Ethics on clearing neighbor's drive ways and private lane

[drizler]

You just said the dirtiest word in the modern English Language, HOMEOWNERS ASSN. The fact you don't have one means you are miles ahead, keep it that way. Unleash that monster and you will begin to know why folks like me flee to the country never again to return. If you think you have troubles now just wait until you start having bored housewives or the local know it alls starting to flex their new muscles. Then you will know well which is the greater evil.

 

[paulfun9]

No. Some things are self-evident.

Are they really? I don't know about you personally but I do know people who have just went ahead and helped only to find something buried and destroy it without knowing. Myself it was a small bench that was custom made and the property owner swiftly told me how much it cost him and wanted me to replace it! A friend of mine caught the edge of the paved surface which wasn't finished even to the gravel area and then wanted it fixed for free!
SO NO some things are not self evident and unless you are willing to ask then you wont get my help volunteered !

If your nieghbor wont ask my first assumption would be they don't need the help, my second assumption would be they would rather shovel than risk having me hit something buried or dig a little of their yard by accident and the hole offering of the help makes outlining any possible risks feel very weird. At least by asking when I then tell you that I could easily dig up some yard by accident and will not pay for it if I do, or crush anything your children may have left behind to be buried by the snow, or that the bicycle that is buried will cost me plenty if I find it with my blower and the repair will be on you I wont get looked as strangely

Todays world isn't the same as it was when I was young and simply being a good neighbor can easily cost you plenty more than its worth for the good feeling of just helping someone out. So for me if you don't ask don't expect me to just jump in and help you out!

So an other question comes to mind now We have a close by neighbor who has all his toys ATVs, snow mobiles, boat motorcycles. Problem is he lives out here with no real means to take care of his long driveway except fro shoveling it by hand. So do I offer to help by just going over and doing it while he plays all weekend with his boys on the snow mobiles? Or do I wait for him to ask for help being as he can afford all the toys he should have first afforded himself one NEED or even a small plow for the ATV to at least try to keep himself from being buried. This especially since the NEED for a plow on the ATV is definitely more important than a snow mobile. Secondly shouldn't he be teaching his children to clear the driveway first even if it is by hand long before they are left to go have fun with the snow mobile? I don't know about you but I don't want give those kids the impression that they can do what they want because the neighbor will take the time to bail you out!

Bottom line here is your neighbor doesn't always see what is self evident to you and even if he does he cant be sure exactly what your thinking so maybe you should stop relying on an old fashioned neighborly policy that simply cant exist in todays society of spoiled brats with a self sense of entitlement that are willing to blame you for anything that can possibly go wrong and in the future just walk on over and simply ask them if they can help!

 

[Garandman]

So I'm curious on the others that are out their in a similar situation as what you do.

- do you tell them sorry
- do it for free
- charge them a flat fee / hourly fee - if so what is it
- or in similar situation do you clear yourself out then your done

So, how did you handle it?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just spent $800.00 or so dollars having three cylinders rebuilt. Plus maybe half a dozen hours driving to get this done and pick them up. That alone can buy a lot of cookies, pies and cakes!

I did do some expensive damage doing someone a favour clearing snow. I won't mention what it was because I didn't fess up and it probably won't be discovered for some time.

 

[MoMower]

I do 3000' or so of private roadway, I'm first of 4 on the roadway. The last buys salt and will give me $20 for fuel now and again plus piched in for the blower and spreader. The 2nd put
In my HVAC unit for free, with my help. The fourth Plowed for the first 6 years we lived here....it goes around

 

[TomSeller]

Not in snow, but while brush hogging I chopped the top off of a fire extinguisher someone threw in the field. Took off like a rocket. Never know what is down there if you can't see it.

 

[Coyot25]

Garandman ,

In response to your post -some folks I did plow out their driveway others I left alone during that storm..honestly I was exhausted after 3 days of tractor time just didn't feel like pushing on for free work. I think it is funny one guy still hasn't left his house in over a week..for those of you who are are concerned. I see he has different lights on at night and I saw him from a distance over the weekend clearing his car. Anyway overall crappy neighbors I guess who think I'm entitled to plow them out because I have some equipment. I spoke to a VDOT sub that plowed during this storm and he suggested I send everyone a $100 invoice as that was cheaper than if they had to call someone to dig them out; I know a few of them had to. Moving forward I have most everyone's contact in the neighborhood, so I plan to let everyone know how it is going to be moving forward. "I'm plowing myself out to the main road that is state maintained, if you need help you can call me and I'll give you a quote to come plow not only the road to your house out but your driveway."

In other news:

I did get another set of chains so I have a full set which hopefully will make quick work next time. I only had truck tire v-bar chains on the front, now with duo v-bar chains on the rear I hope I have ultimate traction, but that's for a different discussion on this site.

I do appreciated everyone's response, I'm surprised at how many responses there are.

 

[aczlan]

I help a couple of elderly neighbors. I have also helped a neighbor with a broken tractor.

I plow our our place, the inlaws and (if he doesn't get to it first) the neighbor next door. I used to help the neighbor across the street on occasion (when they plowed with an ancient tricycle tractor), but he now has a plow on his F150 and takes care of it himself.
The neighbor on the other side is usually good (its just him and he has a 4wd pickup), but I will occasionally knock out the banks for him.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

Anyone plow with a Dozer?

Just wondering if that is an option...

I have the small dozer and the Deere 110 TLB

All the talk about snow got me to thinking.

 

[ultrarunner]

Anyone plow with a Dozer?

Just wondering if that is an option...

I have the small dozer and the Deere 110 TLB

All the talk about snow got me to thinking.

 

[Dftodd]

Anyone plow with a Dozer?

Just wondering if that is an option...

I have the small dozer and the Deere 110 TLB

All the talk about snow got me to thinking.

Dads plow truck was down one season. We plowed that year with a 195# John deere dozer. With the cleats we had welded on it for logging in the winter we had to be really careful with gramps pavement. Most seasons we just used it to push the snow banks back.

 

[aczlan]

Anyone plow with a Dozer?
Just wondering if that is an option...
I have the small dozer and the Deere 110 TLB
All the talk about snow got me to thinking.

If it has rubber pads, it should be fine, just slow. If it has steel cleats it will chew up the pavement (not a big deal on gravel), if it has smooth tracks, it will spin/slide easily on ice.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

Anyone plow with a Dozer?

Just wondering if that is an option...

I have the small dozer and the Deere 110 TLB

All the talk about snow got me to thinking.

 

[TomSeller]

Anyone plow with a Dozer?

Just wondering if that is an option...

I have the small dozer and the Deere 110 TLB

All the talk about snow got me to thinking.

Either of your US locations get snow but on a blue moon? Or are just planning ahead just in case

 

[Jim in ICT]

That defies logic.

Gotta know the guy.

 

[ultrarunner]

It does snow in Olympia... enough to cause havoc and then it's gone.

A few miles in with elevation it can be different.... Mount Rainier is visible and has snow year round.

I think it was back in 1976 when people were skiing in San Francisco... my brother had an F250 4wd and made a little change pulling out all the stuck cars.

 

[silvertramp]

Garandman ,

In response to your post -some folks I did plow out their driveway others I left alone during that storm..honestly I was exhausted after 3 days of tractor time just didn't feel like pushing on for free work. I think it is funny one guy still hasn't left his house in over a week..for those of you who are are concerned. I see he has different lights on at night and I saw him from a distance over the weekend clearing his car. Anyway overall crappy neighbors I guess who think I'm entitled to plow them out because I have some equipment. I spoke to a VDOT sub that plowed during this storm and he suggested I send everyone a $100 invoice as that was cheaper than if they had to call someone to dig them out; I know a few of them had to. Moving forward I have most everyone's contact in the neighborhood, so I plan to let everyone know how it is going to be moving forward. "I'm plowing myself out to the main road that is state maintained, if you need help you can call me and I'll give you a quote to come plow not only the road to your house out but your driveway."

In other news:

I did get another set of chains so I have a full set which hopefully will make quick work next time. I only had truck tire v-bar chains on the front, now with duo v-bar chains on the rear I hope I have ultimate traction, but that's for a different discussion on this site.

I do appreciated everyone's response, I'm surprised at how many responses there are.

Looks like you solved your problem. The homeowners would be getting a deal if they hired you.

 

[ch1ch2]

Are they really? I don't know about you personally but I do know people who have just went ahead and helped only to find something buried and destroy it without knowing. Myself it was a small bench that was custom made and the property owner swiftly told me how much it cost him and wanted me to replace it! A friend of mine caught the edge of the paved surface which wasn't finished even to the gravel area and then wanted it fixed for free!
SO NO some things are not self evident and unless you are willing to ask then you wont get my help volunteered !

If your nieghbor wont ask my first assumption would be they don't need the help, my second assumption would be they would rather shovel than risk having me hit something buried or dig a little of their yard by accident and the hole offering of the help makes outlining any possible risks feel very weird. At least by asking when I then tell you that I could easily dig up some yard by accident and will not pay for it if I do, or crush anything your children may have left behind to be buried by the snow, or that the bicycle that is buried will cost me plenty if I find it with my blower and the repair will be on you I wont get looked as strangely

Todays world isn't the same as it was when I was young and simply being a good neighbor can easily cost you plenty more than its worth for the good feeling of just helping someone out. So for me if you don't ask don't expect me to just jump in and help you out!

So an other question comes to mind now We have a close by neighbor who has all his toys ATVs, snow mobiles, boat motorcycles. Problem is he lives out here with no real means to take care of his long driveway except fro shoveling it by hand. So do I offer to help by just going over and doing it while he plays all weekend with his boys on the snow mobiles? Or do I wait for him to ask for help being as he can afford all the toys he should have first afforded himself one NEED or even a small plow for the ATV to at least try to keep himself from being buried. This especially since the NEED for a plow on the ATV is definitely more important than a snow mobile. Secondly shouldn't he be teaching his children to clear the driveway first even if it is by hand long before they are left to go have fun with the snow mobile? I don't know about you but I don't want give those kids the impression that they can do what they want because the neighbor will take the time to bail you out!

Bottom line here is your neighbor doesn't always see what is self evident to you and even if he does he cant be sure exactly what your thinking so maybe you should stop relying on an old fashioned neighborly policy that simply cant exist in todays society of spoiled brats with a self sense of entitlement that are willing to blame you for anything that can possibly go wrong and in the future just walk on over and simply ask them if they can help!

Ditto!
I could not have said it better myself.
Not that I have personal experience with snow. I think I have an idea what snow looks like. We get some about every 5 to 7 years. I may last 2 days before it is all gone.

 

[PILOON]

My usual, when I bail out a neighbor, is to say simply, "Hey, drop off a bottle of wine and we'll be even".
Then we see how much they appreciated my efforts.
A fifth of scotch gets me back real fast next time. LOL.

Bottle of 'plunk' needs a very nice request.

And, gee I forgot (last time), or I'm a poor student (yeah, 2 new cars cottage and condo)= cash talks!

Nice apple pie gets me every time.

 

[PILOON]

My usual, when I bail out a neighbor, is to say simply, "Hey, drop off a bottle of wine and we'll be even".
Then we see how much they appreciated my efforts.
A fifth of scotch gets me back real fast next time. LOL.

Bottle of 'plunk' needs a very nice request.

And, gee I forgot (last time), or I'm a poor student (yeah, 2 new cars cottage and condo)= cash talks!

Nice apple pie gets me every time.
\
THIS IS A DUPLICATE. YOU DEAL WITH IT!
I cleared 3 tonight, your turn TBN!