Home improvements make your home a better, more pleasant place to live. Then, surely, home improvements must always be a good thing, right? Generally speaking, yes. There are, however, some home improvements that could turn your neighbors into your enemies in Lincoln. Here are 3 to watch out for.
1. Fixing Drainage Spots on Your Property
There’s a big low spot in your backyard along the edges of your property where water stands, making your yard very soggy and causing a health hazard when the mosquitoes move in. And you’ve finally decided to do something about it. The problem is, though, that the water has to go somewhere else.
If that water then drains into your neighbor’s yard, making it soggy and messy, get ready for problems. If your neighbor raises a big stink and wants to take legal action, you do have recourse to the”reasonableness rule.” This rule holds that if a neighbor sues, he will have to provide proof that you did something”unreasonable” in altering your property to cause harm to his property. Even if this rule may make your neighbor think twice, it probably won’t stop your neighborly relationship to go negative.
2. Planting Ornamental Trees or Shrubbery
We all want to make our mark on our property, imposing just a little of our own personality on it. And that basic human desire often expresses itself in the form of landscaping, sometimes in the specific form of ornamental trees or other shrubbery. But certain trees turn out to be one of the home improvements that could turn your neighbors into your enemies.
Take Bradford pears, for instance. Sure, they are absolutely gorgeous when in bloom. But despite the beautiful blooms, these trees exude an overpowering, pungent, “masculine” smell during bloom time. In addition, these trees are notorious for shedding brittle branches all over the place, even into neighbors yards. So be careful that your new ornamental tree’s visual appeal doesn’t come with significant negatives, such as strong odors and/or messy debris.
Also be careful that your ornamental trees or shrubbery ideas don’t suddenly block your neighbor’s favorite view. And be sure to clean up after your tree if you do go ahead.
3. Adding an Extra Room or Shed
You’ve been living relatively frugally for a few years, and you’ve squirreled away enough money to add on an extra room for a guest or small shed. Now you’ve had the plans drawn up, and you’ve hired a contractor. Just be aware that you may have problems with your neighbors.
They will be annoyed that they are now living next door to a construction site with all the inevitable mess, noise and reduced privacy. There will be trucks from the lumber yard making deliveries, the whine and growl of power tools, workers shouting, and the staccato noise of hammers and nail guns. It’s all necessary, but likely seen as a nerve-wracking annoyance by your neighbors. Your neighbors may complain that they cannot hear themselves think in their own home anymore. And if your neighbors have school kids, they may complain that the noise prevents quality study and homework time.
They may also be upset when the job is completed, that their favorite view is now obstructed by your new room. This may not always be the case, but . . . just sayin’.
While it is true there are home improvements that could greatly upset your neighbors in Lincoln, you shouldn’t let that put you off your dreams and plans for your home. Using the right approach and good communication skills, you can move forward with your home-improvement plans without creating any “neighbor issues.”