Alanna

Great article in yesterday’s Washington Post concerning relationships between neighbors in economic downturns with suggestions on how to effectively communicate so that issues get resolved.

The potential for conflicts between neighbors can deepen during a housing slump like this one. Homeowners worried about their property values are prone to get more agitated more quickly about smaller things. Add to that today’s mounting economic worries, and the likelihood for disputes grows because people have fewer financial or emotional reserves to tap.

Great suggestions in the article include:

  • Avoid gossiping with other neighbors
  • Talking face-to-face with your neighbor, do not send an email.
  • Try starting a friendly conversation then transition into discussing your concerns.
  • If one-on-one negotiations don’t go well, try using a third party.
  • Contact zoning officials.

    • 10 Thoughts to “WashPost: “The Problem Next Door””

    1. bubberella
      May 18, 2008 at 12:58 pm

      All good suggestions.

    2. Bring it On
      May 18, 2008 at 4:07 pm

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051701531.html?nav=hcmoduletmv

      We can all be thankful that we are not neighbors to this man!

    3. SecondAlamo
      May 18, 2008 at 9:17 pm

      Add this one:

      Don’t erect billboards with derogatory remarks on your property.

    4. kgotthardt
      May 18, 2008 at 9:53 pm

      Anyone read this awesome letter to the editor in WAPO?

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051604413.html

    5. Mackie
      May 19, 2008 at 12:16 am

      SA,

      Don’t erect unconstitutional resolutions with derogatory powers to abuse people.

    6. SecondAlamo
      May 19, 2008 at 5:59 am

      Unconstitutional? How so? I haven’t seen the ACLU parade in PWC. Like the writers of the Constitution would have allowed a public display in the center of Philadelphia as is seen in Manassas, I don’t think so! Common sense, and preventing problems was also part of their thought process. It’s ironic that everything follows back to the Constitution yet slavery was alive and well back then.

    7. Lucky Duck
      May 19, 2008 at 9:31 am

      Mackie, SA is correct in this instance. Not one part of the resolution in either of its forms has been successfully challenged in a court up to this point. Currently there are NO suits or court actions pending against the resolution. I am not saying this from a supportive perspective, but the facts are the facts.

    8. Firedancer
      May 19, 2008 at 1:12 pm

      kg, thank you for pointing out that letter. I had missed it.

    9. A PW County Resident
      May 19, 2008 at 7:03 pm

      Not to irritate but I always wonder when allegations like “Since then, at least one supervisor has received serious threats as a result of the changes to the resolution.” are put into letters. Without being told the specifics, I don’t know if the threats were serious like “bodily harm” or “voting someone out” was made.

      Seriously, as a question, who was threatened and in what manner? I have not heard about it.

    10. es_la_ley
      May 19, 2008 at 9:07 pm

      kgotthardt, 18. May 2008, 21:53 :

      Anyone read this awesome letter to the editor in WAPO?

      Funniest tripe I’ve read in a long time!

    Comments are closed.