Advice on helping neighbor

[TheMan419]

Hey guys need some advice.

Neighbors are elderly (in their 80's). In years past they have had someone plow their drive. I cannot see their drive from mine and feel bad I am just noticing this. We got 5 inches of snow about 2 days ago. They are still not plowed out. Do I just go over and do it or knock on the door? I don't want any $$ for doing it would just do it to help them out. I do not know these folks. Wave at them if I see them out, but have never really talked to them.

Seems to me I should just go do it. It shouldn't take me more than 15 min to do their drive with my tractor I don't think.

 

[jbrumberg]

I would help them out; just to make sure they are ok.

 

[ovrszd]

I run a township grader. I push several drives for people that don't have the means. I never ask. I've never been told to stol. Have gotten several thank you cards and gift cards though.

In this case my concern would be the location of everything? I've took out a couple flower beds and rock gardens


Also in this case, I'd go do it. When done, knock on the door, introduce yourself, give them your phone number and encourage them to contact you if needed.

Might be a great friendship in the making. Also, Jewels in your Crown.

 

[HCJtractor]

I believe I would drive my tractor to their front door and introduce myself as their neighbor, tell them you were scraping snow nearby, and ask if you could do theirs (for free of course). I don’t think I would just do it without permission. People can act strangely at times, and if they see you out there, not knowing you, who knows what they will think. Also ask if there’s anything you need to be careful with just in case.

 

[jfh28]

I absolutely would do it.....I would clear a path down the center and then go knock on their door and introduce yourself and tell them what you are going to do and ask if there's any obstructions you should know about.....that'll put their mind at ease and break the ice too........I've been doing the same thing for an elderly neighbor down the street from me for several years......hardly takes any time and it just seems like the right thing to do........Jack

 

[RNeumann]

I’d plow my way in, knock on the door, say hi and who you are and then plow my way out if they want it done.....worst case is you cleared enough to get to the house.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It depends more on them than you. So many factors. They could have millions stuffed in the mattress or are eating cat food. They could be cheap or generous. I knew more than a few widowed rich elderly women that would take advantage of any generous (and stupid) man to come along.

Also, when you help someone, when do you STOP helping them.

 

[ovrszd]

We're thinking wayyyy too much into this.

Society is evolving toward the position where a good deed is looked upon with suspicion. That will only change when we go back to being good neighbors.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just wondering. If your neighbor just bought a new snowmobile, but didn't own a snowblower, would you clear his driveway?

 

[shootemup604]

My neighbor has plowed my drive a couple times, in-asked, before I bought a tractor. The farm down the road has plowed the entire road with their massive tractors because the district hadn't - granted it may have been to let the milk truck in off the highway, but all the same it benefitted everyone. Neighborly things don't happen as often anymore, and it is nice when they do.

 

[HCJtractor]

I just would ask first, with my tractor sitting in plain view. Last year, an older lady neighbor was out sweeping heavy deposits of leaves off her large front porch. She looked to be struggling and there were way too many leaves for a broom. I had my backpack blower on my back, and trying to be kind, I told her I lived several doors down, and I’d be glad to blow her leaves off the porch. She would have been there all day with that broom, and I could have done it in minutes. She looked at me like I was Jack the Ripper, and rudely said “No”
I’m glad (due to her rudeness and obvious attitude) that I just didn’t go down without asking first. Needless to say, I won’t volunteer again.
By all means be helpful and generous with your neighbors, but ask permission first. Frankly, I wouldn’t want some stranger on my property doing anything until I met him.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I still hold open doors for people, even if it means waiting for them a bit. I hear stories of feminazis that refuse such manners, but I have yet to run into one.

In the city, I found, few will hold open a door anymore. Certainly not younger folk.

 

[George2615]

I have two neighbors (1 couple in their 70's, 1 couple in their 90's). I've been plowing them out for free for over 20 years now. Just being neighborly. I never ask for anything. Each has offered to pay me at least for fuel but I've refused. The couple in their 90's recently passed away and now their daughter and husband live there. They are in their 60's but I still plow them out. Neither one takes me 20 minutes to do. I also take a swipe by their mailboxes so the carrier can make deliveries. Even though we are in a rural are if the carrier can't reach the box they don't deliver.

If you don't mind plowing your neighbor out, I would stop and ask if they wanted to be plowed first. If so then go for it. I've done other paying jobs in the summer months for both couples but don't charge for winter plowing.

 

[ovrszd]

Just wondering. If your neighbor just bought a new snowmobile, but didn't own a snowblower, would you clear his driveway?

If he's in his 80's, yes. Maybe he'd let me ride his sled.

To me, the key is their age.

 

[ovrszd]

I still hold open doors for people, even if it means waiting for them a bit. I hear stories of feminazis that refuse such manners, but I have yet to run into one.

In the city, I found, few will hold open a door anymore. Certainly not younger folk.

Yep. Another indicator of our deteriorization as a society.

 

[ovrszd]

I have two neighbors (1 couple in their 70's, 1 couple in their 90's). I've been plowing them out for free for over 20 years now. Just being neighborly. I never ask for anything. Each has offered to pay me at least for fuel but I've refused. The couple in their 90's recently passed away and now their daughter and husband live there. They are in their 60's but I still plow them out. Neither one takes me 20 minutes to do. I also take a swipe by their mailboxes so the carrier can make deliveries. Even though we are in a rural are if the carrier can't reach the box they don't deliver.

If you don't mind plowing your neighbor out, I would stop and ask if they wanted to be plowed first. If so then go for it. I've done other paying jobs in the summer months for both couples but don't charge for winter plowing.

My 90s neighbors are both gone now. In Summer I'd see them gone and go up and weedeat their yard. In Winter push their snow.

In return some mystery person would put watermelons by my back door. Or a sack of tomatoes or sweet corn.

Funny how that works.

Now I'm the old man. When it's a struggle for me I have no doubt those acts of generosity will be repaid

 

[CHF4]

A neighbor years ago just used to scrape folks drives who he liked..I started to do the same..ha..I know, I should do the others, time will tell with a new cab tractor I’m getting.

 

[jbrumberg]

Yep. Another indicator of our deteriorization as a society.

Richard- I agree.

There are far too many examples of how and reasons why our society is changing for the worse.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I do things for my neighbors without asking, BUT, I know them well. If I am mowing my yard and see that my neighbors need mowing, I just do it. I trim limbs from trees for my 90 YO neighbor without asking also, BUT only after having done so a few times with her direction. Now I know what she wants so it isn't a problem.

I wouldn't go to a neighbor I didn't know and do any work without asking.

 

[George2615]

My 90s neighbors are both gone now. In Summer I'd see them gone and go up and weedeat their yard. In Winter push their snow.

In return some mystery person would put watermelons by my back door. Or a sack of tomatoes or sweet corn.

Funny how that works.

Now I'm the old man. When it's a struggle for me I have no doubt those acts of generosity will be repaid

I'm approaching 70 in a few years but still think I'm in decent shape. I still can outwork some of my friends teenagers. I hired a couple teens to help me strip a roof to reshingle five years ago. Every time I turned around they were texting someone or resting drinking a soda. I paid them at the end of the day and told them not to come back a second day and ended up doing it myself.

I always felt bad for the couple in their 90's. Their son (he's around 60 now) with a snowblower who lived next door to them would never do their driveway which is why I started plowing them over 20 yrs. ago. He hasn't changed since his sister is there now. Just plain lazy IMO.