New house, neighborly advice.

[DT86]

Have been unable to contact anyone on the neighbors property.

Never seen a a car in the driveway or any adults outside. There are a couple of high school age guys around some days.

I've met two other neighbors who have no idea who, if anyone, actually lives there.

 

[dmccarty]

Have been unable to contact anyone on the neighbors property.

Never seen a a car in the driveway or any adults outside. There are a couple of high school age guys around some days.

I've met two other neighbors who have no idea who, if anyone, actually lives there.

There is a house near us that suddenly went empty. A couple and their late teenage to early 20's kids live in the house. Then one day, nobody was there. :confused3: No cars, no people, no nothing. :confused3: We were guessing divorce even though the family had built the house and been there for decades. Eventually, a car showed back up and some of the other family cars were back. One of the kids is now living in town and it appears that the parents are back in the house. This happened over a couple of weeks so our next guess was that the family, or parts there of, went on vacation but that does not explain why all of the family cars were missing. They have 4-5 cars so one would think at least one car would have been left at home. But we still don't know what happened. They are not real friendly people and we do not live near them so we have never talked but since we drive by their house you could not help notice the change.

I know of another house were the owners died. The house still has cars out front and lights on but it is empty. The kids have blocked off access and watch over the place but nobody is really there except when the kids go mow the lawn and such. The husband/dad died a year or so ago and he was an ex farmer. He would go out and just plow his field because he wanted too. :thumbsup: He had not grown anything for years. Hated to see the guy go...

Couple other houses along that road are empty too and I think for the same reason.

Later,
Dan

 

[DT86]

The house beside us is empty I know for a fact now, but it was confusing at first.

When we bought the place the common side fence and hedges needed some attention. I'd do the work, just wanted their blessings to do so. I'd look that way any time I went out to catch them and chat. Then I noticed how the house was, the garage door falling off the track, gutters full, shed door blown off hinges, ect. , but the yard was kept up to some degree.

Later we realized there were no people which was odd as there was a dog in the yard. The dog was healthy and cared for so I thought someone was stopping by to feed and water it. It took me almost a month to realize the dog belonged to the neighbor on the other side! He lets it run in the fenced yard and doesn't have to worry about stepping in poo in his own yard.

These are mostly 1970s homes and it seem most families have been here less than 5 years. The "dog house" has the same story as the "tree house" behind me, no one knows who owns it.

 

[CobyRupert]

In my case ...

I had it removed because my knowledge it posed a hazard to my neighbor would, in my mind, make me liable. The insurance companies would likely battle it out in the event of a substantial claim, but $100 (the cost of removal), is cheap peace of mind.

I don't think removing this "Sword of Damocles" is going to be a $100 removal job.

Regarding OP's option #3 of having the owner do something about it:
The tree owner might be faced with a: spending $1000 now out of pocket (or $500 if you split it 50/50) to prevent a "might happen"; or ignore it now and have their insurance (and/ or your insurance) pay for if it ever falls. And who knows if they plan to live there for any length of time.

If being a good neighbor is going to cost them $1000, don't be surprised if they take their chances with fate and the insurance companies.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

The house beside us is empty I know for a fact now, but it was confusing at first.

When we bought the place the common side fence and hedges needed some attention. I'd do the work, just wanted their blessings to do so. I'd look that way any time I went out to catch them and chat. Then I noticed how the house was, the garage door falling off the track, gutters full, shed door blown off hinges, ect. , but the yard was kept up to some degree.

Later we realized there were no people which was odd as there was a dog in the yard. The dog was healthy and cared for so I thought someone was stopping by to feed and water it. It took me almost a month to realize the dog belonged to the neighbor on the other side! He lets it run in the fenced yard and doesn't have to worry about stepping in poo in his own yard.

These are mostly 1970s homes and it seem most families have been here less than 5 years. The "dog house" has the same story as the "tree house" behind me, no one knows who owns it.

Sounds like you are back to square one with the branch. I'd get an estimate about getting the limb removed and do some checking on the property/overhang issue. I think in PA if its over the property line, its free game. Doesn't matter what the landowner that has the tree thinks, you can cut it straight up the property line.

 

[dmccarty]

The house beside us is empty I know for a fact now, but it was confusing at first.
...

I forgot about this....

When we moved into our house in the city there was a house that was empty. That house stayed empty for the decade we lived there! :shocked: It never went up for sale nor did ANYONE ever live in the house! A few years ago I was near the old neighborhood so I drove through to see how things had changed. That house was still there and still empty. The house has sat empty for at least 20 years! :confused3: Go figure.

We talked to the neighbors that lived next too and near The Empty House and NOBODY knew what was going on with that house. All sorts of guesses about divorce, government involvement, bankruptcy, estate, etc but nobody knew what was happening. This makes me think the house has been sitting far longer than we knew. Maybe since the house was built in the mid 70s. At one point, someone in the neighborhood knew what was happening with that house but they moved away or died before we or neighbors had bought into the subdivision and had a chance to hear the story.

Tis very odd for a house to sit empty for a couple of decades. Someone would mow the yard from time to time but often the neighbors around the house would mow. I assume the neighbors would complain to the city when the grass stayed unmowed and the city would contact the owner who would mow the grass from time to time. Just flat out odd. That house would get at least a $1,000 a month rental fee.... Just paying the property taxes year after year, decade after decade, with no usage is just strange.

Later,
Dan

 

[fidowanttobe]

Nice big mature tree shading my yard? Unless it was compromised, I would move the shed. If I had room of course.

 

[DT86]

Nice big mature tree shading my yard? Unless it was compromised, I would move the shed. If I had room of course.

I think even with out the shed it is a problem.

 

[Zerk]

You could eliminate the problem all together by simply relocating the shed! End of problem and your new neighbor doesn't even get involved. Bob

I would be tempted to do this.


I wouldn't go talk to the neighbor the first week I got there, about a shed that has been there for years. I especially wouldn't make it sound like a priority. If you did that, I would tell you to get _______. I would wait a few months.

I suspect after this week, you will have a neighbor that no longer talks to you.


Also before you do anything I would talk to your insurance company, states vary. They may be able to tell you more, or you could research your state laws.

 

[Zerk]

.

If being a good neighbor is going to cost them $1000, don't be surprised if they take their chances with fate and the insurance companies.

I think the issue is more some new guy shows up and starts whining. But not everyone has a thousand bucks to pull out of their butt for a what if someday event.


I look at trees around my property, wishing they were never planted. Thinking when should I do something. Hopefully I do, before it lands on my house.