I hate having neighbors

[dakcp2001]

.....the windows weren't open.....

 

[Hrhpd]

My husband did go check them out and said there was a bb hole in 3 windows. I was just mad that she didn't let me get the estimates and she took it upon herself to do it when she know I was trying to take care of it.

All she had to do is CALL a couple of other window companies like I did. I gave them the measurements and guess what, they gave me an estimate. It took a total of 15 minutes to call 2 places. It was an accident, not like my kids were going around shooting people's windows. The glass wasn't shattered so it wasn't like she didn't have windows in her house. I offered so pay for it, I was going to set up the companies coming over to INSTALL THEM. I asked for some info to get things started and she ignores me but then can come over to hand me a bill. Would you be pissed, yes you would.

No, I would not be pissed at the neighbor. They are the victim. Being mad at the victim wouldn't even cross my mind.

The only people I would be pissed at would be my children for shooting bb guns in an obvious residential setting without parental supervision. It is illegal for those under 18 to shoot air soft guns without parental supervision (at least according to the police officer that lectured the students at our school during the height of the airsoft craze), so I am assuming that the laws also apply to the more injury capable bb gun.

I would also never assume that I knew enough about the neighbor's windows to get estimates just based on measurements. I would not know what kind of windows she had, what brand nor what the warranty information on her current windows demanded. Nor would I even assume that it was my right to make the arrangements to have the windows my children broke replaced. I would humbly accept what the neighbor chose, unless of course it completely unreasonable. And then we could take it to court

However, $450.00 sounds more than reasonable for 3 windows, so no, I would not be pissed at all. I would be thanking my lucky stars that I had a neighbor who had a more than reasonable bill for 3 windows and was not pressing charges against my little hoodlums. I would be saying "that's all? and pull out the checkbook." I would be appreciating the neighbor and that she was not trying to scam me, because $450 for 3 windows is a mere pittance.

And to add, if I was the woman with the damaged windows, let me tell you that there would be no way in hell that I would allow somebody's husband to install my windows. Even if they were a licensed contractor, I would not allow it as they would not be an impartial party. I would insist on an impartial installer so that there would not be any history to consider if I needed to recall the installer due problems that might occur.

So, to answer your question OP - I would never even consider being angry at the victim of my kids' shenanigans.

 

[ForAandA]

 

[LBIJim]

Yes, I understand "hypothesis" is listed as a synonym for assumption. I can't explain any better how I see the difference, and for that, I apologize, but I do see a difference.

Because the difference makes you right and everyone else wrong???

Jim

 

[LBIJim]

Oh gosh, this thread was my entertainment for the afternoon.


All she wanted to do was to rant about the way the neighbor handled the estimates and the bill. She did NOT come on here for punishment advice!!

My assumption is the OP vented expecting hugs and sympathy, and hypothesize that she skipped town when she saw the richly deserved evisceration she was receiving for playing the victim card.

Yes, this thread was very entertaining and would make a good Judge Judy case.

Jim

 

[NHdisneylover]

An appropriate title for a thread about this situation would be:

I hate it when my kids do really stupid things!

OP's problem is not that she has neighbors--it is that her children are allowed to use items in a way that is not appropriate in a city neighborhood and now there are consequences to those actions.


Oh, and I am not the poster the PPs spoke of, and you;d hardly know it from my constant typos (I stink with a keyboard) but I can weigh in as a former English teacher and say, sorry Sam Gordon but you are in deed making assumptions while disparaging others for doing the same.

 

[sam_gordon]

An appropriate title for a thread about this situation would be:

I hate it when my kids do really stupid things!

OP's problem is not that she has neighbors--it is that her children are allowed to use items in a way that is not appropriate in a city neighborhood and now there are consequences to those actions.


Oh, and I am not the poster the PPs spoke of, and you;d hardly know it from my constant typos (I stink with a keyboard) but I can weigh in as a former English teacher and say, sorry Sam Gordon but you are in deed making assumptions while disparaging others for doing the same.

Then I apologize to anyone I offended.

I still think it's wrong to judge someone based on assumptions.

 

[sam_gordon]

Because the difference makes you right and everyone else wrong???

Jim

Sure, go ahead and assume that.

 

[mhsjax]

Actually, it never said that the kids DID get in trouble and gave up the gun. As far as we know, there have been no consequences and the OP is out $450.

The OP didn't ask advice on what to do with her kids, that is none or your business. She asked about replacing the windows and how that was handled.

 

[Nancyg56]

It is the neighbor's right to hire who she wants to repair/replace the windows. It shouldn't be her concern to try to save you a few bucks if your kids did shoot out her windows.

TC

I agree. I would want exactly what I have in my home and I would want the same contractor to install them. I paid very good money for what I have. No way would I allow a neighbor to install replacements because their kid's aim was at my windows.

I know she didn't ask to have her window hit and I know I have to pay for it but I feel I should have seen the estimates since I'm paying for it.

Why? What would you have said if the neighbor said they did not want the contractor with the lower estimate installing the windows? One bill or six estimates would not change who the neighbor wanted.

Point taken. But it would also be appropriate for the neighbor to make a reasonable attempt to keep the cost to a minimum. For example she should not get brand new Anderson windows if there was a reasonable alternative to fix or replace the window. And the OP tried to touch base with the neighbor, but she did not respond.

I have Anderson windows in my home. When we renovated i chose exactly what I wanted and I did not factor the cost into that decision. I would never agree to purchase a bargain brand simply because my neighbor wanted to save money.

Here is the thing. The neighbor never saw who hit the window but the OP did not argue. There is a reason for that. She knew her kid was shooing that BB gun. Years ago my neighbor's kid was shooting a BB gun all over the neighborhood. My windshield got hit. I chose to take care of it myself but I was not happy. DH and I let the kid know that if anything else got hit we would be chatting with his Mom and Dad. He stayed away. It is really a choice to use these "toys" in close proximity to neighbors homes and vehicles so if you let your kid have one of these things you are responsible for the damage it causes. You don't get to blame the neighbor if you don't like the price.

 

[SaraJayne]

OP, have you paid the neighbor yet? You said in your OP you hadn't.

 

[Pigeon]

You got off very easy and your neighbor was pretty forgiving.

I'd have called the police if somebody shot three of my windows. If you are irresponsible enough to give your kids bb guns and allow them to use them unsupervised, $450 isn't nearly enough of a consequence.

 

[Disney Doll]

I know she didn't ask to have her window hit and I know I have to pay for it but I feel I should have seen the estimates since I'm paying for it.

Why? The windows cost what they cost. If the estimates had been too high, would you have said "Sorry, I'm not paying for them"?

And sorry, but if some kid had hit & broken my windows with a BB gun, I would be choosing who'd be repairing/replacing them, NOT the parents of the kid who broke them.

 

[Disney Doll]

All she had to do is CALL a couple of other window companies like I did. I gave them the measurements and guess what, they gave me an estimate. It took a total of 15 minutes to call 2 places. It was an accident, not like my kids were going around shooting people's windows. The glass wasn't shattered so it wasn' like she didn't have windows in her house. I offered so pay for it, I was going to set up the companies coming over to INSTALL THEM. I asked for some info to get things started and she ignores me but then can come over to hand me a bill. Would you be pissed, yes you would.

Yes. I'd be pissed at my kids for shootign the windows in the furst place and they'd be paying me back a big price for that.
I'd be grateful to my neighbor that she didn't call the police.

 

[ccgirl]

My neighbor behind me came over about 6 wks ago saying one of my kids hit her back windows with bb's. She could never tell me which boy she saw but I figured it probably was one of mine since it obviously came from our back yard so I told her I would pay to have them fixed. About 4 wks ago I started leaving notes in her mailbox since she's never home that I need her name, phone # & address so the window company can come over to measure her windows. No response. Last night she comes over & gives me a bill for $450 for the windows. I asked her where the other estimates were, didn't get any. My husband installed all our windows so he could have put them in & saved us on installation. Then she stood on my porch waiting for me to hand her $450. Told her she was going to have to wait until I get to the bank and I'm pissed that she didn't get other estimates since I was paying for the windows. Now is when I wished we lived in the country vs suburbs.

Didn't read all the posts....

IMHO, it was her windows so she gets to decide what to put in. Is your DH a licensed contractor? It's not her fault the windows were broken so she gets to decide what windows to put in and who gets to install. No need to see the estimate; she showed you the bill. Again, her window, your child's fault, she gets to decide. My DH works in the field and that is not an exorbitant amount, in my opinion. Just a window alone in my house costs $400 and that's not installation nor the top of the line window. IMHO, your neighbor did nothing wrong here. Your kids need to learn not to shoot the BB's at someone's house.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I would hate to have neighbors too if their kids ran amok and shot out my windows. Fortunately for me, I have nice neighbors.

Honestly, the op is lucky that the neighbor didn't file a claim with their homeowners insurance and/or call the police. And I certainly wouldn't let the person do the replacing of the windows themselves. Unless, they had a window replacing business.

 

[cabanafrau]

An aspect I believe has been overlooked is the fact that if the neighbor had consented to OP's DH doing the repair work & he injured himself somehow in the process, the neighbor & her homeowner's insurance company might be on the hook for medical & other expenses.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I haven't read the entire thread. $450 doesn't seem outrageously expensive for 3 windows installed.

 

[ccgirl]

An aspect I believe has been overlooked is the fact that if the neighbor had consented to OP's DH doing the repair work & he injured himself somehow in the process, the neighbor & her homeowner's insurance company might be on the hook for medical & other expenses.

Yup, that's what I was thinking when I asked if he was a certified contractor. Plus, if the DH installed the windows incorrectly the homeowner would be having to correct that too.

As others have said, be grateful the neighbor did not call the police.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think 450 is cheap.

In my neighborhood the houses were built with double paned windows with the mullion between the glass.

I've had to replace 2 so far due to something hitting them and cracking the window. I've no idea what did it. I had my suspicions but couldn't prove it so I had to pay for it myself. (and yes, my suspicion involved BB guns which I can't stand).

You can't replace just the glass on this type of window, you have to replace the section.
Just to replace the lower section (the part that opens) was 350.00 per window.

I know I would have expected to have my windows fixed so they would be the same quality and type as before the damage happened. I would want an experienced installer to handle the fix.

I think the OP needs to just pay the owner the 450.00 and be glad it's all taken care of.