r/homeowners

Location: Hendricks County, Indiana

Me and my wife bought a house. We closed on Aug 5th. The house had a metal wire fencing that was attached to metal T posts in the ground and a chain link fence also in the ground by T posts. When we got to the house all the fencing was gone. They did not exclude it in the purchase agreement or anything. We actually spoke at the closing how I was excited to use the fencing for chickens. My realtor reached out to theirs and they said they would give back the metal wire fencing but not the chain link fence. They then said they “contacted their attorney” and redacted the offer to not giving any reimbursement or materials back at all. I initially offered to receive $1,071 as that is the exact amount it would cost for me to replace it (not including labor or taxes). I felt as if that was more than fair.

I guess I’m not really sure what to do next? Do I have grounds to take them to court? Are they in the wrong or me? Any advice would be helpful.

EDIT: police report has been filed.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Police reached out and we talked for a while and they looked over the report… it doesn’t specifically say “fence” on the purchase agreement. It says “fixtures”. And it also says includes but not limited to. So no next step is to contact a lawyer.

Hi, me and my wife just bought our first house back in July of last year. Our left-side neighbor had cut our whole yard out of generosity about 3-4 times for us during our moving process, which was appreciated. After we moved in, I talked to him and told him I no longer need the help, as I have a push mower and trimmer to cut my own grass. I thanked him for the generosity and went about my business.

Fast forward about half a year and he ever so slightly starts mowing over the property line than we had both been mowing along. It was only about 2–3 feet the first few times, when he had his trailers alongside his fence and buildings. They both run along the property line, just at varying distances. Me and my wife took this as him mowing enough to eventually move his trailers out of the way, which he did.

It was the worst last week, when we came home from a full week of vacation and he had mowed what seemed like 7 full feet over the property line. At that point, we maybe only had about 1½ feet between the corner of our house and shed and where he had mowed. I used to be able to pull my car around to our backyard without even touching his lawn.

Any suggestions? I have zoning documents that show our surveyed land (from previous owners who knows when). Fencing is not really viable right now as we are saving up enough to survive our first child being born. We could have the land surveyed since we do not hold much acreage. We just don’t have many options to set a permanent boundary.

I have a question regarding cats. I am not a cat owner, so i don’t know or understand the logic with this.

I live in a neighborhood where the lots are 1/2 acre in size, so pretty small. Almost nightly my cameras are triggered by a black cat making its rounds through the yard.

I could care less if it was just passing through, but it’s using the sandy area around our above ground pool as its litter box and it’s making the pool area stink. This in turn is bringing in additional critters to check out the smells.

I dont think this is a stray. I get the impression its someones cat, but whats the logic of letting it out to roam at night? If i livetrap the thing and take it to a shelter am i in the wrong?

My house was built in 1886 and I know it has some knob and tube still. But for the last week maybe I keep hearing a loud click and all of the lights in my house will flicker. I just turned everything off tonight other than a lamp to see what would happen and it’s STILL clicking in the other room even without the flickering since it’s off. Should I call an electrician for this or is it urgent ? I swore I just smelled a slight smoke smell for a second when it did it once tonight as well so I’m a bit nervous.

I have an irrigation pipe that runs under the paver in my driveway. For the last 6 months, it has been leaking and sunken a section of my driveway. The HOA is responsible for irrigation in our community. We're not charge for the water used for irrigation. I would also assumed it would be their responsibility to maintain and fix that pipe in case of a leak. They emailed me yesterday saying it's my responsibility. I'm in the process of hiring a company to fix the pipe and the driveway. I just wanted to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

Anyone deal with something like this? I know there's not any 'legal' definitions, but it seems very tight to me.

Looking at townhomes in Chicago and this unfortunately seems to be fairly standard. The depth is completely fine at nearly 20ft (I drive the smallest BMW coupe that's 72.4 inches wide with the mirrors tucked), but width-wise I feel it would be very difficult to manage at just 17 feet.

To me that's basically a 1.5 car garage that you could technically store another car in during a storm (would have to drive one in and back one in, or perhaps excite the trunk / hatch.

Regardless, even having 1 car in is better than paying like $250/mo for open parking where I can't even work on my car.

Hi,
Yesterday the water heater started leaking in the drum and they came to stop the water in my condo unit. I have no water as of now and I think they may get the cold water running.
But they said my water heater has to be replaced and are quoting me 8,750-14,750. I have no idea if this is average or not. In northern Virginia
I was thinking instead of the company the condos provided if I should maybe call Home Depot?

This isn't an "OMG I can't believe" it post. But I really have no past experience with this type of work (I've never had a bathroom renovated), so I'm just looking for some context and deciding if I have any room to negotiate.

In my old bungalow I have a small bathroom - less than 5 feet wide by approx 7.5-8 feet long. Plumbing stack was replaced last year as well as some shower plumbing adjusted - which required plumbers to take off some of the old, dilapidated tiles. Have been wanting to upgrade, so thought this would be the time.

The work that I'm being quoted on encompasses:

1. Removing old tile around tub (tub will remain) and retiling with 10 by 2 inch tile all the way to the ceiling trim (tile previously didn't go all the way to the ceiling.

2. Installing and tiling inset shower shelf on wall opposite shower fixture.

3. Installing shower door (currently rod and shower curtain)

4. Installing new shower fixtures and two grab bars.

5. Installing new vanity and sink where old one is located

6. Removing old tile floor and replacing with luxury vinyl

7. Installing recessed medicine cabinet in wall above sink. There was one there before (ugly, wood, falling apart) and the wall opening remains but I just have a mirror over it. Opening may have to be expanded a little.

8. Moving current outlet (the only one in the bathroom), which is right above sink and under mirror, to the side.

9. Moving toilet back slightly. I previously had a new toilet installed and there's about a 2.5 inch gap between toilet and wall. Old one wasn't like that. I thought I simply got the wrong toilet (they have different setbacks) and thought I'd just get a new one for contractor to install, but he said I could use the old one if he moves some plumbing slightly

10. Moving shower handle (on-off) up a little bit - it's pretty low.

11. Possibly install new light fixture above new medicine cabinet. We discussed it but I don't remember committing to it.

Total cost $9350 for labor. Materials have been purchased already - the shower materials (tile, grout, all set, backing materials, edging) from tile company (who originally set me up with a contractor who proceeded to end his relationship with the company), and the rest (vanity/sink, recessed mirror, shower fixtures, flooring) from a kitchen/bath place who set me up with the current contractor - who really seemed like he knew what he was doing during my initial consultation.

Thanks.

I read different things. But I find dog hair everywhere. So much in our hall bathroom where the dog never is. Would cleaning help with hair everywhere?

I feel like I should know the answer to this, having bought multiple stoves over the years, but: what is the difference between a free standing and a slide in stove? And can I put a free-standing stove in a slot between counters?

For awhile I didn't know this was happening, since it was pecking at a different part of my houses siding. On the inspection report it was noted as carpenter bee damage so I presumed thats what it was.

However now that the bird has moved to the side of the house that my bedroom is on its driving me crazy in addition to the annoyance of the peck holes in the siding.

Every now and then usually in the afternoon to early evening, there will be a repetitious tapping noise that will go on for ages unless I go to the window open it and yell. Then I'll see the bird swoop off from the side of my house. However to my extreme annoyance, especially if I am trying to sleep, it will often be back in minutes until the process is repeated.

I've tried walking out to hit it with something but it always flys away as soon as I am close.

Anyone had luck with dealing with this kind of thing? It seems much trickier than dealing with rodents.

My handyman explained that my shingle granules would normally go into my gutter but because the previous owner installed covered gutters they're not getting trapped in there and are ending up on my patio furniture. The roof is about 15 years old but every professional has said it looks great and doesn't need to be replaced. Is this just the price I have to pay for not having to clean my gutters or is there anything I can do?