Ethics on clearing neighbor's drive ways and private lane

[Travelover]

I help the widows and friends. I never ask for money, but accept it when offered. That said, I only do it for fun, so if I'm not having fun I just don't do it. In your case, I would only plow from my house to the main road unless you have a friend farther back.

 

[RoyJackson]

I help my neighbors even though we don't really see each others much...and they reciprocate (meaning clear my drive if I'm at work).
If we do see each other in passing, we thank each other, as appropriate.
I don't help out for thanks...it's appreciated if they do thank me but if they don't...not a problem.
So...if you're looking for thanks, or appreciation...that's not a good reason to do the work...just do it for personal satisfaction, or as others wrote...just do enough to get your vehicle to the main road.

 

[haroldy]

I have been maintaining a private road for 25 years,,I live on a 3/4 mile private road with several neighbors..
origanly one of the neighbours suggested I look after the road as I had a tractor so i accepted,, bought gravel and graded as needed.The first winter i bought a snowblower ,do the road and all the driveways,,,come first spring I sent a bill to each of the neighbours
divided the cost equally..everybody paid ,,no hassle It has worked ever since ,,I think everybody is very happy
knowing they are paying their share and the work is being done ..I dont overcharge but it does pay for my tractor and fuel with a little extra for my time
So the conclusion is people are fare if they know what to expect

 

[Sprinklerman]

I plow commercially ,I have 15 lots and 10 paying driveways ( long ones) . Its my business . During the last storm I plowed 3 miles of county road and all the thru roads in my community 2 times . First because I wanted to be able to get home , second my parents are in the same community and 80 years old , plus there some elderly neighbors. Fire dept could acess. Now there is a small court behind my house , 10 houses , $ 600K homes . They called and asked me to plow 30 inches . Too much for the truck . needed the tractor . So I told them sure , it will be $ 400 . The woman said let me check with the neighbors . She called back and offered $ 50.00 . I was nice and told her , plowing is my business , $ 400 is the price , yes you are neighbors but I have a full schedule for 3 days and have had no sleep . Then she got a bit rude and said " I thought you would want to help neighbors out . I then asked her , " Do you go to work all week for free ?"

It boils down to , if you want to plow for free at your leisure then do it , if not then sit home and let the neighbors wonder how they will get out . Now prices are regional , but if they had to pay a contractor , they might as well help a neighbor and pay him the same . Everytime you run equipment you run the risk of damage , there is wear and tear , plus time is money .

 

[doctinker]

On my street, we are half a block past an elementary school. Right after a storm, the county plows to the school and stops. They come back and do the rest of the neighborhood later, usually several days later. I always plow the rest of the block, mostly for my own benefit. I then clear the driveways of several neighbors who are widowed, disabled or seniors. The neighbor across the street are good friends and we watch out for each other, so I do their's too. Many of them offer to pay but I always refuse. Sometimes one of them will leave gift cards in our mailbox. Other neighbors pitch in when they are available.

 

[mkr7734]

Our problem is we are the last place on a section of 6 eight ache lots so if I need to get to the road I have to get the whole 1/2 mile to get there and everyone else knows that.
Of the six lots only 4 are lived on and three are owned by the original family that the mother subdivided for her kids. Only one of those kids still live on the lane but those people think the rest of us owe them something and do nothing at all for road upkeep. The neighbor in the front has a blade on his F250 and comes all the way to us every storm. The guy next door does not live here full time but he has a old AC ninety with a cab and Boss plow attached and will plow when he is here. Most the time I make the cut with my little JD with the plow hooked to the loader. The three of us that are not from the original family have been doing gravel and lane work for 10 years now trying to get it up to snuff. It was put in in 1982 and they never did anything else. (I don't think they got along with each other any better than do us) When I am clearing the lane,,,,That is the coldest place on earth when it is snowing and blowing and yes it does piss you off and make you want to just plow in the ones who won't buck up and help. So I will do the lane and most times the do nothings will come out and watch me like starving deer and I will stop and help them out, but it sure would be nice if they would at least buck up some cash for fuel now and then. Bottom line,,,If I knew then what I know now I would never get property on a shared lane.

 

[mkr7734]

oops why does this happen so much??

 

[628pm]

I deal with the same situations as most. When we move here over 30 years ago we did not have any equipment to clear our drive. My neighbors were all farmers and they had the equipment. But they would just drive by when it snowed, not once did they offer to help out. We shoveled our drive by hand for several years. Fast forward to now, I have an rtv with a boss v-plow and a small kubota with a FEL. Both neighbors don't have any equipment anymore, one is ninety plus and the other had a heart attack recently. I could easily not help them out, but I clear their drives for them. It just seems right to do it. Besides I like using my rtv since I have an heated cab on it. Now neighbors further down the road who have equipment but don't even get it out, I just bypass them.

 

[Will_C]

I help a couple of elderly neighbors. I have also helped a neighbor with a broken tractor. I don't help the neighbor that has several expensive "toys" but a cheap lawn tractor to maintain a 10 acre home site.

Will

 

[oosik]

Around here the land is zoned agricultural and minimum lot size is 20 acres. Most everybody has some means of clearing their own property/driveway. Plus, my insurance does not cover my tractor off my property. Many years ago I cleared a neighbors driveway and smashed a little $4.95 Wallmart solar yard light. Never heard the end of that situation. That tore it - clear your own stuff.

Before I would get involved with clearing public roads or neighbors driveway - check with your insurance company. Then if it sits well with you - go discuss the situation with the neighbors. Working on your property vs working off your property are two completely different animals.