Pesky Neighbors To The Left of Me, Smokers To The Right, Here I Am Stuck In The Middle Of You
THIS MUST BE WHY FOLKS MOVE TO THE COUNTRY.
It is a fact that some folks are oblivious to others around them and the only things that matter are events that affect them personally.
How their actions affect others in their "sphere", is not in their interest.
Small lot development leads to interaction between folks that may be an inconvenience or annoyance.
That's the price we pay for living in small lot developments, townhomes, condos.
Why do folks buy into these communities?
Easy commuting, price, close to church, close to shopping, etc. are some of the reasons I've heard.
One influence that I've observed is FAMILIARITY with the community.
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Pesky Neighbors To The Left of Me, Smokers To The Right, Here I Am Stuck In The Middle Of You
You finally move into your new home in the Portland Metro area, and can't wait for that first Saturday morning where you get to sit out and enjoy that warm cup of coffee on your private deck. When you first saw the home, your vision of lounging in a chair, the sun warming your body as you peruse the paper called you. So peaceful, so relaxing...oh the backyard oasis would be perfect!
What you didn't expect though, was the fact that your neighbors on the left of you have three kids riding their tricycles on their deck while screaching to the top of their lungs, while the Mom continually screamed for them to be quiet (so they don't disturb the neighbors)..or that your neighbor on the right of you is a chain smoker and the smoke blows right over into your space.
This is the thing about living in neighborhoods, you just can't pick who your neighbors will be...and chances are, those that are there now will move at some point, and you'll have to get used to new neighbors.
So what can you do if you have pesky neighbors? Well, first thing you should try to discuss things with them first in a calm and civil manner. They just might not be aware that certain things bother you.They might not know that their dog barks all day while they're at work or that their cats use your favorite garden as a litter box. If you have a neighborhood association, this would be the next avenue to go through.
Here in the Portland Metro area, there are a few places that you can turn to if talking with your neighbor or association just doesn't work.You can check with your local City to see if they have free mediation systems in place. Many do offer mediation services to help you work things through.
Since many Portland homes are close together and often on 5,000 square foot lots or less, there will be some things you have to deal with if they are not an every day occurance, but if you find that your neighbors are affected your quality of living, then here are a few links to some city services. If you're in the City of Portland, you can also put the address of your future neighbors in PortlandMaps.com to see if their were any nuisance calls before you buy.
City of Portland Neighborhood Mediation Center
Beaverton Dispute Resolution Center
City of Lake Oswego FAQ and links for dispute issues
Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Center
Cindy Westfall ABR,GRI
Premiere Property Group
5000 Meadows Rd., Ste. 150, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Cell: 503-819-5241
E-Mail: cwestfallportlandrealestate@gmail.com
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