New homeowners discover that their entitled neighbor built a fence 10 feet over the property line, sparking legal conflict: '[He] knows exactly what he did'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jul 14, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Messing with your new neighbors is a dangerous game. Sure, you might think you have leverage just because you know the neighborhood better and have been living there longer. Still, you have no idea who you're dealing with, and in this case, this entitled neighbor's audacity backfired pretty quickly.

While the author, a new homeowner, was in the process of closing the deal on their new suburban residence, their neighbor decided that it was well within his right to build a large fence to further distinguish his property from theirs. One would think that this wouldn't be a problem, especially considering that both parties in this scenario seem to enjoy their privacy from one another. However, in this case, the neighbor had a hidden agenda. He had this fence built 10 feet over the property line just so that he could gain more ground before the new guys moved in. 

Keep scrolling below to see how the author fought back…

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    Cheezburger Image 10528773632
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • The new homeowner was suspicious of the neighbor's behavior from the very beginning. For instance, what was the purpose of building this fence right then and there just before the author was planning to move in? Clearly, this guy was attempting to assert himself and thought he could get away with it. Although it would cost a lot of money for the author to get the area properly surveyed, his confidence that the neighbor was overstepping (literally) convinced him to go through with the survey.

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    "Neighbor built a fence 10+ feet into our property when under contract to buy our house."

    A neighbor built a fence over ten feet into my property blocking off a row of bushes in a few evenings while we were under contract to buy a house.
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    Realtor didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the sale which i was ok with since it was a great deal.
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    Shortly after meeting the neighbor, I talked to him casually about it and he kinda blustered and said thats where the property
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    line has always been and that if I want to get a survey then we can talk. Well now I know GIS data can be off,
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    but it doesn't seem to be that off and nearly matches with a steel stake in the ground near the front corner of my property.
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    I think the neighbor knows exactly what he did as he has been avoiding me for nearly a month now. I
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    originally thought to get a survey and just deal with it that way, but quotes or coming in at over $2k. I'm wondering how you would best deal with this in a way
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    that says what we both know and doesn't cost me a bunch of money. I would like to be as gracious to him as possible whether it was an intentional mistake (Probably) or accidental (Doubt it). What would my
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    next move be? Do i just need to cough up the money for a survey to get him to remove is dumb privacy fence? For reference, I live on a 1.5 acre lot in a township.
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    EDIT: thanks for all of your responses. You've convinced me. I am going to get a survey. I may see if there is an option to have the corners located first but
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    i doubt in the long run I will regret getting it. When I do, the fence going. Either he can take it out or my tractor will.
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    Cheezburger Image 10528773376
    via Unsplash+ (Faruk Tokluoğlu)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    drowninginidiots. 15 hr. ago I would just get the survey, then there's no arguing. But then you tell him to move the fence, no arguments.
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    SerenityPickles. 15 hr. ago You pay for a survey. And the fence costs are all his to pay. Again!
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    OllieBrooks. 15 hr. ago Who cares about your realtor, they don't get paid until you close.
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    Thats their fault they are desperate for commission without putting your best interest first. You have legitimate reason to delay closing if you get a survey and find boundary issues.
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    pool 15 hr. ago To go further with this you're going to need to pay for a survey
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    blbd 14 hr. ago Your realtor is kind of a and probably deserves a licensing complaint.
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    You probably need to read your title insurance policy and buy survey.
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    But I would be you wouldn't be covered knowingly purchasing an encumbered asset.
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    Definitely need a survey and a lawyer. This is going to be a messy party.
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    Adorable_Dust3799 15 hr. ago Even if he took the fence down you'd always wonder where the line is, just do it and be done
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    gusGus86_ 15 hr. ago Without a survey you have no proof or leverage. Get it done, eat the cost, and then you can know for sure.
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    If the fence is in your property then you can legally remove it.
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    Jodithene 14 hr. ago Contact the township first. They may have a survey on file. Tons cheaper to order a copy from them than have a new one done.
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neighbors neighborhood neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories hoa homeowner new homeowners entitled people karma family entitled people
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