Helping out our neighbour

[cschnurr]

Thanks,

I guess that's exactly why I was feely guilty but haven't acted on anything yet. Its good to get input from a neutral observer.

[ChuckD]

Just to add to Carl's advice, I think your intentions are noble and I'd advise her that it could be a can of worms but you'd be willing work with her to get an honest professional in to assess it. You don't mention her financials, and probably don't know anyway, but to be a trusted agent to get the thing fixed, or filled in, or whatever would probably be invaluable to her.

C.

[Phillbo]

I'd offer to help drain it and remove the mosquito issue. your concerns about on going cost and work are valid.

[sunofthebeach]

Sounds like a lot of people have brains that are a lot bigger then their hearts.

Where I come from a neighbor that lets you use their pool is a friend and I go out of my way to help my friends.

talk to her, see how she is doing, see what she wants, see what you can do.

[CarlD]

Sounds like a lot of people have brains that are a lot bigger then their hearts.

Where I come from a neighbor that lets you use their pool is a friend and I go out of my way to help my friends.

talk to her, see how she is doing, see what she wants, see what you can do.

Perhaps you need to read the OP's original post. She's not letting them use her pool. She's offering a trade--it's a business deal--Open my pool and you can swim in it--but the OP already has a pool. So it's not even a business deal but a request to give services for free that are quite expensive.

Suppose she asked him to strip and re-shingle her roof? Would it still be heartless to say "no"?

We live in a litiginous age. If you take on her pool and mess something up (in her mind), or find a bigger problem than you anticipated, she could end up suing you. Yeah, people do that. That's why contractors are bonded.

No good deed goes unpunished. For example: my wife (who had been a mother for several years) went to give her sister-in-law a break taking care of new-born triplets--the SIL's first children. The nanny didn't like the way my wife powdered their bottoms, complained to the SIL, who then got on the phone, and rather than thanking my wife for giving her a day, screamed at her. Of course the nanny was gone in a week...and my wife swore she'd NEVER help her SIL again--and never has. We adopted our second child a year later and she powdered his bottom without a problem.

Give advice? Sure! Recommend a good contractor? Sure! Take on the work yourself? Think long and hard on it...