Many a legal wrangle has arisen over boundary disputes. In all the excitement of buying a piece of property some homebuyers unfortunately forget the importance of that old maxim: Good fences make good neighbors.
Fences serve a crucial purpose. In addition to posing a barrier to trespassers, they make clear that the property owner is making a public claim to his or her property rights.
For those who live in rural areas, fences also control the movement of livestock. We’ve all heard of the fights in the Old West that occurred between cattle farmers, sheep herders and growers. In modern times things have gotten a bit more sophisticated. With modern technology, surveyors can accurately pinpoint a boundary.
That doesn’t automatically spell polite interactions. In fact, many a grudge has arisen when a person feels as if they have not been treated fairly. So, from a proactive basis, when two neighbors respect social and physical boundaries more often than not peaceable relationships will prevail.
There’s a wild card, however. What if those nice folks next door move out and a nightmare-inducing family moves in? You know, the kind of folks that play heavy metal at 2 a.m., or collect mongrel savage dogs that give you a fright every time you walk past the neighbor’s house?
If you’ve already tried making nice with the neighbors to come to a reasonable resolution for both sides, there’s still simple solution. Call an attorney and make sure you fully understand how to respond to a neighbor who may not want to make nice.