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Home > Wallet Sweep, Neighbor Conflicts

Wallet Sweep, Neighbor Conflicts

September 27th, 2011 at 11:49 pm

It was a few days premature, but since I was at my bank for a client today anyway, I emptied all but $7.00 out of my wallet, and chipped an additional $16.28 to my mortgage. Smile


On Sunday evening, I had a very unpleasant encounter with my next door neighbor. The homeowner is an older woman (70s). Her adult son (40s) also lives in the house. They are not nice people and have a reputation in our neighborhood of being hot-headed and unreasonable. We share a common fence which needs to be replaced. I am willing, she says no. It is wood, nearly 20 years old, and full of rot.

Anyhow, on Sunday evening she came over and knocked on the door. My nephew's dog was in her backyard. It seems a fence board had fallen off and the dog had gone visiting. She claimed the dog was viciously lunging at her, which I do not believe. I do believe that she was frightened to have a strange dog in her backyard. At any rate, the dog does not belong in her yard.

So I went into my backyard to examine the fence and BF came along. The neighbor and her son were already in their backyard. Meanwhile, my nephew's dog had come home. I put two of the 3 dogs in the house, but one of my son's dogs had also decided to go visit. I called to him but he continued to stroll around sniffing in their yard.

Back story: In California, a fence along a property line is the responsibility of both parties. Last fall, my nephew inserted some 2 x 4s in the fence along the beams already there, so that we could nail fence boards to it. (The support beams running horizontally along the bottom and top of the fence are the most rotten.) It was not attractive, but it did make the fence more sturdy. This apparently was not to their liking, as they ripped the 2 x 4s out and threw the 2 x 4s into our yard. I have pictures of this.

So while we are talking to each other through the empty space in the fence, she says that I need to take better care of the fence. I state that my nephew attempted to make the fence more sturdy, but that they saw fit to rip out the 2 x 4s. They both immediately begin to smirk and say they don't know what I am talking about. Even though they don't know what I mean, the son said my nephew used screws instead of nails and he shouldn't have. Then he goes on to state that my nephew is "trashy" and he does not care for my nephew. I suppose his intent was to make me angry, but in truth I do not value his opinion.

I said that I think we should get a new fence. The mother says, quote, "This fence is just fine!" I said if it is just fine, then what are we all doing here? She says the only problem is my nephew's dog jumped on it. If the dog wouldn't jump on the fence, there would be no problem. I need to make the dog not jump on the fence. Furthermore, she is on Social Security and cannot afford a new fence. I said "Well, it's the law."

She begins to scream at me that I need to GET MY D--- DOG NOW!! (I had been calling him, but he would not come.) My BF asks if they will let him in to come and get the dog. The son says yes, so BF leaves to go to their front door, the son does too. As soon as we are alone, she begins to point her finger at me and say "F--- you! This is all your fault! You fix it NOW!!" She is lovely. Doesn't she sound lovely? I am definately putting her on my Christmas Card List.

Meanwhile, when BF got to the front door, the son refused to let him in, but said go to the gate leading to the backyard. BF walked over to the gate, the son reappeared in the backyard. BF waited then called, saying "Are you going to let me in?" The son said to me "That gate is locked". So I called to BF "He isn't going to let you in." I asked the son how he would like for us to get the dog. He suggested I remove a fence board. So, I did. It was easy, I just pulled a little with my bare hands and it popped right off. I went into their back yard, took the dog by the collar, and led him out.

The mother went back in the house when I began to enter their yard, the son remained. When I got back on my side, he says to me "So you would rather just pay for a new fence than put that board back up?" I said of course I would nail the board back but that I would like to have a good, sturdy fence, and wouldn't he? I could tell he was thinking that over, so I added "Wood fences only last so long. This fence is almost 20 years old."

So as BF and I set about reattaching fence boards, the neighbor's son comes back out and says that I should go ahead and get some estimates.

So that is where I am right now. I have one company coming tonight for an estimate and am awaiting return phone calls from 2 other companies.

7 Responses to “Wallet Sweep, Neighbor Conflicts”

  1. baselle Says:
    1317167607

    I'm a little confused here - is the fence exactly along on the property line, or is it within their side, or with your side?

    It means that the neighbors could have been trespassing if they tore out the 2x4s that you put on your side, or if its entirely within their property line, they have to assume the cost. Or at least the ball is in their court.

    When my dad died and sister and I inherited the farm, it turns out that the west fence was "misinstalled" Smile - our property line was ten feet to our good and we had about .25 of an acre more than we thought.

    I'd work with the son as much as I could on this and find a way to double check the property line. Your nephew's dog might be the least of "ol' yeller's" worries. Big Grin

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1317167992

    Ugh! Frustrating.

  3. MonkeyMama Says:
    1317168610

    I am sure fence is on both sides, equally. Hence, all the 50/50. (Being in California, makes sense to me).

    Personally, I'd probably just replace the fence and though I'd ask for 50%, I wouldn't hold my breath. My problem is kind of opposite. Neighbors are nice as can be, but no one wants to replace VERY tired fence. So, I have entertained just replacing it. Of course, it's probably easier to do so when your neighbors are nice and you know they are hurting financially. But I'd probably be similarly inclined if my neighbor was a PITA. Kind of, "who needs them." Now should be a good time to get a great deal on a new fence, anyway. I am personally holding off because no one has any dogs, and 2 contractor neighbors have been clear that they don't see the point. So, oh well! Crappy fence stays. (If we had a dog or something, I'd just replace it)!

  4. starfishy Says:
    1317170505

    wow - that sounds so very unpleasant. they sound like super classy people. good luck sorting that out - i hope you get a new fence soon!

  5. Looking Forward Says:
    1317181907

    Geesh! Mom might be a bit off her rocker. Son sounds a bit more reasonable. I'd replace the fence pronto because it's going to be a HUGE benefit in the long run to you to keep your wacko neighbors off your ass. Big Grin

  6. CB in the City Says:
    1317214367

    Oy! Glad the son came around.

  7. 444 Says:
    1317263040

    What a horrible mess. You kept your cool better than I would have. Sorry your neighbors are so terribly low-class.

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