How to deal with a problem neighbor

Question

First post for me here on BP.  Thanks to everyone on the site, I have learned a lot.   I am a fix and flipper and have a home that I am rehabbing in a nice neighborhood.  The home is going to turn out very nice but I believe the next door neighbor is going to cost me a lot of money on this deal because of his yard and the twenty (a real number) kids that play at his house and the house I am rehabbing.  He is a hot head and won't be told that he has to stay off our property.  Have tried being nice and tried building rapport with him but the kids continue to play at the house and leave their toys, bikes, balls, and everything else in the yard.  Have told them it is not safe to play here because of all the work going on.  I am afraid that when we list it for sale, that whoever comes to view the home will experience the community playground at my house and will not buy it.  Any suggestions on how to deal with this situation?  Thanks again for all who post on here and hope to pay it forward someday.

Jerry Rodgers · Answer

Sean.  There is already a fence between the property but they just ride their bikes up the driveway and leave them there.  Not a pretty site when we start showing it.  Although maybe I can offset my losses by selling all the toys on eBay :)

Sean Kuhn · Answer

When the house is done being rehabbed, add the tallest, solid fence in that rules will allow. Fences aren't to expensive and trust me, buyers will love it.

Jerry Rodgers · Answer

An update on this home.  I ended up putting a row of fast growing shrubs that will at least block the view for the new owners.  I ended up selling the home the first week it was on the market and made a great profit.  Thanks to all that gave me the suggestions.

Jerry Rodgers · Answer

I like the rose bushes suggestion. Passive aggressive is a great idea :). I will add some along the front of the property and it will also look great.

Sean Kuhn · Answer

I had the same problem in the house I used to live in. I had considered installing flower beds full of rose bushes along the property line. Those thorns are sharp! A landscaper could help you make it look nice. A few times they kept leaving bikes in my driveway and I took them all and put them in the garage. Didn't have any problems after that.

Jerry Rodgers · Answer

Thanks John.  BP has been fantastic and can't believe it took me this long to find it.  In the middle of all the great podcasts. The hedges will be a good alternative to where the buyer won't have to look at the neighbors yard and I will do that.  We have some that grow about five feet a year so that will work out great but still doesn't solve the problem of the kids in the yard.  I have already talked to all the neighbors about one of their friends buying the home and one said she knows of a family, that they are all friends with, that would consider the home so that there would then be 25 kids in the neighborhood :).  Don't think they will be able to afford it though.

John Moore · Answer

Welcome to the BP family and perhaps we can help solve your problem.  Determine your side line, install a fence if permitted as well as hedges that will provide a privacy wall.  The combination of both should give you some relief, you might also consider posting a no trespassing sign which could also send the message you attempting to convey.   Prospective buyers could be told that it is for insurance purposes.  You might be lucky and find a buyer who likes children.  Have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Jerry Rodgers · Answer

Thanks for the suggestions Mary.  It isn't a daycare, it is just a place where all the neighborhood kids go to play.  They are not bad kids but the parents just have no respect for others property.  Building a fence would not matter because I would have to build a moat filled with  alligators to keep them off (wait a minute - that sounds like a great idea...lol).  My contractor told the kids (against my wishes) that they would call the police if they didn't stay off the property and so the kids went back to the dad and told him and then he came over and started yelling at my guys and said they have every right to play where they want.  Now I am afraid that once the house is complete that he will do things to keep it from selling.  I am going to tell my realtor to only show it during school hours when the kids are not there.

Mary B. · Answer

Can you get a surveyor out to see where the line is and put up a brick wall, maybe? Possibly a daycare next door with mixed age range(my guess for 20 juveniles in one location. unless your neighbor is from the show 18 and counting). A concrete divider may solve your discrepancy.  If they come over the wall its trespassing. Find out if the neighbors are daycare owners. If so they have rules to adhere to and if you need to, report them. If they are a severe non-contraceptive using out of control parent, then maybe a call to children services could be of assistance to you. You tried to ask nicely now you have to try another approach, nicely.

Kudos,

Mary

How to deal with a problem neighbor

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