Ethics on clearing neighbor's drive ways and private lane

[TomSeller]

When I lived in another neighborhood in Boston, a guy knocked over my motorcycle with his car. Only damage was a $25 EZPass. He said he'd pay, then started avoiding me then got hostile about it.

Every time it snowed for the next two years, he would laboriously shovel out his space and leave for work. And I would put all the snow back with a snowthrower that moves about 1,800 lbs of snow a minute. I figure he paid that $25 back at about a dollar an hour.....

Two wrongs don't make a right. You did this multiple times over two years?

 

[TugHillDog]

To the OP:

I remember hearing The Mills Brothers sing "you never miss the water til the well runs dry."

Be good to your good neighbors and be indifferent towards the others. I would venture a guess that when the weatherman plays his hand, you might see some milk of human kindness from the previously callous souls.
THEN its time to talk contribution to the highway maintenance fund.

I do the same thing for a short 1/4 mile stretch of dirt road going to seasonal houses. But I'm the LAST one, so the rest of the owners get some for free. But when gravel resurfacing comes, I don't mind asking for contributions when I have the occasion. Calling myself the Self-Appointed Highway Superintendent gives me permission to at least make them aware of the cost on my end. Truly that does not always translate into contributions, but something is better than nothing!

I have on my year-round place several neighbors that I regularly clean out. Some are occasional and I get asked now and again while on the road if I will clean another. I generally will after looking it over to be sure its safe for my equipment. I gladly accept donations, but I also add that I'm not in the business, so accepting money for the job at hand is not the same as taking on a client for the winter!

For your piece of mind, I would let it be known through the "good" neighbors that the freebies are coming to a close and let them do the word-of-mouth advertising through the neighborhood.

Good LUCK!

 

[Garandman]

I have on my year-round place several neighbors that I regularly clean out. Some are occasional and I get asked now and again while on the road if I will clean another. I generally will after looking it over to be sure its safe for my equipment. I gladly accept donations, but I also add that I'm not in the business, so accepting money for the job at hand is not the same as taking on a client for the winter!//

I won't take any donations because I don't want to feel obliged to help them the next time.

 

[TugHillDog]

I won't take any donations because I don't want to feel obliged to help them the next time.

To be completely honest, I have refused a few donations for just that very reason...just felt like more than the job at hand...
You are smart not to become entangled!

 

[2ndhalf]

This is somewhat different than plowing snow but very related.. I once offered to rewire a ladies house who went to my church. Nice older lader and a widow. I made it clear I didn't want paid but also that I wasn't in a hurry and if she wanted it done quick I wasn't the guy. She was fine with it. I did a room at a time on the weekends and sometimes since my kids were still young had to skip weekends due to their activities. They also helped me some. She reimbursed me for parts/supplies and all was good.

About 2/3rds of the way throught the project, enter her male friend who she started dating/seeing. He decided he wanted to become my project manager and start calling me and asking me when I would be done with things and pushing me etc. After about three weeks of that I said, tell you what I have re-wired about 90% of that house I think I'll let you take it from here. This guy was fairly loaded and offered to pay me to finish and I said I wasn't doing it for money... and gave him the name of an electrician I was sure would be glad to finish it up for pay.

 

[David P]

We got a decent amount of snow here in MI earlier this week and I decided to plow out a neighbor that my family is quite friendly with. When I plowed them out a couple weeks ago their 4-year old was watching me in the window from start to finish. I figured I'd see his head pop up in the window this time as well. Sure enough, as soon as I pulled in I could him grinning like a mule eating briars (to borrow a phrase from my dad lol) and flailing his arms all over the place. Not only did I plow the driveway but I used the loader to move most of the snow from the driveway into a huge pile for him and his sister to play on. I got a huge amount of satisfaction just from watching the little guy watching me. It sure made his night, that's for sure.

We make maple syrup so I try to keep the trails through our woods plowed out so the gator doesn't get stuck when we're collecting sap. So after I plowed out my neighbor I went through the woods and cleared the trails. It takes some time as we have over a mile of trails back there. When I got home I noticed that I had a facebook message from his mom.

I opened the message to find a video message from the little guy who was watching me. He very nicely told me how thankful he was the I cleared their driveway and that of the two tractors I drive near their house, that the red one I plow with is his absolute favorite and that he has big plans to buy one when he's older. What a great way to end the night.

I have plowed them out for a few years now and they thank me every time.... but this was something special.

 

[ultrarunner]

About 2/3rds of the way throught the project, enter her male friend who she started dating/seeing. He decided he wanted to become my project manager and start calling me and asking me when I would be done with things and pushing me etc. After about three weeks of that I said, tell you what I have re-wired about 90% of that house I think I'll let you take it from here. This guy was fairly loaded and offered to pay me to finish and I said I wasn't doing it for money... and gave him the name of an electrician I was sure would be glad to finish it up for pay.

This has happened to me... all of a sudden a boyfriend/relative is in the picture with lots of ideas... going to show his lady how it's done... like when I was only mowing and not edging... heck, I was doing it for free so it wouldn't look abandoned...

Anyway... it's always a good time to bow out when an expert arrives on the scene...

 

[ultrarunner]

I opened the message to find a video message from the little guy who was watching me. He very nicely told me how thankful he was the I cleared their driveway and that of the two tractors I drive near their house, that the red one I plow with is his absolute favorite and that he has big plans to buy one when he's older. What a great way to end the night.

I have plowed them out for a few years now and they thank me every time.... but this was something special.

I get along great with kids... always have... when I had a mower route I would have kids just wait for me to show up... sometimes they would have pictures they made and other times just wave.

These are the years that shape them and a little kindness and interest goes a long way...

One of the parents said her child simply will not do anything she tells him to do and wanted to know my secret... I said I almost never tell a child to do anything... I ask... as in asking for help... I say I really could use some help raking or sweeping and they just beam... in part for the attention and in part because they are helping...

I'm sure you will have friends for life... my Japanese friend in Japan it is not what you do for me... it is what you do for the ones I care about... and kids/family would be at the top of the list.

 

[2ndhalf]

.
I opened the message to find a video message from the little guy who was watching me. He very nicely told me how thankful he was the I cleared their driveway and that of the two tractors I drive near their house, that the red one I plow with is his absolute favorite and that he has big plans to buy one when he's older. What a great way to end the night.

I have plowed them out for a few years now and they thank me every time.... but this was something special.

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.

 

[farm boy00]

We got a decent amount of snow here in MI earlier this week and I decided to plow out a neighbor that my family is quite friendly with. When I plowed them out a couple weeks ago their 4-year old was watching me in the window from start to finish. I figured I'd see his head pop up in the window this time as well. Sure enough, as soon as I pulled in I could him grinning like a mule eating briars (to borrow a phrase from my dad lol) and flailing his arms all over the place. Not only did I plow the driveway but I used the loader to move most of the snow from the driveway into a huge pile for him and his sister to play on. I got a huge amount of satisfaction just from watching the little guy watching me. It sure made his night, that's for sure.

We make maple syrup so I try to keep the trails through our woods plowed out so the gator doesn't get stuck when we're collecting sap. So after I plowed out my neighbor I went through the woods and cleared the trails. It takes some time as we have over a mile of trails back there. When I got home I noticed that I had a facebook message from his mom.

I opened the message to find a video message from the little guy who was watching me. He very nicely told me how thankful he was the I cleared their driveway and that of the two tractors I drive near their house, that the red one I plow with is his absolute favorite and that he has big plans to buy one when he's older. What a great way to end the night.

I have plowed them out for a few years now and they thank me every time.... but this was something special.

Should let the kid come out and let them drive. That would send him through the roof.

 

[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.