Ethics on clearing neighbor's drive ways and private lane

[BleedingOrange]

Since they have become reliant on your free service, if you do decide to quit providing it for them, and personally I don,t blame you, take the high road and to save yourself some unwarranted guilt in case something goes wrong during an emergency, try to give them as much of a warning before the next snowfall as you can so they won,t panic and be stuck trying to find someone to blow them out at the last moment.

 

[Farmer495]

Meeting? Screw that. Simple stop and see if anyone complains, if they ask you and don't agree with your reasons, tell them to pound sand. Afteral, time, fuel, tractor are FREE right?

 

[ch1ch2]

I have a water front lake home. Had a non water front neighbor aways using my dock when I was not there. When I was there he was always grumpy and complaining. Other neighbors were telling me how he was using my dock a lot lately. I caught him walking across my property with his fishing poles coming from my dock. I tried to strike up a friendly conversation with him and mentioned I did not mind friends using my dock and maybe he could invite me over for a hamburger or just bring by a beer someday.
He responded there was nothing I could do about him using my dock.
I called the Sheriff and had a trespass warning servers on him. He never used my dock again.

 

[airbiscuit]

So Coyot25, what have you thought of the posts so far?

The last storm gives you a good excuse to take a breather, and see how the various neighbors react...... " I mean I'm the second house on this line of as I said 12 homes. So I can clearly educate the folks beyond my residence by simply clearing myself up to the main road...... well the rest of you are on your own.

So you simply plow out your drive, and the road from there out to the main road. If anybody asks, you can just say the last storm took a lot out of your equipment and you. You might get an idea which neighbors have class and which don't have a clue.

That said, if a big snow came, I would probably still clear a path out for the others, but that's just me.:2cents:

 

[Garandman]

 

[Coyot25]

I'm quite surprised at how this post has really taken off. Ive been monitoring the responses over the last 24hrs. Alot of valid points to consider as well I appreciate everyone sharing their personal situations in how they handle folks in your neighborhoods.

The next storm I simply plan to get myself out and wait to see if the phone rings. I work in IT and work from home alot so I don't need to get out even if my employer is open. As well I'm really not interested in the money if it is a simple plow, in regards to drive down and drive back. However if it is something like Jonas 30"+ well that's a different situation.

In response to others statements. When I first moved in I have no idea what folks did when it snowed I honestly think they simply just sat in their homes until someone could just bull run their way through with a truck to make some tracks. Anyway that first winter I was their with my tractor I plowed the road and the neighbors flagged me down to ask what I charge for their driveway. I really thought taking money from them was stealing as it was a lighter storm and I'm more so simply just driving through it. No real effort on the tractors part to scoop back up and push repeat etc. Anyway. After that storm driveways and private lane were open. I had dang near all the neighbors showing up at my front door professing thank yous or baking goods or forcing money on me. I thought these guys are great and we moved into a good neighborhood.

Now as I said in my original post after this current storm being 10 years later no such as a hand wave.

Maybe my post was partial a rant but I was curious if others were in the same predicament.

 

[bcp]

How many of the present neighbors were there when you moved in and started plowing?

Bruce

 

[Coyot25]

Four families have moved away over the years others are still current residents.

 

[Pixguy]

They expect you to do it, human nature. As someone stated, time to let them know that the insurance co. has told you that they won't cover you off your property and the new rates cost more money, etc....
Either that or you can continue where some don't appreciate but you do it because you enjoy doing it.

 

[Sprinklerman]

A neighbor of mine is a plumber he has had some heart issues , his boss told him to take the mini ex with a blade home for the storm so he didnt have to shovel and if he wanted make a couple extra bucks . He did his house and a old couple across the street . By the end of the day he had neighbors calling for him to do their driveways , he was happy to make some cash , so he was telling neighbors $ 75 to do a 4 car drive . The neighbors got upset he wanted so "much" . Well later on Sunday when these same yuppie neighbors couldnt handle 30 inches of snow shoveling they called him back to get their driveways done . He told sorry , he is too busy now , his wife sent an email to a friend in the next community , he has 20 driveways lined up then he is taking his kids sled riding , but there is a guy with a snowblower coming around doing driveways for $ 125 plus 25 for a walkway to the house .