the property line?

[Ed_McCarron]

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.

Real smart.  It's totally the dogs fault.   

[Vigo]

Vigo-

Why not put a fence up on your side of the property line?

This is something my wife has been suggesting since they cut the original one down. It's getting to the point where I think I will put one back up, but I wonder if it is inviting more trouble. I have a feeling the neighbors would try to cut it down again. I would be a lot more active in stopping them this time around, but it might spiral into a lot more trouble than it is worth...why pay for and work on something that is going to end up getting destroyed?

It is something I have been mulling over for a while now.

[yotsuya]

If it's all on your property, they should have any say as long as you're not violating any codes.

[Ed_McCarron]

I have a feeling the neighbors would try to cut it down again. I would be a lot more active in stopping them this time around

Fences are fun.  Was it a property line fence, or on your side of the property line?  Right down the line requires the OK from both sides...  But a few feet (check local codes) on your side needs no approval.  And, if they touch it, you call the police.  You don't get involved personally.

[hypernova]

@Vigo and Mike - I've read the thread. I get it. Vigo - perhaps you have exhausted all options. I'm obviously not an expert on your situation. Looking in from the outside, it seems like this should be REALLY simple to resolve with a little bit of communication/understanding. I guess that is difficult if they won't answer the door. Perhaps offer your phone number?

I'm basically of the opinion that you both need to live next to each other. You might as well try to make the best of it.

You seem to harbor some sort of naive view that everything works out with diplomatic discussion in some idealized and perfect world where everyone gets along and nothing bad happens.  I don't know if that's because all the people around you are pleasant or what.  But that's just simply not the case with some people.  No amount of diplomacy will stop some people from being the way they are.

Vigo, fortunately I don't have the same issues as you in regards to neighbors.  Our one neighbor's yard is 100% weeds, but he's a nice guy, so whatever.  I keep my yard and do my best to keep it weed-limited.  I do have a co-worker who also has a less-than-stellar neighbor as well.  Still not nearly as bad as your situation.  Long term, best idea is to eventually move whenever you get a good chance to.

Vigo-

Why not put a fence up on your side of the property line?

This is something my wife has been suggesting since they cut the original one down. It's getting to the point where I think I will put one back up, but I wonder if it is inviting more trouble. I have a feeling the neighbors would try to cut it down again. I would be a lot more active in stopping them this time around, but it might spiral into a lot more trouble than it is worth...why pay for and work on something that is going to end up getting destroyed?

It is something I have been mulling over for a while now.

I can't remember if you've said this before in the thread, but having a surveyor actually mark out your property line, and making sure the neighbors see the resulting marks would prevent them from cutting it down.  Else they open themselves up for lawsuits.

[NiN^_^NiN]

Vigo-

Why not put a fence up on your side of the property line?

This is something my wife has been suggesting since they cut the original one down. It's getting to the point where I think I will put one back up, but I wonder if it is inviting more trouble. I have a feeling the neighbors would try to cut it down again. I would be a lot more active in stopping them this time around, but it might spiral into a lot more trouble than it is worth...why pay for and work on something that is going to end up getting destroyed?

It is something I have been mulling over for a while now.

They aren't going to stop and you have a right to build a fence I would personally build it and keep everything related to it regarding the building and the property lines and if they do destroy it take them to small claims court that should shut them up.

I would also send a letter to them advising that the fence is on your side of the property and they may not touch it just so you have proof that you have advised them.

They wont stop and I think a fence will be the best way to put them out of mind out of sight

[spoot]

This thread reminds me of my neighbor.  I bought my house two years ago.  I'm out in the garage and he wanders over to have a friendly chat.  We start discussing the old homeowner and he goes on about how the chain link fence was installed wrong (so, sharp pointies at top) and then says the fence is his and proceeds to point out the property line and how the old home owner didn't believe him and they had to call in the city to say where the line was.  After I pointed out I really had no concern over the property line unless I was gunna build sumthing, I looked at him and said I'm glad the fence is on your property for when/if sumone hurts themselves on the fence.  He's not brought it up since.   

And yes, we still chat now and then.........he bitches alot about the "---goshdarn--- lezzies" that used to own the house.   

[Hoopz]

he bitches alot about the "---goshdarn--- lezzies" that used to own the house.   

From The Warriors?

[Necro]

Wow...you must live next to my father-in-law.  Lesbians is impossible for him to say I think, just refers to 'There daughter is nice.  She's a lezzie.'.  My wife and I we're like '...WTF? '.  By the tenth time we just walk away.

[Vigo]

Hehe, this thread is really heading down some interesting avenues. 

About the above Fence property line comments: The fence was definitely mine, and the neighbors knew it as well. So I can't pin it on their ignorance. The first time I met my neighbors was our first night we stayed at our house. A police car chase involving about 8 cop cars had just ended in our front lawn. (That was a real "Oh, ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---! What kind of place did we move into?" moment.) It was at least a nice segue to meet the neighbors at least. Our first conversation went something like this.

Neighbor: Hi, you must be the new Neighbor. (I'll cut out the awkward introductions and go to the awkward conversation)
Me: Does this kind of crime stuff happen here all the time?
Neighbor: I bet you hate your fence there.
Me: Huh? Wha..? Uh..it's an OK fence.
Neighbor: Yeah, but it is an ugly chain fence you have.
Me: I guess its a tad ugly. I dunno. Why you asking?
Neighbor: Eh. Hey, you like local baseball? I love local baseball.

Now the fence was obviously on my side of the property, but I don't know the exact property line. I remember reading that a new fence has to be something like 3-5 inches from the property line according to city code. If I put a new fence up, I might run into an issue with the neighbor trying to dispute that it is too close to the line. It costs like $300 to have the city survey the property line.


It also looks like the painters are back. Just got a call from the wife. She is going out to talk to them. There will be more development today.

[yotsuya]

Hehe, this thread is really heading down some interesting avenues.  

About the above Fence property line comments: The fence was definitely mine, and the neighbors knew it as well. So I can't pin it on their ignorance. The first time I met my neighbors was our first night we stayed at our house. A police car chase involving about 8 cop cars had just ended in our front lawn. (That was a real "Oh, ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---! What kind of place did we move into?" moment.) It was at least a nice segue to meet the neighbors at least. Our first conversation went something like this.

Neighbor: Hi, you must be the new Neighbor. (I'll cut out the awkward introductions and go to the awkward conversation)
Me: Does this kind of crime stuff happen here all the time?
Neighbor: I bet you hate your fence there.
Me: Huh? Wha..? Uh..it's an OK fence.
Neighbor: Yeah, but it is an ugly chain fence you have.
Me: I guess its a tad ugly. I dunno. Why you asking?
Neighbor: Eh. Hey, you like local baseball? I love local baseball.

Now the fence was obviously on my side of the property, but I don't know the exact property line. I remember reading that a new fence has to be something like 3-5 inches from the property line according to city code. If I put a new fence up, I might run into an issue with the neighbor trying to dispute that it is too close to the line. It costs like $300 to have the city survey the property line.


It also looks like the painters are back. Just got a call from the wife. She is going out to talk to them. There will be more development today.

At this point, I'd just let them paint the ---smurfing--- thing, but tell them that if they get any paint on your ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- that you're going to hold them liable. Damn. I'm fustrated FOR you.  

[Vigo]

Thanks man! We want to just end this as well. 

So here is the scoop of this morning. My mother came to my house last night, she has 2 day conference today and tomorrow at the nearby convention center and is using our driveway to park her van. She hadn't left for the day yet, and she actually went out to talk to the painters before my wife had a chance to get the baby ready and go out there. I didn't sign up to have my mom fight my battles, but that is the way it turned out this morning. 

In short, the painters told my mom to move her van. My mom said she couldn't because she didn't have a street parking permit and was leaving for her conference. The painters then told her to go park in a parking ramp downtown. Well, even the painters knew that paying $20 to hold your vehicle far away is asking the ridiculous, so we already hit our impasse.

My mom then pointed out the fundamental communication problem, that how other than a note on the windshield, the neighbors have not spoken to us at all. The painter did a double take at that. According to the painter, he was told by the neighbors that they already spoke with us and we agreed to let them use our driveway even before they started.

Now that the painters suddenly understood the situation, that they had been lied to from day 1 by the neighbors. The guy was pretty pissed at our neighbors and said he is calling the job done until the neighbors talk to us.

So the painters packed up and shipped out. We will see if the neighbors will finally come and talk to us now. If they plan on having the rest of their house painted, they will.

Meanwhile, I am setting the moldy bagel threat level to orange.

[Nephasth]

Meanwhile, I am setting the moldy bagel threat level to orange.

 

Good to hear that the contractors aren't ---Deutsche Frankfurters--- and handling the situation appropriately.

[Mikezilla]

Are these people mentally unstable? Do they not speak english? What is wrong with them?

[Well Fed Games]

I didn't sign up to have my mom fight my battles, but that is the way it turned out this morning. 

No shame in that, Moms are awesome! My mother-in-law has kept me out of all sorts of trouble.

[ChadTower]

Sounds like we really do need a sarcasm font around here.  People really thought we suggested he poison the dogs and do other weird stuff?  Did you think the trebuchet was a serious suggestion as well?

 

[Mikezilla]

Sounds like we really do need a sarcasm font around here.  People really thought we suggested he poison the dogs and do other weird stuff?  Did you think the trebuchet was a serious suggestion as well?

 

Yeah no ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. Or maybe there should be some sort of apptitude test before we allow admittance into the forums. I got chastisted in another thread because someone didnt get my pop culture reference(south park) or my obvious sarcasm. 

[Necro]

  Did you think the trebuchet was a serious suggestion as well?
 

Wait...it wasn't?  Well hell.  Then consider this a serious endorsement of trebuchet fueled retaliation god dammit. 

[Vigo]

So accrording to my wife, the painters came back to paint other areas of the house....oversprayed bright blue paint all over my motorcycle, my front fence, my moms van, my driveway......   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I am so damn pissed!!!!!!! This is exactly why I don't give them an inch, and they weren't even on my driveway!

[stu33]

I can sympathize with you.  My neighbors are a nightmare.  They're both in their late 70s/early 80s, and run the area neighborhood association.  I went to one of their meetings once, I was the youngest person there by at least 30 years.  They spent their whole time talking about houses and families in the neighborhood that they didn't like and how they could get rid of them.  It was like an octogenarian gestapo squad.  My favorite tactic that they employ is when they all gather up their yard waste and dump it on an 'undesirable's' yard while that family is at work/school/whatever.  Then, before they get home, one of the gestapo calls city code enforcement on them.

I didn't join their little association.  When asked why not, I simply told them that I wasn't really comfortable with their outlook and I wished them well.  They called code enforcement on me the next day because I had put out a broken appliance in my yard.  It was a broken vacuum cleaner.  And it was garbage day.  The code enforcement officer called me and said "Look, we got a complaint, it's from a serial complainer, but I have to follow up.  Could you get rid of the vacuum cleaner in your yard?" and I replied with "Yeah, as soon as the garbage guys pick up the trash." He replied with "It's with your trash pickup?  Jesus.  Alright, never mind.  If for some reason they don't take it, just put it back inside until next week or something so I don't have to waste more time with her stupid crap?"

Here's the best part, her grandkids are constantly over to her house and they just riddle her computer with viruses.  Once a month she calls me to come over and clean up/fix her computer.  I don't know why I don't just say no, but I do it every time.

[Vigo]

Wow! that is complete BS! I'm sorry, dude!   

[yotsuya]

Vigo-

Well, considering that your Mom told the painters your concern, perhaps you should contact them yourself (if they are from a company and not just some guys with a sprayer). Take photos and document everything.

[stu33]

Not nearly as BS as yours.  With the overspray issue, if they don't offer to resolve it with no questions asked, I'd be talking to a lawyer.

[Vigo]

My wife talked to the painters three times today....she asked for their insurance info and business license # every time which they will not provide either of them. Wife called the cops to just to file a report. We plan on just washing everything, not making a claim, but want a record of this for our own protection.

[Mikezilla]

My wife talked to the painters three times today....she asked for their insurance info and business license # every time which they will not provide either of them. Wife called the cops to just to file a report. We plan on just washing everything, not making a claim, but want a record of this for our own protection.

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- man I am so freaking sorry. See. That SUCKS. Hey Gabe! Are you reading these posts?! What do you suggest now?

Man that blows. Paint on my motorcycle?! I would have gone crazy if that happened to me. The thing that sucks is that you were at work the whole time this thing was going down...

[yotsuya]

What kind of report did she file with the police?

[Vigo]

Yeah, I'll be heading home as soon as I can. A few more minutes...

My wife is just having a cop come over to record it. We have no identifying information on the painter, he said he didn't have anything on him, so she told the guy to stay and wait while a police officer came over.

Man that blows. Paint on my motorcycle?! I would have gone crazy if that happened to me. The thing that sucks is that you were at work the whole time this thing was going down...

I have yet to see my bike...I may go ape ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- when I get home.

[yotsuya]

I tell you what, I bet those painters regret taking on this job.

[Well Fed Games]

I'm pretty sure I hate your neighbors.

[hypernova]

Sounds like we really do need a sarcasm font around here.  People really thought we suggested he poison the dogs and do other weird stuff?  Did you think the trebuchet was a serious suggestion as well?

 

It's a trebuchet.  It should be built regardless.  Because, well, it's a freaking trebuchet.  Sweetness.

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- man I am so freaking sorry. See. That SUCKS. Hey Gabe! Are you reading these posts?! What do you suggest now?

He'd probably suggest Vigo's being a crybaby and to talk it over with the neighbor...

Raise hell, Vigo.  Raise hell.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, I'll be heading home as soon as I can. A few more minutes...

My wife is just having a cop come over to record it. We have no identifying information on the painter, he said he didn't have anything on him, so she told the guy to stay and wait while a police officer came over.

She didn't happen to think of getting the guy's license plate number, did she?  It was probably the only openly visible identifier.

It takes some balls to spray paint on a man's motorcycle.  I know guys that would beat a painter into intensive care for that.

[Dervacumen]

So accrording to my wife, the painters came back to paint other areas of the house....oversprayed bright blue paint all over my motorcycle, my front fence, my moms van, my driveway......   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I am so damn pissed!!!!!!! This is exactly why I don't give them an inch, and they weren't even on my driveway!

This can't be true.  If it is go straight to the police and let them handle it.  And get some dandelion seeds and spell out "PIGS DIE" on their front lawn this evening.  They'll look beautiful in the spring.

[Necro]

If you don't contact a lawyer or immediately file a claim in small claims, this switches from them being ---meecrobs--- to you being a pansy-ass that's letting them walk all over you and you get no more sympathy.  Seriously, don't let this just go...this is a fairly major bit o' ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---. 

[danny_galaga]

Damn, what the hell is wrong with people? Hopefully you sue that painter out of business, and hopefully he tries to sue your neighbour or something. THAT won't come to anything, but at least your neighbour can be uncomfortable for a bit...

[ChadTower]

How does overspray on the near side of their house end up on your property?  I'm sure it happened but I'm having trouble visualizing them being aimed in the direction of your property while painting the near side of the neighbor's house.

[shateredsoul1979]

It's gotten to the point where you have to interview your neighbors before you move into a neighborhood =/