When Matthew Dills’ tree, hanging over a neighbor’s fence, dropped berries, he didn’t realize it was a problem until the homeowner next door mentioned they were messing up a fresh paint job.
The neighbor in the Oleander neighborhood of Bakersfield offered to cut Dills’ tree — and Dills agreed to haul the foliage away.
“It worked out real nice,” Dills said.
Some homeowners aren’t so lucky.
Sherry Simpson loves living in the “eclectic” neighborhood. But one homeowner down the street doesn’t respect the neighborhood, she said. Simpson says neighbors talked to the guy and it didn’t do any good.
Like Simpson, you may be irked by a neighbor’s habits. But depending on the issue, resolving it may be as simple as talking or as involved as taking legal action — or even moving.
Talking a first step, Andrew West is looking to move into the Oleander area. If he does, he plans to get to know his neighbors and keep the lines of communication open.
“Otherwise, little stuff can get on your nerves and blow up to something big,” West said.
Like West suggests, communicating should be the first step.
“Go to them first and try to resolve the issue,” said Brian Murphy, executive pastor at RiverLakes Community Church. “If you’re going to be neighbors, do all you can to be at peace with the people living near you.”
Talking to a neighbor first can often clear up any misconceptions — and can lead to solutions.
A few years ago, clients of Veronika Angeloni, with KW Associates, Realtors, were trying to sell their property and were concerned that the neighbor’s house, which needed a paint job and yard work, would hurt them. She suggested they talk to the neighbors.
It turned out the neighbors were elderly, couldn’t physically care for the yard and didn’t have money to hire help, Angeloni said.
So the neighborhood held a block party and joined forces to repaint the couple’s home and take care of the yard.
“The whole neighborhood felt good about what they did,” Angeloni said.
Those who choose not to discuss problems with their neighbors, whether because of a safety concern or other reasons, have other options.
Some communities in Bakersfield have homeowner associations that set neighborhood guidelines. Sometimes they say when people can put up holiday decorations or whether owners can park cars on the streets or in driveways.
Homeowners who are unhappy about neighbors who don’t follow the rules can submit a written concern to the management company, said Maureen Harrington, a property manager at Thomas Kelly Management Inc.
“That’s why so many associations are being developed now,” Harrington said. “People want their yard and property to look nice.”
Owners moving to neighborhoods with associations get a copy of the rules during escrow, said Patti Minassian, assistant vice president of marketing for Aliso Viejo-based MERIT Property Management.
They can participate in the process by serving on the volunteer board of directors.
When things get tough Bakersfield city code enforcement responds to various complaints, from cars on blocks in the front yard to graffiti and more.
“We get all different kinds of calls in all different kinds of neighborhoods,” said Randy Fidler, city code enforcement chief.
When code enforcement learns of a violation, the resident is sent a notice and has a week to correct the problem, Fidler said. If not, the resident is sent a second notice and may have to appear before a hearing officer. If the resident has an issue he refuses to take care of, the city can hire a crew to clean up the mess and the cost will go on the homeowner’s property tax bill.
Except in communities with homeowner associations that forbid it, residents can have one disabled vehicle on their property, but it and all parts must be under an opaque cover, he said. Visible disabled cars can be towed.
Code enforcement has a complaint hotline where people can report problems, Fidler said. Issues involving health and safety take priority. The department will get to other issues as it has time, he said.
Bakersfield police often deal with similar issues, said Detective Mary DeGeare, a department spokeswoman.
If motor homes are parked on a street, for example, and blocking neighbors’ views to pull out of their driveways, the vehicles can be immediately towed.
Police must wait 72 hours to tow cars parked in front of another person’s home, DeGeare said.
Sometimes a lawyer’s help is good.
Typical complaints that Kathryn M. Fox, of Perlman Fox LLP law offices, often receives are about barking or loose dogs and fences and trees on the wrong property.
She sends a certified letter to the offending neighbor, explaining what their neighbor is upset about and mentioning they will be sued if they don’t fix the problem. But Fox gives the benefit of the doubt.
But what if one simply can’t get along with the neighbors?
Lynne Wright of Touchstone Real Estate Group Inc. is looking to find a new house for a client who has had enough of neighborly problems and worries about her child’s safety that talking didn’t fix.
