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    Woman saves for 20 years to buy her dream home and refuses to let disrespectful neighbors turn her backyard into a dumping ground: 'I’m throwing away 5 tennis balls a week'

    Imagine saving for 20 years to buy a home, only to be unable to enjoy your backyard because of inconsiderate neighbors. And what's even worse, imagine starting things off by giving them Christmas cards and cookies, only to end up needing legal advice.

    A yard is a special place in a house. It's where you relax, have friends over, maybe do some gardening, and feel at home. It's nice to have your green space nice and clean. So it's understandable that, after so much effort, this new homeowner is just trying to enjoy her backyard as she deserves.  

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    • A homeowner standing in front of her backyard fence.
      via Unsplash+ (Orlando Dominguez)

      A homeowner standing in front of her backyard fence.

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • After saving up for 20 years, working extra shifts, and with the help of my partner and his savings, we were finally able to purchase a house after decades of renting sh⭑y apartments.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • We moved in around Christmas and gave neighbors on both sides of us (pre-packaged) Christmas cookies and a card introducing ourselves. One neighbor wrote a polite thank you note and we say hi and have small talk, nothing major but its pleasant. The other
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • neighbor never acknowledged the cookies or card, never makes eye contact, and goes out of their way to avoid us. They are a family of about 8-10 people in the house and not a single one interacts with us. Whatever I guess.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
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    • The cookies and the cards are nice gestures that really show this woman was genuinely excited to become part of the neighborhood and had good intentions from the very beginning. She clearly wanted to build positive relationships with neighbors, and she started things on a friendly note. Even when some neighbors never acknowledged her kindness, she didn't take offense or create drama for it; she just let it go. So that alone says a lot about her character. She doesn't seem like someone who looks for conflict at all.

    • After moving in we cleaned up the yard and there was tons of dog crop in the back. I mean like 6 inches or more desiccated dog [waste] The old owners had dogs so we assumed it was just from that. I kept noticing more [waste]
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • showing up and thought I had missed them when cleaning. Eventually I realized that the neighbors were throwing their dog [waste] over the fence into our yard. I went and knocked on their door and got no answer. I went the next day and got no answer. I left a letter on their door and got no response. Dog [waste]
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
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    • continued to sail over the fence. Finally several of them were outside and as I was going into my garage I pretended to be on a call and said very loudly "Yes, the new camera is finally installed. Hopefully I catch whatever animal keeps pooping in the yard." Mostly the poop flinging stopped. I do still find the occasional [waste] but I can't say for sure it is from them.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • Low backyard fence separating two neighboring yards.
      via Unsplash+ (Darran Shen)

      Low backyard fence separating two neighboring yards.

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • As this was happening I would also find balls in my yard. Soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, and whiffle. Sometimes the balls were destroying my potted plants and breaking the pots they were in. Some of them were plants that were over 50 yeras old inherited from a family member who passed. I went next door-
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • no answer. I put all of the balls in a bag and wrote a very polite letter saying that they were breaking things in my backyard and would appreciate they be more careful. No response.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • The larger balls stopped but I still get tennis balls almost daily. I used to throw them over the fence but then I stopped, and now I throw them in the trash. I am still throwing away at least 5 tennis balls a week.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
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    • She also understands that being friendly doesn't mean accepting behavior that damages her property. When the problems started, she didn't confront neighbors in a bad way. She approached her neighbor politely, explained the problem patiently, and asked them to stop respectfully. She even took the time to calmly explain why those (undoubtedly disrespectful) incidents were harming her property. She could have been much harsher, but instead she went for the most constructive approach to maintain a peaceful relationship. At least she tried to see if her neighbors showed some common sense. After all, she understands they're living next to her, and they don't seem to plan on moving out, so she's trying to do it the nice way. 

    • Then they got a few more dogs. These dogs are outside barking from about 5pm until 9pm. Unfortunately that is not considered excessive and my complaints to animal control were dismissed.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • The final straw is their kid was out playing, slamming the tennis balls against the fence. I have a small greenhouse and was inside watering and I hear the ball hit the acrylic panes, over, and over. Finally one loud crack
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • got me to go outside and I yelled at the kid. I quickly lowered my voice and was nicer and asked him to please not do that because he would break the greenhouse. He said ok.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
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    • A tennis ball lying in a homeowner's yard near the fence.
      via Unsplash+ (Dawson Martin)

      A tennis ball lying in a homeowner's yard near the fence. 

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    • He then continued whacking the tennis balls against the greenhouse. As the dogs bark.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • I don't know what to do. They refuse to communicate. Nothing really terrible has happened (yet) but I can't even enjoy my yard.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
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    • Despite the ongoing incidents, she is standing up for the home she worked so hard to buy. Some people may feel defeated and think of moving out, but she's determined to make her dream home work. Her neighbors' carelessness hasn't taken away her determination. She is documenting the problem, remaining polite, but at the same time refusing to accept that this is how things have to be. And if being polite is not enough, she knows it's necessary to escalate the issue. She deserves to create a space where she feels comfortable and at peace.

    • I cannot believe I finally own a home and someone else is ruining part of it. I really thought I'd have more freedom to do things my way as a homeowner but nope-you still have to put up with other people's sh.
      via Hot-Calligrapher-
    • loveyyglowww The "we brought you cookies and one neighbor responded like humans while the other launched Operation Dog Sh "contrast is insane.
      via loveyygloww
    • TenderGloww_ Yeah OP has been patient way longer than most people would've been honestly
      via TenderGloww_
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    • _RadiantHearts Honestly once it gets to property damage and nonstop issues like this I can understand why people start suggesting legal routes
      via _RadianHearts
    • gailser 8' stockade fencing. Sorry you're going through this.
      via gailser
    • SoftMoonlight It's wild how OP started with Christmas cookies and ended up needing legal advice
      via SoftMoonliight_
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    • Neither-Act-9656 Do they own or rent? If they rent, you can reach out to the landlord. IDK if 8-10 people is allowed. Also, the certificate of occupancy may limit the number of people in the house, based on the number of bathrooms. Check with animal control on the number of dogs allowed. One city I rented in only allowed two dogs. Good luck, OP. They really are NFH!
      via k
    • Hot-Calligrapher- OP They own unfortunately.
      via k

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