What Would You Guys Do?

[aldiaz33]

I'm gonna go the other way with this and say that your neighbor had every right to report it if you are in violation of any local ordinance. Leaving just dirt for so many months is an eyesore and a blight on the neighborhood. Put yourself in a neighbors shoes...if they happen to be looking to refinance or looking to sell their house your property could bring down their property value. If I were in either of those situations, I would probably report you.

On the flip side, if other people are in violation you also have the right to report them.

Honestly, I would only report them if I felt that their violations were affecting my home value. Otherwise, I could care less. Doing something purely out of spite is childish. If you have a legitimate reason, then that's a different story.

I feel your pain though...just yesterday my neighbor asked me to come over because she had something to show me. She said that our fence that was built over 6 years ago was on her property by one foot; she said that since the fence was built on her property that I am responsible for painting her side. I bought the house less than 3 years ago, so I wasn't even involved in the construction of the fence and I'm not so sure that it's even on her side as it lines up perfectly with my neighbors fence (the lady has a double lot, so my neighbor's and my fence run the length of her property; if mine is over the property line by 1 foot, then so is his).

I think the reason it recently became an issue is because I just powerwashed and stained my side. Her side now looks like crud in comparison so she is trying to get me to paint her side for free. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point. I may just spend a few hours power-washing it, but then tell her that she will have to hire someone to paint it for her. What would you do in this situation? Sorry for the derail.

 

[SumoNinja]

So, since the chickens are gone, the only thing you are in violation of is having a bare front yard? Is the city actually going to come down on you or are you just trying to please an overly nosey neighbor?


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no I don't have a choice once the city gets involved. when someone makes a report the city opens a case and a letter is sent out. that case stays open until it is dealt with. if you don't do anything, let's say, they will continue to inspect and eventually start charging you for the inspections. if you don't pay they eventually will put a lien on your house. you can't sell or refinance if you have a lien so it has to be done. and I believe if unpaid they send to collection.

I'm gonna go the other way with this and say that your neighbor had every right to report it if you are in violation of any local ordinance. Leaving just dirt for so many months is an eyesore and a blight on the neighborhood. Put yourself in a neighbors shoes...if they happen to be looking to refinance or looking to sell their house your property could bring down their property value. If I were in either of those situations, I would probably report you.

On the flip side, if other people are in violation you also have the right to report them.

Honestly, I would only report them if I felt that their violations were affecting my home value. Otherwise, I could care less. Doing something purely out of spite is childish. If you have a legitimate reason, then that's a different story.

I feel your pain though...just yesterday my neighbor asked me to come over because she had something to show me. She said that our fence that was built over 6 years ago was on her property by one foot; she said that since the fence was built on her property that I am responsible for painting her side. I bought the house less than 3 years ago, so I wasn't even involved in the construction of the fence and I'm not so sure that it's even on her side as it lines up perfectly with my neighbors fence (the lady has a double lot, so my neighbor's and my fence run the length of her property; if mine is over the property line by 1 foot, then so is his).

I think the reason it recently became an issue is because I just powerwashed and stained my side. Her side now looks like crud in comparison so she is trying to get me to paint her side for free. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point. I may just spend a few hours power-washing it, but then tell her that she will have to hire someone to paint it for her. What would you do in this situation? Sorry for the derail.

no I hear you. I am ok with the fact that I was reported because I am in violation.

violations that I see from others don't affect my home value though, at least not that I can tell. but they are violations. I had no idea that in my area, if you have grass, you have to have at least one shade tree that is on their approved list. if you have no grass and go with gravel or rock or ground cover you have to have two approved trees and one approved plant per 15 sq ft.

so yea, it will be out of spite. I will admit that. that's where the internal struggle is. I have the right to report them because there are clear violations, but I don't have to. and that's why I made this thread, to see what everyone would do in my situation. I have to spend a lot of money fixing my house, while look at other violations and do something or not do anything

 

[SumoNinja]

lol yea i would just tell the city if you are gonna give me violations, come take a drive down my street and start enforcing lol. as far as your yard, do you thin that they would get mad if you uses astro turf? the nice stuff you can hardly tell that it is fake. as far as your desert theme, you could plant a bunch of yucca plants. they are very hardy. we use them back were in from in nebraska for landscaping. it can get 115 in the summer and -20F in the winter. get some dragons blood and pincoushin cactus patches as ground cover. for the trees you can use joshua trees. mesquite trees would also be a good choice. plus you can use the trimmings in your smoker lol

I wanna say astro turf would be approved ground cover but i'm not 100%. it wouldn't matter to me if anyone hated it, if it is compliant with the codes, to hell with what they think

but I couldn't do it, it would cost way too much. instead of spending 3 grand to do normal landscaping it would cost like 10 grand to do the synthetic grass


thanks for the suggestions about the plants. I still have some research to do to see what drought resistant natives I can use

 

[MaddMaxx]

Report everyone. Get more money into the town and for the schools.

 

[krichardson]

Without 100% proof that she reported you, it would just be pure spite on your part. Me personally though, I would tell on her just out of spite. If i have to spend money, so do you lol.

Lol,Strollo time and time again you and I think alike...A few thoughts..it's a shame with so few neighbors you all can't be more close knit or at least more up front with one another,whomever had the problem with your front should have stepped up and talked directly to you about it.I would ask each neighbor if they snitched on me so I could be sure just who the culprit is that is causing me all the money spent and trouble and if it is that woman with all the concrete....oh well,this is what she caused.Where does your city get off dictating how you are to decorate your property that YOU pay taxes on?...and they have the nerve to charge a fee just for you to have the privelege of them considering your plans...and I thought our city officials were a bunch of crooks.

 

[Nova 8]

If they reported you or were planning to report you why would they mention it to you as well? Seems kinda stupid to me. Personally I would move cause I'd hate a local council being able to tell me what plants I can have or have to ask for approval to select plants other than pre approved plants. Whats the point of owning your own home if you don't even have the right to plant it how you like, might as well rent!

 

[Nova 8]

I'm gonna go the other way with this and say that your neighbor had every right to report it if you are in violation of any local ordinance. Leaving just dirt for so many months is an eyesore and a blight on the neighborhood. Put yourself in a neighbors shoes...if they happen to be looking to refinance or looking to sell their house your property could bring down their property value. If I were in either of those situations, I would probably report you.

On the flip side, if other people are in violation you also have the right to report them.

Honestly, I would only report them if I felt that their violations were affecting my home value. Otherwise, I could care less. Doing something purely out of spite is childish. If you have a legitimate reason, then that's a different story.

I feel your pain though...just yesterday my neighbor asked me to come over because she had something to show me. She said that our fence that was built over 6 years ago was on her property by one foot; she said that since the fence was built on her property that I am responsible for painting her side. I bought the house less than 3 years ago, so I wasn't even involved in the construction of the fence and I'm not so sure that it's even on her side as it lines up perfectly with my neighbors fence (the lady has a double lot, so my neighbor's and my fence run the length of her property; if mine is over the property line by 1 foot, then so is his).

I think the reason it recently became an issue is because I just powerwashed and stained my side. Her side now looks like crud in comparison so she is trying to get me to paint her side for free. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point. I may just spend a few hours power-washing it, but then tell her that she will have to hire someone to paint it for her. What would you do in this situation? Sorry for the derail.

I'd get the boundary checked and if I was on her land and the local law said I had to then paint her fence for her I'd move the fence on foot and never have that problem again, of course this cant be done if there are structures in the way.

 

[aldiaz33]

no I hear you. I am ok with the fact that I was reported because I am in violation.

violations that I see from others don't affect my home value though, at least not that I can tell. but they are violations. I had no idea that in my area, if you have grass, you have to have at least one shade tree that is on their approved list. if you have no grass and go with gravel or rock or ground cover you have to have two approved trees and one approved plant per 15 sq ft.

so yea, it will be out of spite. I will admit that. that's where the internal struggle is. I have the right to report them because there are clear violations, but I don't have to. and that's why I made this thread, to see what everyone would do in my situation. I have to spend a lot of money fixing my house, while look at other violations and do something or not do anything

My county actually has a program for native landscaping in order to help conserve water (lawns are thirsty; they require a ton of water to stay green during hot summer months). They will pay you $500 if you go with native landscaping that meets their specifications (a certain number of plants per square foot and all plants must be from their approved list of native/drought tolerant species). Might be worth looking into whether or not a similar program in your area exists.

I wanna say astro turf would be approved ground cover but i'm not 100%. it wouldn't matter to me if anyone hated it, if it is compliant with the codes, to hell with what they think

but I couldn't do it, it would cost way too much. instead of spending 3 grand to do normal landscaping it would cost like 10 grand to do the synthetic grass


thanks for the suggestions about the plants. I still have some research to do to see what drought resistant natives I can use

Man, I looked into the faux grass as well and was shocked....considering the cost per square foot, I could install real Oak hardwood floors or Carrera marble for about the same price. It's crazy how expensive it is.

I'd get the boundary checked and if I was on her land and the local law said I had to then paint her fence for her I'd move the fence on foot and never have that problem again, of course this cant be done if there are structures in the way.

I have heard that getting a surveyor out to take an official look at the property line is expensive. I would have to break up some concrete to move the fence and moving it is something I don't really have time to do, so I would probably have to hire it out costing me several thousand dollars. I have a power washer and the paint would cost me about $100, so I'm thinking about just doing it to appease the old bat.

 

[dxdx]

You can get pretty far on spite. I think if you're 95% sure it was her, then report her violations.

She could've easily come to you and asked these questions, or asked you to do something and given you some time before reporting it. I understand she doesn't want to look at the eyesore, but at least give you a window of time to correct it between the two of you.

 

[Arianne02]

I'm a spiteful *****----I'd report everyone. Tell the city that if you are out of code---they should come and inspect everyone on your street too.