House-flipper tries to shake down the neighbor to split costs on a brand new fence they never agreed on, gets totally shut down: 'Pound sand'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Nov 20, 2024 10:00 AM EST

Homes are a great way to build a life for yourself. Thanks for the advice, Dad, but I think the neighbors in this story were more concerned about the arrogant house-flipper moving in next door who had run out of cash to build his dream life. Because when his newly renovated fixer-upper needed another cash injection, he went straight next door to shake down the kind family sharing his exorbitantly priced fence. 

We all know that it's a cardinal rule not to become enemies with the folks next door, even if you're not planning on sticking around in the neighborhood. But when this house-flipper moved into town, planning to demo, refurbish, and remodel his way to the 1% tax bracket, the whole town stayed quiet. When the remodel was complete and the house wouldn't sell, he was furious, hoping to recoup his investments immediately. So instead of taking a loss like he deserved, he ran next door to try and get the neighbors to split the cost of the fence with him–which they adamantly refused. 

Keep scrolling to read how the legal system put this wannabe housing mogul back in his place and back to the drawing board on making a quick buck. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10430302976
    via JackF from Getty Images
  • 02
    Neighbor installed brand new fence without our consent, asking for half payment
    via Gather2
  • 03
    We have a house flipper that bought the home next door and remodeled it completely. He used contractors and one of them asked me if I would like to replace the shared fence. I told him no as the fence was in perfect working
    via Gather2
  • 04
    order and if I replaced this shared fence, I'd have to replace the other 2 to match, which would be very costly. A few weeks later the owner texts us that someone is on the way and is doing the fence today, it'll be loud. We
    via Gather2
  • 05
    fence so bad that he was gonna do it regardless if we paid or not. Important to note he never sent a contractual agreement, we never had a verbal agreement and he never shared an invoice, contractor info, license etc.
    via Gather2
  • 06
    They finished the job and completely destroyed our side's landscaping, broken walking stones, broken cement, broken gate door that no longer aligns, also left nails everywhere which led to 2 puncturing our car's tires.
    via Gather2
  • 07
    We let him know this issue and he said he'd take care of it. He did absolutely nothing. A few weeks pass and he puts the house on the market and given the slow market and how much money he is down, he is not happy. He
    via Gather2
  • 08
    approached me aggressively today and is saying he wants to rip out the fence and put a chain link with a pitbull, saying crazy stuff. I told him i used to have a pitbull and that would be cool! I also told
    via Gather2
  • 09
    him to show me the signed agreement and he could not, panicked and said he will put a lien on our home so we can't sell without paying him. I told him to show me the signed contract where we agreed to pay half or off. Of course he left.
    via Gather2
  • 10
    Now my question is, am I in any legal trouble by not paying for something I didn't agree to? Do I need to find a lawyer? And can he do anything to our property?
    via Gather2
  • 11
    No_Description2301 Nope, You owe him nothing. Just like you said, if you did not agree to share the cost of the fence and he has no proof that you did you were right to tell him to F#ck off.
    via No_Description2301
  • 12
    Additionally, I would file against him and the contractor for the damage to your landscaping and existing fence in small claims court.
    via No_Description2301
  • 13
    thegreatturtleofgort Tell him to pound sand. This happened to a rental house | lived in years ago. Neighbor thought I owned it and came by to bill me. I called my landlord and told him what was up.
    via thegreatturtleofgort
  • 14
    Landlord went to speak to the neighbor and came back. I asked him what happened and he said "I told him it's a nice fence, but he can go pound sand if he thinks I'm giving him a penny for it" And that was that. Fence was still there when I moved a couple years later.
    via thegreatturtleofgort
  • 15
    JesusOnaBlueBike He's underwater on the house already, and his threat is to go further under to tear out a fence and replace it? What a clown. Good luck to whoever buys the house. I bet the countertops and toilets are super secure.
    via JesusOnaBlueBike
  • 16
    JoeSnuffie It sounds like he owes you for the damage to your property. Present him with an invoice.
    via JoeSnuffie
  • 17
    i-love-freesias Just another note, take photos of the landscape damage and keep receipts of tire repairs, and other repairs and cost, time spent fixing. If he sues, you counter sue for your out of pocket. Keep notes of any threats, day and time. Might want to call the police if threatens again.
    via i-love-freesias
  • 18
    7Sans You are absolutely in the right and i say you should be putting lien on his property with the bills you have to pay to fix all the damages Please teach him a lesson so he thinks twice before trying to pull off same thing in the future
    via 7Sans

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