So our new neighbors moved in almost two weeks ago and we were thrilled to have them. Chris and I went over on Sunday and met the wife for about 10 minutes and briefly (and I mean briefly) mentioned a fence and how we wanted wood or the dark tan vinyl. Real brief. Well 3 days later the fence guys show up and start putting the posts in, we thought it was awfully fast since they just moved in and never came over to discuss what we wanted to do. So, they finished it up today and it's the almond colored vinyl (our last choice)...I'm a little miffed over it because it doesn't go with our house! About an hour ago the fence guy comes knocking on our door and asks us to pay 1/2 of the adjoining fence. Chris told him that we've never met the neighbor (the husband) nor have we discussed a fence, I guess the neighbor told the fence guy he had worked it out with us. He said the people on the other side of their house said the same thing. We are irritated because now they are dictating what alot of the houses on our block will be doing for fencing. And not only that, but you don't pick whatever the crap you want and then send the fence guy over to the neighbors that you don't even know to collect 1/2 the money! Poor neighbor etiquette! Did i happen to mention that they are running a dog breeding business out of their house and have had 2 big utility trucks parked in front of our houses for the last 2 weeks? We want to call the HOA on them, is that being too vindictive? Tell me if I am overreacting and what you would do? We don't want to have bad blood between us from the get-go.
8 comments:
I'm with you - completely!! I would NOT pay for 1/2 of the fence, absolutley NOT!! I would also call the HOA. You move into a neighborhood and want it to stay nice. Well, you have my 2 cents! I love that you're blogging :)
Sorry for the 2nd post, but we have been discussing this and we think it's a joke. You didn't even have a say, no shopping around for the best price, no discussion. I would tell them TOO BAD. Nice for you guys though - now you don't have to pay for that side:) (Too bad it isn't what you wanted.)
Man, that is SO annoying. I agree, you can just tell them (super nicely)that you feel like they didn't discuss it with you, and went ahead and made the decision so they should pay for it!
Sorry, that is hard. Good luck- make sure you post an update on the situation!!
I Couldn't agree more!! I think Your neighbors are totally out of line! It sounds like they jumped the gun so that they were sure to get what THEY wanted. I would call the HOA too. You gotta love good neighbors!!!
Maybe you should go out there and paint the side that faces you a color to match your house hahaha!
Okay. I am not the nicest person when it comes to me and my money. You didn't sign anything, nor did you promise anything. Play the what? game. Seriously, they didn't even finish the conversation. That stinks to have a bad relationship that fast. Oh well. You can give them a Christmas card.
When we put up a fence in Wisconsin we discussed it thoroughly with both neighbors. One side said "great, we'll pay 1/2". The other neighbors gave us a stinging lecture on how fences are ruining America, and how they are not a substitute for good parenting.
We lived behind a college campus and backed onto a busy street with tennis courts, (imaging the kids trying to retrieve all those stray balls) and the other cross street was named La Crosse St. (the city is La Crosse). Does that give you an idea of how much of a main street it was?
Anyway, we took the berating and went home stunned that they thought we were lousy parents for putting up a fence. Funny thing is that they had two boys (both grown at the time) and they both worked full time. The boys were in day care where I'm sure they had a ...what?...oh A FENCE!!!
Needless to say they didn't pay half. We did end up being quite friendly with the guy by the end of our 4 year there, so there's hope. I think you don't have to pay for anything!
Hey niece and nephew, just happpend to be passing the family website and saw a little link that took me to your blog. Anyway read a few lines and came to this one on fence related issues.
Yeah I know I wouldnt be footing any part of that bill, 1/2 or otherwise, although since you only share one of three fence sections with them shouldnt it have been a 1/3 share? Secondly Im pretty sure your HOA would have something to say about running a dog breeding business from their home, in the HOA rules there are clauses, (at least in some of the associations that I have looked into in our home searches over the years) about the amount of pets allowed and the amount of noise they create limited, you didnt move into the local zoo did you?
I know I wouldnt be paying any part of anything that I didnt have an input on, especially after 3 days in the hood, firstly at that speed it certainly wouldnt be in my budget and secondly I wouldnt pay for something that was ugly and unappealing.
Hey I have waffled on a bit talk to you sometime soon. Call me and we can even talk about fences.
Uncle John in Texas
Post a Comment