How do you say no?

DrRod · Sep 14, 2005

Even if they pay something they are still big winners. There is real value in having an interested, reliable person right there to do it when its needed. Around here, my neighbors can wait for days for their "contract" plower to show up because they do the big contract work first. And of course, they sometimes don't show up at all. So ask if they can "help cover some of the expenses." Its still a good deal for them.

Junkman · Sep 14, 2005

I had a neighbor like that once, that only did his postage stamp yard. He would rake all the leaves in his yard and throw them over the fence into my yard. One day, I confronted him and asked him to stop doing it. His reply was that they were my leaves since the tree was on the edge of my yard and the branches overhung his yard. He claimed that he had been doing it that way for years and wasn't about to stop. I rented a leaf blower and blew all the leaves back into his yard and when he said something, I told him that I was not responsible for where the leaves went when the air from the leaf blower blew them his way. Since the leaves were now in his yard, the leaves belonged to him and only him. I suggested that if he put them back in my yard, that they would find there way back to his and he will be spending a lot of time raking leaves. I also told him that I don't rake leaves. G-d put them there, let G-d take them away!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TonyV · Sep 14, 2005

G-d put them there, let G-d take them away!!!!! 

Junkman....I think its ok to spell out 'God' without fear of killing the thread. Of course, if God decides to kill the thread, you've bigger problems than I'd imagined. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

...Tony

Junkman · Sep 14, 2005

It has nothing to do with killing the thread. I would explain, but religious beliefs are not allowed. Ask your Clergyman why it isn't spelled out and you will have your answer. Junk

GaryM · Sep 14, 2005

I know the reason, but it will be a learning experience for him to find out. Right?

Junkman · Sep 14, 2005

Yes it will be...... anyone else that wants to know, just do a Google search for the phrase "why Why do many people write G-d with a dash" and you will find the answer. This is done by many religions, but not all. Even within various sects of one religion, there is no uniformity in its use. It is how you were taught in school, I believe that determines the usage. Even then, possibly it was the belief of the teacher, not the school system. I will leave this to the individual to decide for themselves if the use of the - is for them. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Robert_in_NY · Sep 14, 2005

I have been in a similar situation. Easiest way is to tell them the truth. I am sure if you started to plow their driveway and for some reason you couldn't plow it before they wanted to leave they would be calling you and demanding you clear it. Explain to them you only want to plow your own drive and that is more then enough work to do early in the morning when it is 30 degrees outside. There should be no hard feelings and if there are then they are the type of people that look to use others and its best you find that out now instead of finding out later when it will cost you more. Take care.

jmc · Sep 14, 2005

Another possible explanation is that whoever told them you did the drives did not tell them you didn't charge anything. She may be expecting to pay you but didn't try to pin you down on price since she assumes, as a neighbor, your charge will be reasonably.

Moon · Sep 15, 2005

Well, figured I'd add my 2 cents ...
I see trouble no matter which way you go. If you take money, they will expect service. If you don't plow as soon as they think it shold be done, or as good as they would like it done you have a problem.

If you discuss your costs and expectations, that can also p*** em off.

I'd not discuss it and surely not plow their's if I had the flu. I'd do it when / if I feel like it. If that is not good enough for them, they'll look for another solution, but then they'd be coming to you, or hiring a service. Or maybe they have one of those huge SUV's and just plan on driving thru whatever is not plowed.

I do a few neighbors drives on occasion. Depends on how much snow and how much time I have. One Thanks every time. One thanks and offered coffee. One never said a word, but only their college age daughter was there that winter and she is a big introvert. I like not having to do any extra drives ....but if I want the seat time and I'm not freezing my behind off, I can be neighborly. If you get into any business type agreement with them, then neighborly goes out the window and you'll have expectations on you. If it was me, I'd try to avoid that situation.

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

BB, A wife can be a pretty handy thing to have around. My wife reminded me that I only had to blow snow 2 times. Something like 6 or 8 inches each time. She says I just did the neighbors cause I wanted to play in the snow. Dang woman I keep telling her these are tools to get work done with. Is is not about fun. really.

Chris

Wannafish · Sep 15, 2005

I hate to be the meany of the thread, but I have not seen it addressed. If you plow their driveway and damage anything, you can be held responsible. If you charge for plowing and something bad happens - like new neighbors 3 year old neice runs out behind you, you could lose everything.

Don't get me wrong, I help out my neighbors but I also have a million dollar liability policy...which I can only HOPE will be adequate. If you are going to be on others property, make sure your insurance covers you.

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

You said "she" wants you to keep clearing the driveway. What does "he" say/think? 

It is a funny situation I noticed in the paper that the house is in her name. Her name is different than his. She seems to be in charge if the yard work. Their lot is big for the suburbs at an acre and a half. They hired a slap dash guy to mow the lawn. Takes him about 15 min. The lawn looked better with the old owner who had a JD with 38' deck. He mowed it slow and and bagged and it looked perfect. Anyway I have never seen the new guy out in the yard. The one time I got to talk to him was when I stopped at his store. Seemed like a nice guy. I guess he isn't into yard work. Maybe he is really a city boy and she wanted to move out here.

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

I seriously doubt that even newbies expect free service. 

I'm not so sure. When they moved they had all friends helping them. It looked like a huge job. I was so glad my wife hired movers the last time we mover. I couldn't believe how fast those guys were and how hard they worked and how much better my back felt. I think they get their friends to help them with all kinds of stuff.

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

Easiest way is to tell them the truth. 

That is so true. Its clear that we need to talk.

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

I think that the new neighbors asked the old neighbors how they cleared the driveway and they said I did it. Before us the people who had our house had the driveways plowed and the neighbors split the cost. I have pretty good equipment and I don't want to pay to have the driveway plowed.

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

Depends on how much snow and how much time I have. 

Thats what I want. I like to help out when there is a lot of snow but I don't want to be a plow service. In the old neighborhood I used to knock down the mound that the town plow left in front of the driveways when the snow was heavy. Then the neighbors could handle cleariing the rest themselves. Thats what I like a little help and a little self reliance.

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

What I would hate to do was help someone out and have their plow service get mad and quit, Then where would they be. They would be better plagueing the plow guy with phone calls.

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

Junk, I'm thinking of one of those worlds funnyest videos. I'm running down my driveway blowing snow over onto your driveway. Then you come down your driveway blowing it back. Do they pay people for those tapes?

Chris

pennwalk · Sep 15, 2005

Yeah I always worried about an accident when I helped out neighbors. One year I was helping out an elderly couple and got their christmas lights all wrapped arounf my auger. Thankfully they didn't fire me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Chris

crown · Sep 19, 2005

That's always a tough one when dealing with neighbors. We had up until this summer a guy in our neighborhood who plowed the whole sub-division free of charge with his 90 HP John Deere. I always thanked him and offered money he never accepted but always said he appreciated the offer. Many in the subdivision had the nerve to complain, thats the part that really erks me. I have no problem doing things for others and I don't expect them to pay but I do expect them to be appreciative. A new neighbor moved in next to our place and wanted to fence the property line she was out clearing brush with a rake I told her when I had the bush hog attached to the tractor and if I had time I would clear what I could for her, one day I had some spare time and the hog was attached I cleared some of the brush, she has since called and asked when I would finish. This just rubbed me wrong I stated I would help and do some work if I had a chance, which I did and now I am being told to come back and finish, much of the stuff left needs a chain saw and frankly I thought I had did what I offered. I guess it was just the way she assumed I would do more.
Bottom line as long as favors are appreciated and not expected then all is fine.