Our BetterMost Community > BetterMost People
Calling all homeowners - have some questions
Fran:
del,
I'd make it a priority to get deadbolt locks on the exterior doors. I don't know what kinds of windows you have or how accessible they are, but they do sell some kind of safety locks for up-and-down windows that prevent them from being opened all the way. I'm thinking, better safe than sorry here.
dejavu:
That's another good idea, Fran.
And Mandy, I certainly wasn't offended, either, and thought I was making my lack of manual abilities seem humorous. They're humorous to me. Please don't stay away from this thread, you have some good ideas.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: delalluvia on May 31, 2010, 11:46:35 pm ---Same here. I wasn't offended either. No need to feel like you have to stay away.
And just for the record, so people don't feel that I'm being anti-social, no, my neighbors are not old folks. I wish they were, I'd feel safer. They're my peers. Some are older and have children who are in their late teens so they hang out on stoops and sit on their cars socializing and some are younger. I wish it made me feel safer, knowing they're out there keeping an eye on things, but it doesn't. But hopefully in time it will.
The neighbor who stopped by today, has full-glove tattoos on both arms, doesn't seem to be employed, still lives with his folks and is my age.
I wouldn't trust these people with my phone number much less let them know when I was going on vacation. I don't even like knowing that they know I live in the house alone.
--- End quote ---
I can understand why you're uncomfortable, but I think you'll feel much better if you do get to know the neighbors. Many of them might be nice folks, and you'll be glad you met them. Neighbors can help each other out in a pinch and, as you said, can help keep an eye on things. Most people are as concerned about protecting their own property and keeping the neighborhood safe as you are. And if there are some bad apples on the block, you'll be better off forming alliances with the nice ones. At the very least, you'll find out which ones you most want to avoid.
It might be a while before you trust them with knowing when you're on vacation, but the sooner you get to know them a little the sooner you'll feel at home in the neighborhood.
Jeff Wrangler:
When it's appropriate and feasible, sell the house and buy a condominium. While you will have a monthly fee, you will also have the advantages of home ownership plus there will be maintenance people to take care of things like holes in window screens.
I just had to have a screen replaced because strong winds tore it.
I also once had to have the screen replaced on my balcony sliding door because one night I forgot the screen was closed and I put my foot through it! :laugh:
Ellemeno:
Wow, del, you do have a list of situations to deal with. I agree with Fran about making locks a priority. And since you don't seem to want the house, Jeff's idea to eventually sell and buy what you do want makes sense too. And Katherine's idea about Angie's list.
My ex-husband and my stepfather could never understand each other. My ex-husband could never understand why my stepfather would pay somebody to do what he could do himself. My stepfather could never understand why my ex-husband would do something himself he could pay someone else to do.
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