Starting pretty soon we are going to have a contractor tear out our rear deck and put in a new one (reasons of durability and safety, the old deck is rotting away under our feet), a process that should not take more than three weeks (including city inspections). We’ll have all permits etc., and the new deck will be the same size as the old.
I am considering writing a letter to our closest 5 neighbors (one on either side, three across the street) letting them know, as a courtesy, that this will be happening. We know some of them slightly to speak to, others not at all, so I would be addressing the letters “To our neighbors at (address).”
Are there any downsides to this? Legal or insurance pitfalls? Anything to persuade me not to do it?
Being around construction a lot I would say this is unheard of. If there are any issues that lead to variances required by the city, they will contact the neighbors so they may attend any hearings.
Great idea! Apologize ahead of time for the increased noise, traffic, disruptions, etc… and things should be back to normal in a few weeks. They might even be nice enough to leave a little extra room in front of your hose for the contractor’s equipment.
Instead of a letter I would go knock on their door and personally tell them. More “neighborly”. If no one ever seems home leave a nice note whatever door they seem to use most.
I told my neighbors when I had work done. I think I just told them as I saw them, though. Also, we have a few neighborhood parties every year, so I know my neighbors.
The town sends notes to abutters for certain types of construction. Not just a rebuild of a deck, but stuff that involves blasting, and I think also knock-downs.
I think it’s a nice idea. I’d focus on the “sorry for the noise, it should all be over in 3 weeks” part.
I think a heads up is a great idea so they won’t plan any backyard parties during this time.
However, be careful that what you say isn’t worded so as to sound as though you soliciting their permission. Make it clear it’s a done deal, and the information is a courtesy.
I would be wary notifying them in person, because that further sounds as though the subject is up for discussion.
Thanks for the responses. This has nothing to do with official notification for variances or anything like that, the permits will already be issued before the letter goes out (not anticipated because the new deck will be in the exact same footprint and the same height as the old). This is just a courtesy notification, and there have been some good ideas for additions to what I had in mind. Thinking about it, I should probably include the three houses behind us, they are going to get a lot of the noise.
I sit on a planning board that hears special use permits. We do contact the neighbors, but we encourage applicants to contact the neighbors directly, and many of them do. Some people get less upset if the information first comes from the neighbor having the work done.
I agree, good ideas. Plus, you may make some new friends (but get together only with social distancing). Enjoy your new deck-I will be over soon with a good book to read, please have my coffee ready. Black.
It’s neighborly, and I would go along with the suggestion to only share the letter one or two days before the beginning of the construction.
You’re not going to be able to please everybody, so just stick with the facts, especially if you can tell them that the work will be from 8:00 to 18:00 (for example), so that they know how late they can sleep in, and when to schedule dinner.
I wish our neighbor would read these posts! In our area most of the homes have anywhere from 2-1/2 to 5 acres of land. All of the land (what we don’t use as yards) behind our homes are woods. Three years ago, the retired guy next door to us bought himself a new toy…a skid steer. He then proceeded to take down all of the woods behind his house. His chainsaw was working overtime - huge red pines came crashing down, spruce, birch and poplar trees were pushed over. He shoved all of the trees, roots, logs, etc. to the back of his property. It literally looked like a war zone behind his house. When it was all bare, he went back and forth with the skid steer smoothing the ground out. I felt bad for all of the wildlife that had to flee his area. We have raccoons, deer, porcupines, bears, etc. behind our houses. But it’s his property and he can do what he wants with it…BUT for 3 springs, summers, and falls we heard a constant BEEP, BEEP, BEEP from that frickin skid steer every time he backed it up all day long. It was so annoying - we’d be out on our patio and that’s all you could hear. It would give me a headache. Even the dogs were annoyed. My husband went over and asked nicely if it would be possible for him to turn off the backup alarm. Beep-Beep (what he affectionately started calling our neighbor) said that he couldn’t. It was an OSHA regulation. He was all by himself - no one else is around him! We called the city and asked about noise disturbances. We were told as long as it’s between certain hours of the day there’s nothing they can do.
I could see if he was planning on building something on this cleared land or doing SOMETHING with it, but when asked he said that he didn’t have any plans.
Beep-Beep was just looking for something to with his new toy. This summer has been a little bit better, it’s not a constant disturbance, but he’s still out there daily looking for something to plow over.
I agree, good ideas. Plus, you may make some new friends (but get together only with social distancing). Enjoy your new deck-I will be over soon with a good book to read, please have my coffee ready. Black.