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Never mess with your REALTOR neighbor when it comes to boundary lines

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Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Mexico Properties 47726

Never mess with your REALTOR neighbor when it comes to boundary lines and surveys. I had a person that lives in back of one of our rental properties just start whacking away on our oleander bushes. I really only knew that someone was doing it because they just left the trimmed branches laying in the yard. Bizarre. Who the hell does that? It happened twice. I finally realized it had to be the person in back. Spoiler alert - it was.

When confronted, the neighbor said they mistakenly thought that the oleanders were on their property because that is what their next door neighbor, a 'master gardener', always told them. Apparently, the neighbor behind our property let lord-god-king gardener come into their yard to trim OUR oleanders, leaving the branches behind. I guess when you have such a prestigious title, you just do whatever the F you want.

I quickly explained that they were very much mistaken, and pulled out the survey that clearly depicts that the oleanders are indeed on our property. I then kindly, (OK, it wasn't so much kindly as stern and to the point) asked them to refrain from ever touching my shrubs again, lest I call and make a police report, which I was and am still happy to do! Yes, I've become my father. LOL #thenerve

Comments(8)

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Lise Howe
RLAH RE LLC - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Not the oleanders catching strays 😭 glad you set it straight!

Apr 17, 2026 02:31 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Love thy neighbor until they butcher your foliage and then it's time for a come to Jesus meeting! It's amazing the things that can happen without seeking the truth, Jeff.

Apr 17, 2026 05:53 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

If you've become your father, then that means you were paying attention and that he was a very effective communicator.

Congrats Jeff, on being featured in BananaTudes, sometimes you just have to show up on the side of right!

 

Apr 17, 2026 05:58 PM
Jeff Stevens

Thank you, Wanda! :)

Apr 20, 2026 08:54 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Jeff - there is a lot of sense in the saying, fences make good neighbors.  And it seems that there is power in the scents of oleanders.   Here's to whiffing many sorts of things.  So, to speak. . .  

Apr 18, 2026 04:39 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Jeff... you were nicer than I would have been in a situation like this. I'd have insisted they replant what they took down.

Apr 18, 2026 06:16 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Author, Golfer, Traveler, Retired, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Jeff,
I had a neighbor paint the back side of my fence many years ago. It wasn't even a nice color. It was a god-awful green. I sternly told them that it is MY fence and to leave it alone! 

Apr 18, 2026 10:35 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good for you for telling them to keep their hands off! The nerve!

Apr 20, 2026 02:13 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Jeff. You did what you had the right to do to establish your property rights. You could have escalated the situation but you remained a good neighbor. Enjoy your day.

Apr 21, 2026 04:34 AM