Neighbors and Pool Installation (LONG)

[Simmons99]

Update - met with the guy tonight and took video of all the sprinklers working correctly - he still seems to think that the grade is not right. So we are going to move some dirt, but it looks like it is draining correctly. We live in a swamp that was filled to build houses, so the drainage is not great anyway.

Gas company rescheduled us until next Tuesday - so we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

[CarlD]

This is so sad. All the drainage problems I had with my three neighbors at the back corner of my property are all nicely resolved. We worked it out, I don't believe there are any hard feelings, and it's all done. I literally had a swamp growing because the landscaper popped open and artesian spring, and walked away. The customer (my neighbor) also had a soggy yard so solving HIS problems with the landscaper solved part of mine. The rest were solved by me splitting repairs with my next door neighbor and the catty-corner one having HIS landscaper adjust things.

Sometimes people ARE better than you expect. Sometimes they are worse.

[tenax]

meant to mention having read the letter they provided to you that at least on paper they still appear to be relatively cordial (More cordial than i thought they would be at given the situations you've had with them)..but, it still appears this issue is being "papered" for backup if necessary.

[Unabomber007]

You have a LOT of patience!

I would have told my neighbor, "Suck it, Trebeck!" a long time ago.

[Simmons99]

Update -

Well I spent about three hours moving dirt last weekend until they liked it. They didn't like the fact that there was water puddling in OUR yard????

Anyway - they are not talking to us again - since our propane tank was installed above ground. Nevermind the city wouldn't let us burry it - I guess that is our fault too. We have to wait for the home owner's association approval before we can install the fence. Also - the sod is 2 weeks late - all the water here means that it's too wet to cut the sod from the fields and... then with a tropical storm coming - it will probably be another couple of weeks.

I just want to get this finished!

[Spensar]

Weel, the neighbours didn't vote for the guys who won't let you bury the tank, so it MUST be your fault!!!! What a pain, I would prefer to have a tank buried myself but if you can't do it, you can't do it.

DaveD has a good perspective though. Make them be the unreasonable ones and they won't have any sympathy from anyone.

[Jeffski]

The HOA let you install the pool without approving the fence first?

[geordie]

Update -

Anyway - they are not talking to us again -

Now THERE is the best news you've had so far. Keep it that way. You aren't going to please these folks no matter how much you exceed your legal and/or ethical obligations. Keep doing the basics to restore their actual property to its pre-pool condition. Don't suck up anymore (the wine) and don't act overly eager to please them. Remain pleasant (grit your teeth) and civil but keep your distance and generally treat their more outlandish requests as amusing and mildly annoying.

These folks are always going to be nuts, and possibly your neighbors for a long time. If they are going to feud, let them be the only ones engaged in it. Enjoy your pool and good luck with this whole mess.

[Simmons99]

Update - since we have had all this rain - all the sod fields have been under water so we were having a REALLY hard time getting sod. Last week I finally found a place that that would sell it to me for double the going rate - I took it.

The neighbors have been calling the city engineer (the inspector wouldn't listen to them) daily stating that they don't want us to be allowed to get final inspection until their yard is completed. The city engineer hasn't contacted me (I found out about this through our pool builder) - but my impression I got from the PB was that he was on the neighbor's side. Then again the neighbors told him that we haven't fixed the sprinklers yet ($#%#& liars..) and that the grade isn't completed.... then the sod.

Anyway - spent all weekend laying the sod and then watering the sod - I don't want to talk to them - they saw us laying the sod - so they know it's installed.

We had final yesterday - DH told me that the inspector was telling the PB something he didn't want to hear - maybe they have to re-grade the area - this sucks! I spent Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday night, and half of Sunday laying sod and they might have to tear it up ..... and people wonder why prohibition didn't work... I need a vacation