Legal surveys gone awry

[DianaB]

Hmmmm........This is an interesting situation. I think that after I found out where the actual property line was (if it's in the middle of their garden) I would talk to them about the results, allow them to harvest their garden, but plan on putting up a fence in the fall. I know that they've been stinky to you but you don't want to cause any more friction than you have to. Keep your doors locked and keep all that you can in a shed so it doesn't get carried off. I would probably consult with a lawyer about it too. Is there such a thing as "squatter's rights"?

[Tink]

Diana, in Wisconsin it's called "adverse possession" and pertains to property that has been used without benefit of title for a period of 20 or more years. Since we only bought our property 2 yrs ago, and the neighbor involved has owned theirs less than a year, it's not an issue either of us can claim. It's one of the oddities I had to learn when taking my real estate sales classes.

Actually, since we're buying on a land contract and the title doesn't pass hands until the balance is paid, the woman we're buying from might be able to sue for adverse possession pertaining to our south yard which will shrink by the same amount as the north yard will grow by if our suspicions are right. I doubt she'd be willing to do it, but it might be legally feasible if she chose to do it, since the property has been in her family since I was a child. I imagine it might cause a conflict with the neighbor on that side of us though... which we really don't want.

So anyway... lol

As for keeping things in a shed, we had a bunch of flooring locked away in the garage and the neighbor had the nerve to ask if they could have it for their kitchen! The only way they'd have known we even had it is if they've also been in there snooping. Greg actually painted the windows in the garage to keep them from seeing anything else to beg for. These people have no common decency or sense.

What I'd ideally like to do is to buy their property and send them on their way... lol
Not that they're likely to part with it, but several of the neighbors would probably chip in to raise the cash if they would. Other than them, it's a peaceful community. Their antics and bad behavior have offended many. Our hope is that next time they're arrested for drug dealing a longer sentence will result in them having to sell.

[judy]

Oh...now it's not just annoying children and nosy neighbors! Maybe having everyone call the police when there's anything suspicious going on could force them to move.

This is a really strange situation because everyone has to shift their property.

[Tink]

Judy, the "man" of the house has been in jail for dealing meth and trying to kill his wife whilce under the influence. Considering how unpredictable that stuff makes one, no one wants to risk dealing with him because he simply can't be trusted not to just go off on someone.

Not to sound snotty, but I do think they're keeping themselves "clean "right now, because since their last arrest they've all packed on weight like crazy and while doing it they dropped it just as quickly.

I don't want to steal their food from them, but I do want an end to this nonsense as soon as possible.

[judy]

Tink,

Take a deep breath and leave it alone. If you give some people enough rope, they'll eventually hang themselves. I don't blame you for nor wanting to mess with them.

[Janet]

You sure have a lot of patience Tink. I can't believe she admitted coming into your home while you weren't there. How did this happen? By golly I would keep things locked up tight from now on.

Once the survey is done, I would tell them when they need to have everything harvested. If you don't set a deadline, it will drag on. Personally, I would set it at least a week earlier than the last thing is due to be harvested. If it looks like they are not taking care of the garden, put the fence up when you want.

I'd be a nervous wreck living by neighbors like that.