Your neighborhood should be a stress-free zone. However, we have all had a neighbor or two who made our very existence intolerable:
- the one with the car alarm that goes off every night (you know who you are);
- the ones who want everyone to enjoy their colorful marital fights (your door does close, Sir. You know that, don’t you?); or
- the ones who will not remove their lawn ornaments from your side of the property (do you really need both the donkey and the gnome?)
The list goes on and on, and problems range from the mere annoying to the financially destructive (barking dogs, malodorous fumes, property line disagreements, substandard house maintenance that destroys your property value…). As it is probably not in your best interests to get in a big, ugly fight with someone you have to see almost every day – and with someone who knows when you are not home – you may want to propose mediation to address the dispute.
With mediation, all parties sit down with a neutral third party who is trained to help people peacefully resolve disputes. Mediation is confidential, relaxed, usually successful, and it allows neighbors to move forward with a positive relationship. Perhaps, with the issue resolved, you will even borrow each other’s lawn tools again.
You could always sell your house and move, or hire expensive attorneys, but isn’t it better to make peace?
Alona M. Gottfried is a mediator and attorney in Arizona. If you have questions about mediation, she can be reached at: 480-998-1500 or alona(at)sglawaz.com. You can also visit: www.azmediator.com. This is a general interest article only and is not intended to be legal advice. See a legal professional before making legal decisions.
Simmons & Gottfried, PLLC
a Professional Limited Liability Company
8160 E. Butherus Dr., Suite #7
Scottsdale, AZ 85260