Neighbors and Pool Installation (LONG)

[CarlD]

Y'know--there are always two sides to the story....

What WAS your agreement with them? How serious an impact did it actually have on their house? Did your builder exceed your agreement with them? Was cleanup and repair done in timely fashion?

Sounds like the impact on their yard was FAR more than they expected and they reacted emotionally rather than logically.

They may be nuttier than a squirrel's stash, but they, too, have a legit beef. It sounds like they handled it badly, though.

Neighbors' construction can have quite a lousy impact on your quality of life. After years of a development going in behind us, with lots of blasting, the new house behind us was occupied. They then IMMEDIATELY had the trees between us taken down and we looked at dirt and construction for then next 13 months. The drainage "solution" their landscaper put in has been causing pooling in MY back yard....Am I a rotten neighbor for being upset? Then the guy next to him is doing construction now, up hill from us. I did speak to his architect and they are ensuring that the OTHER source of flooding in our backyard will be fixed too...

All by careful back-fence diplomacy--and a wife smart enough to tell me to use that first...

[Simmons99]

Y'know--there are always two sides to the story....

What WAS your agreement with them? How serious an impact did it actually have on their house? Did your builder exceed your agreement with them? Was cleanup and repair done in timely fashion?

Sounds like the impact on their yard was FAR more than they expected and they reacted emotionally rather than logically.

That's the craziest thing - they did sign an agreement that allowed the entire use of their side yard. I told them that their sprinklers were going to get trashed and that we would pay for repairs and resod any area that was damaged.

When I talked with them the day of digging, Mrs. Lovely Newly Wed didn't even tell me they were broken, just that they were burried. When I asked if I could do something - she says no.

We are only 3 days into construction - I just hope the pool builder hurries.

We are going on vacation all week next week - I hope they don't burn our house down while we are gone.

[medvampire]

My out take they should have said something when there was a problem not wait. Take in to account that it IS concruction and things will be a mess during this time. List things that need fixed, let you know about it, and at the end of the concruction hold your feet to the fire to get it done.
Good luck and have a great vacation
Steve

[Simmons99]

OMG - it gets better - the sprinkler company came out to fix the sprinkler heads and they were not home. Husband calls them to tell them that the sprinkler company needs to be able to turn the system on to find the heads and verify they have been fixed. They tell us that they should not have to take off of work or come home to deal with this.

So my husand left them the sprinkler company's card and a letter for them to contact them to schedule a time when it is convienant for them.

I just hope they don't try and get me to replace the sod in their whole yard because heads are broken in 3 of the zones and they can't turn on the system.

Maybe I should leave a new hose and sprinkler for them too when we leave? If this gets really bad (although I don't know it can get worse) I will just tell them to sue me and we'll see who runs out of money first

[tmmort]

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."

I would make sure their yard was better than it was before, along with sending Lovely Newly Wed a bouquet of flowers with a swimming invite upon completion.

I've unfortunately had the experience of living next to brooding neighbors - life's too short for that. JMHO.

[MaryLee]

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."

I would make sure their yard was better than it was before, along with sending Lovely Newly Wed a bouquet of flowers with a swimming invite upon completion.

I've unfortunately had the experience of living next to brooding neighbors - life's too short for that. JMHO.

Good advice!! I agree 100%. Rise above it all.

[cruzmisl]

I would make sure their yard was better than it was before

I agree. At least then they have nothing to complain about.

along with sending Lovely Newly Wed a bouquet of flowers with a swimming invite upon completion.

I've unfortunately had the experience of living next to brooding neighbors - life's too short for that. JMHO.

Flowers? Swimming invite?? Are you kidding me? That will just reinforce their childish behaviour for the next project they're involved in. Not for me, but then again I 'm stubborn and will not give an inch especially since they happily agreed to the project. What did the neighbors think they were going to dig the pool with a garden shovel??

Just my 2 cents. Surely others would react differently. I think they are doing everything they can but the neighbors are uncooperative.

[sevver]

I agree, with that, if the neighbors agreed to the project, then ongoing perfection is not going to happen, their yard cannot be restored daily, they do not make hovercraft backhoes, and the dirt is not getting airlifted out of the backyard. Sounds like the neighbors are typical construction-ignorant types.

As for returning the yard back to better than original, by all means do that, but don't invite them over, I would say they would have to earn that.

[tundraSQ]

OMG - it gets better - the sprinkler company came out to fix the sprinkler heads and they were not home. Husband calls them to tell them that the sprinkler company needs to be able to turn the system on to find the heads and verify they have been fixed. They tell us that they should not have to take off of work or come home to deal with this.

So my husand left them the sprinkler company's card and a letter for them to contact them to schedule a time when it is convienant for them.

I just hope they don't try and get me to replace the sod in their whole yard because heads are broken in 3 of the zones and they can't turn on the system.

Maybe I should leave a new hose and sprinkler for them too when we leave? If this gets really bad (although I don't know it can get worse) I will just tell them to sue me and we'll see who runs out of money first

Its easy for us to sit back and laugh, but I'm SURE its no joking matter to you...you just KNOW they are going to contact a lawyer the minute the pool is complete with a LONG list of "damages" and "pain and suffering"....you might want to look over your home owners policy, and take LOTS of photos to help defend your case...plus LOTS of notes.

Good Luck...and enjoy the pool.

[matt4x4]

Man, am I glad I don't live in your neck of the woods, I have great neighbours!
I really feel for you, definitely DO NOT EVER invite them over for a swim or anything else for that matter, get their yard fixed good as new, give them a sprinkler head or two for their troubles with a little note saying something like

...in case they didn't find them all.