How To Deal With Horrible Neighbors
Even the most beautiful home in the most serene neighborhood can become a nightmare if you live next door to the wrong kind of people. Dealing with horrible neighbors can be enough to push even the nicest person over the edge. So we’ve created a list of some of the bad neighbor types you might expect to find and how to handle them if you find yourself stuck living next to one.
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Lets start what what most people complain about when it comes to their horrible neighbors:
# 1 The loud ones:
You know, the spouses who scream and fight in the street, the tire squealing drivers, the ones who like to blast their loud music and the all night party goers.
#2 The dirty ones:
The neighbor that lets the grass grow past your knee, keep random junk in the yard, and leaves trash cans out days after pickup.
#3 Mr. No Boundaries:
That person who trims boundary trees and then wants to send you the bill.
#4 The Bad ones
The alcoholics, drug dealers, and registered sex offenders.
#5 The dog owners
The one who lets their dogs do their business anywhere and everywhere without picking it up.
Ways to deal with them:
1. Call your neighbor and pick a time to talk.
2. Meet on the sidewalk or on the property line.
3. Don’t accuse; let them know how the problem bothers you and suggest ways to solve it together.
4. If that doesn’t work, check out local noise and disturbance ordinances and write a personal letter. Be sure to offer a solution.
5. Consult your HOA and ask them to send a standard letter citing the ordinance or by-law.
6. Should that fail, call your local precinct. Keep a record of your complaint.
7. Call in an expert mediator. (To find a mediator, check with your local courthouse, police precinct, or bar association).
8. As a last resort, file a complaint in court.
If you’re looking to buy a new home and want to find out ways to spot a “BAD NEIGHBOR” try some of these tips:
- Check the online registries for local sex offenders.
- Drive around the neighborhood at different times of the day, especially the evening when everyone is home from work.
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Check out Google street view. This way you can check out the street and zoom in/out of the surrounding area.
- Take a stroll around the block and talk to neighbors who may be outside. Let them know you’re thinking about buying that home and want to know about the neighborhood and neighbors.
- Look for signs like basketball hoops, skateboard ramps, and trampolines as those are signs of potential noise makers.
- Listen for dogs barking.
