Ethics on clearing neighbor's drive ways and private lane

[David P]

Great story! Goes to show that payment comes in many forms. Smart of that mom to teach the little guy how to say thanks too.

I agree. I've been thinking summer is the best time for me to do that.

 

[1965]

I think it depends on the neighbor. One of my neighbors brought cookies over afterwords and is always thankful while the other will hide like I am going to ask for something for doing it. He also watched my wife stuck in the drift the snow plow left at the end of my driveway after I had plowed and went to work and never offered any help when he drove away in his 4x4. Needless to say he does his own now. After burning out one ATV, I opted to just do my own now, 370 feet long with a 50 x 150 foot parking area. The friendly neighbor had bought a blower so isn't stuck but if we get something they couldn't handle I would dig him out. As for the other no so much, you reap what you sew.

 

[Travelover]

I was walking my dog in my subdivision today and a guy calls out, "are you the guy with the tractor?". Not seeing any damaged mailboxes , I said I was. He handed me a $20 bill. Another old guy sent me a check for $100. Nice to be appreciated - makes up for the jerks.

 

[ProjectKing]

I was walking my dog in my subdivision today and a guy calls out, "are you the guy with the tractor?". Not seeing any damaged mailboxes , I said I was. He handed me a $20 bill. Another old guy sent me a check for $100. Nice to be appreciated - makes up for the jerks.

That's great!

 

[lamanated]

I guess this subject has no borders,, In my childhood, we shovelled a couple doz places out as they were relatives etc, then in 81,we bought a $2000 Honda snowblower, which has done hundreds of passes,, Not once has someone coughed up a dollar...In 2013, I treat myself to a new machine, with a plow and blower,$20K , Not a nickle as well,and one summer, I had a pile of soil to spread, I noticed not a wave nor a Hold on Ill be over comment from any neighbor, then I hooked onto a buried extension cord which took a day to remove and took out an auger bearing. since then,the tractor stays in the yard.

 

[lilranch2001]

I have never done any helping for monetary reward
But human decency should speak towards at least saying thanks

 

[kevinjd]

I do for hire snow blowing in my neighborhood, we have two 3033rs with cabs. My tractors are insured, registered with a license plate for road use and I also have general liability insurance for snow blowing/plowing. I have to move a lot of snow to make a profit.

I have a sign on my front lawn, I hand out business cards with prices on them to the neighbors when I walk my dog and I have a sign on the bulletin board at the post office.

I have a lot of happy customers and if I see someone shoveling, I always offer if they want their driveway cleared. With that offer to clear their driveway, I tell them the first time is free, heck they are neighbors, and what better way to advertise and give a sample of your work, it is only machine time when you're out there and it builds the density of the route. I give them a business card with prices and explain to them if they need service, I can do it every time or on call. It works well for me and my neighbors don't think anything less of me.

This is what works for me, and I feel my neighbors know where I stand. I bought my tractors to perform the service and make money. Would I help someone a second time? Yes, if the circumstance seems reasonable.

I hope some of my practices will give you ideas on how to deal nicely with your neighbors.


Kevin

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I plow my neighbor when the snow is really deep, even though he has a tractor to push snow. Matter of fact he is out pushing snow for his business while i push him out. I do it because he is always doing me favors. He has done a ton of work for me, and would never accept pay. When i get a chance, i pay him back by doing things for him. It's great having a great neighbor. He is one guy i will loan things to.

 

[crabjoe]

A dozen home baked cookies will get you a lot in return.

Or even a smile, wave and thank you.

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to say you're right with your comment. At least for me..

Just last month the neighbor across the street wanted to borrow my tractor to dig some dirt for a paver patio. Our kids are friends and so are the wives, but I flat out said "NO!" The reason was simple to me.. I've been waving Hi to him, when I see him mowing his yard, or driving down the road.. basically most times I saw him out, but he flat out hasn't acknowledge me for years now...

A week after I gave the no answer, was the 1st time he has waved. Funny thing was that I didn't see it. We were stopped at the mail box and I was looking at the mail to see who sent what... The kids saw him wave. Felt a bit bad about it, but oh well.. He ended up renting a skid steer for a few days to do it.. I wonder what that cost him...and he still hasn't finished his patio because I think he's in over his head.

On the flip side, I use to have neighbors, down the street, where the husband was bed bound and wife tried to maintain everything. I never really spoke to her other then a Hi or Hello but we always exchanged smiles when we crossed paths.. With just that, at times, I use to mow their lawn and clear their snow... Just the friendly acknowledgement was more than enough.

 

[SteelonSteel]

Where I used to live in a village I did some of the neighbors' driveways if I had time. I only had an ATV with a plow then. I did mine and did the lady across the street who always brought me cookies at Christmas (before the plowing). I also plowed out a young single mother two doors down.

When the snow was really really deep the boyfriend of the lady across the street would come into the village with his farm tractor with the loader (and heated cab) and take care of the big stuff and push back the banks where I was stymied with the ATV. It only took me a few minutes to do theirs with the ATV and saved him from coming in the village with the big tractor at every storm. The return favor worked well for me.

Where I'm at now, most everybody is self sufficient my closest neighbors have either garden tractors with snow blowers, pickups with plows, and or farm tractors.