- Joined
- Mar 2, 2013
- Messages
- 6,307
Hubby and I are buying a new home - we close next Friday. As background, the neighbor on one side of us bought her home two years ago from a previous owner who had installed a fence on their property. The current neighbor either did not get a survey when she bought her house, or if she did, no one explained to her that the existing fence significantly encroached onto the neighboring (our) property. We understand there to be a cultural/language barrier that also could have contributed to her possibly not fully understanding the situation (that is the realtors’ impression based on what they found out). Fast forward to now, the portion of the fence that encroaches onto ‘our’ property must be removed prior to closing in order to receive a ‘clear title’. Our sellers’ listing agent has talked with the neighbor, and she (neighbor) has agreed to remove the encroaching portion of fence prior to our closing date so we can move forward as planned/scheduled.
We do not want to start off on ‘bad terms’ with this neighbor; it’s not her fault really, nor ours. Our agent and the listing agent have both commented that she seemed like a very nice woman who is likely getting the ‘raw end of the stick’ with regard to the home she purchased, and basically is just now finding out she has about half the back yard she thought she had, and it is not a pretty ‘layout’ either (our yard actually cuts diagonally through what she thought was her back yard when - for the last two years - she thought it was the other way around). I feel really badly for her as it’s probably going to make selling her home tough when the time comes.
I thought it might be a nice gesture to get her a small gift of some sort as a thank you. But I’m at a loss as to what, since we know very little about her. I am guessing she is in her 60s, she appears to live alone, she clearly likes to garden as we’ve seen her out in the yard working on her beds (and her landscape is enviable), and she is Asian. I bring up the last point because in both Agents having talked to her, they shared that her English is quite limited (reference my earlier comment re: the language barrier), but also because I want whatever we decide to do as far as a gift to be meaningful and not offend her in any way. I know sometimes different things can have different ‘meaning’ or be considered rude depending on culture, and I’m admittedly not ‘up’ on what all those differences are. So I’m asking here in hopes of getting some suggestions - or at the very least, some perspective of things to not do/get. Or even if possibly getting/doing anything at all might not be too well received. My initial thoughts were something ‘gardening related’ like a nice gift card to an upscale gardening center ... she just planted two trees - cherry I think - in the section of yard that is actually ‘ours’.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Am I overthinking this, and a nice card w/gift card would be a nice gesture and likely well-received?
Thanks!
We do not want to start off on ‘bad terms’ with this neighbor; it’s not her fault really, nor ours. Our agent and the listing agent have both commented that she seemed like a very nice woman who is likely getting the ‘raw end of the stick’ with regard to the home she purchased, and basically is just now finding out she has about half the back yard she thought she had, and it is not a pretty ‘layout’ either (our yard actually cuts diagonally through what she thought was her back yard when - for the last two years - she thought it was the other way around). I feel really badly for her as it’s probably going to make selling her home tough when the time comes.
I thought it might be a nice gesture to get her a small gift of some sort as a thank you. But I’m at a loss as to what, since we know very little about her. I am guessing she is in her 60s, she appears to live alone, she clearly likes to garden as we’ve seen her out in the yard working on her beds (and her landscape is enviable), and she is Asian. I bring up the last point because in both Agents having talked to her, they shared that her English is quite limited (reference my earlier comment re: the language barrier), but also because I want whatever we decide to do as far as a gift to be meaningful and not offend her in any way. I know sometimes different things can have different ‘meaning’ or be considered rude depending on culture, and I’m admittedly not ‘up’ on what all those differences are. So I’m asking here in hopes of getting some suggestions - or at the very least, some perspective of things to not do/get. Or even if possibly getting/doing anything at all might not be too well received. My initial thoughts were something ‘gardening related’ like a nice gift card to an upscale gardening center ... she just planted two trees - cherry I think - in the section of yard that is actually ‘ours’.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Am I overthinking this, and a nice card w/gift card would be a nice gesture and likely well-received?
Thanks!