Neglectful Neighbor

[mjones1234]

We're getting our house in better shape to sell and downsize. I have a relatively new neighbor who bought the house next door but neglected to purchase a mower or hire out lawn care. Its been knee high for weeks, so i went over and cut his grass. He came out and apologized profusely, but after 3 more weeks, it was the same. So, I cut it again, this time noticing his wife on the front porch. Tonight I came home and he had an old push mower and was going to town. I did this with another neighbor years ago and it worked as well. Man-shaming feels so much better than being a wimp and calling the city ordinance folks.

[Rezdent]

I'm a bit confused - you think shaming your neighbors is badass?  Is it because you are moving, and so you don't care about your neighbors?

Please, please move next door to me.

[prognastat]

You do realize technically you are trespassing right?

[Paul der Krake]

Why do you care what the grass on other people's property looks like? It's grass.

edit: missed the part about being on the market. More understandable.

[Zamboni]

I agree you are badass.

I also understand why you want a reasonable lawn next to your house while it is on the market.

It was nice of you to help him out while he was having trouble mowing. Please come mow my lawn, too!

[mjones1234]

Prognastat, yes, I do realize I took my chances by crossing over to his yard. Fortunately, he came down and was quite pleased with me helping. If he would have been upset, I would have packed it up and went home. I just asked if he could keep up with it going forward. He agreed and apologized and I really had no problem with that, and was happy to help. It took me another 20 minutes to knock it out after mine was done.

But, then over the next few weeks, it got knee high again, and so I took care of it once more. He got the message, bought a mower and all is good now. In fact, he went from being a guy who would barely return a wave to you, to a nice guy who seems to be more friendly now.

My whole point, wasn't to show that I'm a bad ass. It was really to tell folks, that if you sometimes give people a little hint, it can save you from escalating things to more bureaucratic methods. But, my "man shaming" comment could have been a little harsh (thus Rezdent's confusion). I think he was a little shamed himself, but that honestly was not my intention. I just wanted the grass kept up to reasonable levels!

Cheers.

[prognastat]

Prognastat, yes, I do realize I took my chances by crossing over to his yard. Fortunately, he came down and was quite pleased with me helping. If he would have been upset, I would have packed it up and went home. I just asked if he could keep up with it going forward. He agreed and apologized and I really had no problem with that, and was happy to help. It took me another 20 minutes to knock it out after mine was done.

But, then over the next few weeks, it got knee high again, and so I took care of it once more. He got the message, bought a mower and all is good now. In fact, he went from being a guy who would barely return a wave to you, to a nice guy who seems to be more friendly now.

My whole point, wasn't to show that I'm a bad ass. It was really to tell folks, that if you sometimes give people a little hint, it can save you from escalating things to more bureaucratic methods. But, my "man shaming" comment could have been a little harsh (thus Rezdent's confusion). I think he was a little shamed himself, but that honestly was not my intention. I just wanted the grass kept up to reasonable levels!

Cheers.

It was more of a warning. This may be a difference in where you live. In some places though trespassing on someones property can very well get you shot and they would be well within their rights. Like I would have probably have gone over brought up hey I'm trying to sell my house and worried that the state of your yard may affect the offers. If you don't have the time to do it before X, do you mind if I do before I have some people coming to look.

It would have achieved the same without the whole trespassing part.

[mjones1234]

Good point prognastat. I can see the headlines now - "Man shot while mowing neighbors yard!". I live in the deep south and trespassing is taken very seriously, especially if it's someone you've never seen before. But, typically it's for nosing around backwoods areas that are either hunting havens or something more mischevious is happening. There are a few stills and small growing operations within a ten mile radius of us. Even during my years as a firefighter, there were places we wouldn't enter without law enforcement leading us in.

But, you have a good point. Thanks for the suggestion of going up to the door first and explaining things. Sometimes I just act without considering all legal angles/implications. Gotta work on that.

[mjones1234]

Spartana, you are correct. It would have been more appropriate. But, your comment made me think of something. If you were out of town for a couple of weeks, you didnt know me, and i came over and watered your flowers because we were in a drought, would you be livid? Or would you be livid in this situation, because you knew you should keep up with your lawn (within reason), and somebody helped (and in turn you felt a little guilty)?

[Pebs]

I have never had a neighbor mow my whole yard for me. I think that is nice and would be appreciative, thanking rather than apologizing. I did one time have a neighbor that would mow a single strip through my yard as a hint that it was getting too long. That would just make me mad and I would delay even longer.

[BudgetSlasher]

One thing I have not see posted is what the locality requires as far as yard maintenance. (or for that matter a description of the area, such as urban/suburban/rural, which would impact the level of care that might be required). 

[TomTX]

Eh, I often mow the front yard of both next door neighbors. Small areas, and we know each other. The newer guy on one side doesn't have a mower - a cousin or something comes by every few weeks and scalps it.

[Beaker]

There's a guy catty corner from us that seems to have problems mowing. They're not disabled, just disorganized. They also seem to have plenty enough money to hire a service. So some of my neighbors have joked about calling up a few lawn mowing services and asking them to leave quotes stuck in the door. We figure getting 3-4 quotes from services might be a "subtle" hint. I don't think anybody's done it, but maybe soon... :)