BAD BAD Neighbor

[johnday]

roho; Okay, I'll sit this one out. Sounded like it might be fun though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Welcome to TBN too! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[YanmarFever]

Bob good advice !!
My wife & I just took the slaps from our old neighbors for quite a while, & you are right ,they just get off on it & look for more ways to harrass you again.
It continued until we hired the hammer, it was all fine & dandy after that.
Some people can dish it out but they cant take return fire at all.
I think its bejond words with the curtain hugger, and time Mark returns fire and see if it shakes his tree too.
Just my opinion folks.

 

[mark777]

Hakim,

I am not sure if what you state is applicable. My situation, although may not be unique, It is different. This is not neighbors disputing property lines, children or animals out of control, or even unsightly junk. In fact I can't think of anything that he or I have done to impact or initiate any argument as property owners. My building, and new home site are on the far side with well over 200' from his driveway.

In retrospect, our limited conversations were friendly enough, only engaging in the new flood plain maps, where the water runoff goes, and idle chit chat. Neither of us would be accused of being long winded conversationalist.

This is what I know: Before the dust settled after my second truck load of crushed concrete for my driveway, the county inspector was there. It is not that I didn't want to play by county rules, more like I didn't have the rule book. From that point on the neighbor must have suspected I was aware or informed of what he did. I was not. I was aware that the inspector was following up on a complaint and that is all I knew.

Bob Skurka's explanation of privacy and respect is very accurate and inline with my believes and lifestyle. The neighbors lifestyle, hobby or preoccupation is setting up constant hurdles and obstacles and the thrill of manipulating me and hoping I give up and go away.

I am very glad I posted my concerns. The TBN members opened my eyes and provided me with much to think about and how to approach my problem. I have ruled out all of the less than legal ones, but it was taken light heartedly anyway....and the humor is good medicine.

Regards, Mark

 

[MarkV]

Terrible situation and I am sorry you are going through it Mark. Some people are hard to figure and it sounds to me like this isn’t something you have caused as much as something anyone who changed the property would have faced.

I don’t have a clear picture of this guy yet. How large is his property to be able to support horses? Does he live alone? Is he there full time or does he go to work? What is the general condition of his property? How old would you guess him?

It sounds like he wanted the property and could not work out the deal. Is he afraid that a newly done place will make his look bad? Or, what you are doing will decrease his property value and its esthetics?

It’s hard to work something out with someone who runs when approached so talking it through is not likely. You write well so how about sending him a letter asking if you have unintentionally done something that has upset him. Let him know that if you have unknowingly done something you would like a chance to change the situation and try to work something out. Let him know you bought the property with every intention of being a good neighbor.

If that doesn’t bring a response I’d try to work around him with the inspector. It’s a pain for the inspector also and after a point he will understand it is a crazy neighbor and not give you a hard time.

If you are still having trouble I would go the lawyer route and have a letter sent threatening a harassment suit plus damages for time lost and expenses. Remember though, you will never have a friendly neighbor relationship once you send a treat from a lawyer to him.

I also agree that you should start documenting everything now even if you never need it. When written down with time and date it carries a great deal of weight in the legal system.

Good luck,
MarkV

 

[mark777]

MarkV,

His property is about the size of mine, maybe a little smaller when comparing plat maps. About 2 acres, and his front half is well manicured. Nicer than mine. But my property is improving by each visit I make. It was the neighborhood dumping grounds while vacant for a few years and as of now in much better condition.

He is married with a grown daughter (I think) maybe late 40s or early 50s age wise. Works full time days.

Yes, he wanted this property badly. When I was at the closing table with the divorced previous owners, the husband was insulted that he (neighbor) offered 1/4 of the appraised value to his x wife. I gave them their asking price as they had just installed a "Hoot" on site aerobics sewage system for over $7K. I had it checked out and it was indeed very new.

As for the rest pertaining to his actions and behavior, I am in the dark. Can't even guess what he is up to or try next.

Thank you for the kind words.

Mark

 

[Bob_Skurka]

2 acres and he can have horses!!! Wow, I have ~10 acres and I found out I cannot have a horse on my property because the average lot size in my area is under 5 acres. I don't know if that is a county or state regulation (I suspect county). I had been told that you could have a horse on 5 acres or more where I live. The neighbor to my north has 6 acres and he cannot have a horse either (and he really wanted one). I did find out that while I can't have a horse, I can have a cow. Go figure.

 

[mark777]

Guess it's ok. Gentleman across from us has 3 acres and 3 horses. All of the area is 2-10 acre parcels and many (most)have horses, except me.

 

[JimR]

Mark,

This person feels that you ripped him off from getting the property for peanuts. That is why he is making your life miserable. If you weren't there to buy the property, he feels that he would have gotten it for 1/4 it's value. I would install a fence high enough so that he cannot in any way look over to see what you are doing. Block him out completely. Then if he does peek over on a ladder or whatever you can file a complaint against him for harrassment. This jerk needs a lesson taught to him. He reminds me of an old friend of mine who's father had a problem with a fellow worker. Seems this guy kept trying to get him fired. My friend and I started following the guy around using different cars that we would borrow from our friends. We were just teenagers back then and pretty wild kids. We followed him to work and from work to home. The guy was really getting scared. But it didn't stop him from being a complete **** towards the other guy. So we stepped it up a little bit and shattered his car windows. After the 3rd time he backed off and never gave my friends father a hard time anymore. Maybe you can have a few friends follow him around and just stare at him.

 

[eee]

Hakim,
I like your style !!!
You are a wise and noble man. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Henro]

I would give careful consideration to Hakim's advice. I think he has his head on straight and even if it may at first sound like giving in or Kissing the neighbor's apple, for lack of a better term... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ...the goal is to improve the situation, and to be the winner...even if the net solution does not feel like winning at all.

That being said, an apple is an apple, and sometimes an apple cannot be changed into anything but an apple.

And somehow I just get the feeling that your neighbor is genetically a real solid apple.

So I think it is maybe important to evaluate relative power positions. If it is likely that you can return grief to the neighbor, in equal or greater amounts than he gives you, perhaps taking the offensive will be worth the effort.

Costs. What is the nieghbor's financial situation? Can you estimate it? Can you affort to waste some of you resources taking some of his away? Meaningless law suit that you know you will lose but still will cause him to spend money on an attorney comes to mind. Costs you to take money from him. May hurt him more than you. May feel good but costs you something. Worth it or not? Only you can decide.

Now, are you really sure he is the guilty party? I know it looks like it, but you said the inspector would not tell you who called. Would be pretty bad if you focused your efforts are the wrong person. Get some evidence that you can trust before you go too far in any direction. Wrong direction is a waste of effort and could turn a neutral against you. Don't want that.

Again, give serious thought to Hakim's advice. I know it is in some ways contrary to what I personally might be inclined to do, at least in some cases, but the goal is to maximize one's desires, regardless of how that is accomplished. Myself, I might not resist tucking my tail between my legs for a bit, if that resulted in my attaining the solution that I wanted.

The goal is to get what you want. You can hurt the guy doing it, you can kiss his apple doing it if it is easier for you. For me kissing the apple is much harder than confrontation...but there is no doubt it works better sometimes.

Hope this makes some sense...confrontation is not always the best method...not always the worst method either...all depends on the situation...

Good luck. Hope things work out...