When I was notified of the new owner’s intention to completely renovate the home next door, several negative thoughts (all related to the daily disruption of my life) flooded my mind. I was convinced excessive hammering would begin exactly one hour before I actually had to wake up each morning, and unsightly dumpsters, filled to the brim with trash, would diminish my lovely view of the city. Admittedly, my thoughts grew unreasonable. I envisioned pranksters kicking over the portable toilets rented for the construction crew and my home quarantined as a bio-hazard.
While the probability of a Hazmat crew coming to my house was highly unlikely, potential hammering, trash and bio-hazards were all I needed as a homeowner to strongly desire an abrupt end to the construction next door (before it started). Even so, unless the new owners failed to adhere to the proper zoning regulations or failed to secure the appropriate building permits, there was little I could do but, “grin and bear it.”
Still, where were these pessimistic feelings coming from? Why was I immediately thinking something would go drastically wrong with construction next door? These feelings all stemmed from a desire to protect my investment.
In real estate, anything happening next door will undoubtedly affect you. Direct or indirect damage to your home as the neighbors renovate or encroachment on your boundary line are reasonable concerns – especially in cities where land is scarce. Anticipation of these problems may create tension with your neighbor and will likely be counterproductive. You stand to gain much more if you find constructive ways to work with the builder next door.
Tip 1: Obtain the appropriate contact information
When construction begins next door, it is good to have the contact information of the owners or the project manager of the construction crew. It matters in the event of an emergency or when you just have questions or concerns. It is also good to do research on the company doing the work.
Tip 2: Compromise when it makes sense
You may find it very difficult to compromise. For me, I felt I'd compromised enough by enduring the early morning hammering. However, when construction is done on homes very close to each other (i.e. row houses, town houses, etc.) the crew may need your permission in order to complete a certain part of the project. For reasonable requests, why not?
In my case, the construction workers needed to frequently access their trucks, but the only place for them to park was on the street. They risked getting parking tickets, in addition to the understandable inconvenience of trekking through the house to access their cars.
One day, as I exited my nicely paved, unoccupied driveway to go to work, I simply asked the project manager, “Would it be easier for your guys to park in my driveway? I’m certainly not using it for the majority of the day.” He smiled and was very appreciative I offered to make his job a bit easier.
Tip 3: Inquire about your property’s condition
While it is nice to be helpful, remember the workers have an obligation to fix any damage that may have occurred during the construction period. Talk to the owners or the project manager to determine when they will resolve any issues you identified with your property. Fortunately, when I met with the project manager he assured me all the minor issues I cited would be corrected. He also mentioned how much he appreciated my kindness during the construction period.
I woke up one morning to find my car buried in snow. As I prepared to begin the dreadful task of clearing my driveway, I heard the sound of scraping outside. When I looked, the construction crew next door assumed the task of shoveling the snow for me - a gesture I really appreciated.
In the end, construction next door can be an inconvenience, but our attitude toward the situation determines whether the inconvenience is major or minor. Try your best to work with contractors instead of against them. By working together, you may benefit each other in unexpected ways.
