ANGRY NEIGHBOR CONFRONTED ME ON THIS MULCHING JOB. Then changed his mind after the transformation!

This was a first for me, and a definite learning moment! DISCLAIMER: All parties involved in the end were pleased with the results. The Neighbor that was unhappy did not have to pay for any of the work, and we cleaned up extra around area and the ditch for him at no charge. In the end doing the right thing and being kind to others will get you a long way. Read the Story Below to get more details.
A guy hired me to clear a section of brush for him so that he could get a ditch dug for water control. I was a third party, sub contracted for the job, to get the brush away from the ditch so that they could dig it out and get the water draining better. The neighbor's BOTH agreed to the clearing, but they didn't specify as to where to stop and how deep to go into the woods. When I started mulching I got a little too far in for the neighbor and he confronted me, off camera, on why I was clearing so far into his side of the property. He was frustrated, and he stated that he thought they agreed to me cutting next to the creek, but not this deep in. Eventually we talked about everything and got to a common ground. He even admitted that communication should have been better and it wasn't my fault because I didn't know. We worked together to talk about what He wanted and I followed that to a T. In the End all sides were pleased. Just wanted to say thank you to that neighbor for giving me an opportunity to clean up. In the end we cleaned up what we did for NO CHARGE to him.
A quick takeaway:
1.) Make sure the neighbor's are on the same page before cutting.
2.) Areas to Cut and NOT TO CUT are marked clearly by the neighbors
3.) Make sure it's ALL in writing

[@jamesjoste8655]

Different strokes for different folks. I think the creek will start washing out. Personally, I like the woods, good property line plus trees for the animals.

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

They are now working on getting their water situation handled. I was there to make the excavators work easier!

[@ericpl7227]

Cutting trees doesn't remove the roots, which is what holds the soil!

[@greymomma]

Agree. I personally don't like the idea of cutting woods like that away to make them 'look good'. They should be appreciated for what they contribute.

[@tp-mh2ji]

Fences make good neighbors... Maybe trees do to.

[@someolddude7076]

Agreed, people have reasons, and they may not be provided, but I agree, all things being equal, I prefer having trees.

[@jerryramsey9758]

Have to say, I thought it looked way better with the greenery than dead brown.

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

You realize it grows back right? In my experience it grows back really FAST when it is that close to water.

[@altairtodescatto]

You may find curious as well that projects can take multiple steps. This was the first one. Now take that imagination and put to use.

[@evangoshert5817]

Didnt they say at beginning they are going to mulch it after hes done

[@ronlawson6703]

The green will be back very soon.

[@tanyastinson4633]

Gee, a nice layer of mulch where you once had green trees and bushes…

[@MrBobjones68]

I've always said "fences make good neighbors" because it sets solid boundaries.

[@agn855]

A fence never stopped a neighbor from being an a*hole. There are enough lawyers who can prove this for you - unfortunately not free of charge.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

“Good fences make good neighbors” appears in Robert Frost's 1914 poem “Mending Wall”. (For you literary buffs).

[@Bob-fk8vd]

Looked way better with all the trees. It looked very natural. Now it just looks bare.

[@myteeone8619]

the butched look and loss of privacy and loss of habitat for wildlife is never good . Dead zone is ugly

[@nick9602]

Yea it would be cool if new things were able to grow. Too bad they never do

[@josabee6612]

this homeowne should go life in a condo in the city. He clearly does not appreciate how nice it was

[@bretta3]

That is a beautiful hedge row that looks well trimmed on the edges. I can't imagine why the owner would want to remove it.

[@danngehdochzunetto]

Because he hates nature and want a death area like the lawn. A creek with a hedge of 5-10m (30-60') is the best you can do for nature.

[@amos3three941]

Because they owned it!

[@swansong5263]

I agree I despair at the destruction of the beautiful Trees. These monstrous machines can devastate in no time.

[@ruZZiansGoHome]

watch it more carefully! he said: to clear the ditch!

[@ruZZiansGoHome]

​@@swansong5263monstrous?!? you havent seen a monstrous machine yet! this is a very small machine!😂

[@BernardAguiar]

I couldn’t imagine cutting down those trees. It was such a great property line.

[@OKOKOKOKOKOKOK-zn2fy]

The owner actually paid money to do that?

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

@@OKOKOKOKOKOKOK-zn2fy owner needed to get in there to dig out a drainage ditch. It all grows back and it it grows back a lot faster than you think it does.

[@therickpound]

Last thing I’d want is a view of my neighbors house

[@RakkasanForever]

Had a similar conflict with a neighbor after he disputed the property boundaries causing me to pay for a land survey finding that the property was mine and I was within my rights. I then counter sued them for the cost which netted me half the cost plus extras due to him getting a desist from the local sheriff's department.

[@jerkyturkey007]

I like the way you handled the neighbor, de escalation is a rare talent these days, good on you. “A soft answer turns away wrath”.

[@Manoffire260]

The fact that both land owners communicated prior is a HUGE help to you. Even if there was a misunderstanding it’s far better than having no warning at all. Things can get really wild when a surprise is involved!

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

I agree! Thankfully it all worked out!

[@diamondjim7560]

The better precaution would to have all parties involved in agreeing to and signing a written contract. Once on paper you’re legally safe.

[@rozcole3650]

The problem is always that people aren’t happy when their not in control. If you let people know your doing work they then can try to stop it. Best not to let some people know

[@aperrotto29]

My father always told me that "if neighbors were good we wouldn't need to build walls", and it's true.

[@gregwysocki8742]

That is a nice piece of equipment!!

[@mikel9567]

I work in Public Works and I deal with angry people all the time. I've found that communication usually solves the majority of issues. Glad to hear the neighbors worked with you and you got the issue resolved.

[@reaperrt1019]

Most people don’t know the laws about their property and public works rights/laws. Seen many public workers put in some very sketchy and dangerous positions dealing with property owners.

[@ralphllivrah9551]

Really stupid for people to destroy everything.

[@737mechanic]

I much prefer the before look and privacy. Why would anyone want to cut all that down when it is separating both properties.

[@madmartigan4948]

I wouldn't even want to clear it out helps protect your property from damages straight line winds and if you're in that part of the country snow drift

[@Brykk]

When confronted by angry neighbors, the situation can usually be taken care of with two questions: are you the land owner? Are you the person paying me? No to both=get back on the equipment and let it ride.

[@jimrhoads9810]

been there done that....

[@Invictus13666]

But the guy was the land owner.....

[@Brykk]

@@Invictus13666 not of the land being worked on

[@Invictus13666]

@@Brykk watch the video. Read the extended description. The other landowner gave permission-but not to go so far up. FFS.

[@ImCalledBash]

Great job! Fellow educator and lawn care guy here. We get the best of both worlds! 👍🏾

[@bevanderamos9110]

Congrats on your side hustle. You’re very patient and I applaud you for handling the situation the way you didn’t. Best of luck on your business.

[@burkepete110]

Very interesting. In many states doing this work in a creek bed would be controlled by permitting requirements and, perhaps, entirely prohibited due to wetland regulations. Regarding the machine ... I've lived in farm country where it is common to have abandoned implements from old days stashed in the property line. Running that header into an old single plow blade and frame or some iron pipe would raise hell.

[@dustinbasurto7371]

Correct! That power pole is your first clue other utility's likely ran their pipe or cable with that property line. Also they are trying to make a "nice looking ditch" so God Bless em!

[@arcadiagreen150]

Dang shame to tear down so much green.

[@sharihere8809]

you have to clear out the underbrush, dead, and insignificant trees to maintain the tree canopy. Great job and thank you for sharing!

[@sshaw7912]

Great professional job and the way you handled it.

[@johncharley9791]

Always consult and engage with the neighbours prior to any work so as there are no misunderstandings. Outlining in detail what the intention is, put it in written form so no comebacks. Confirming boundary lines included.

[@JAACS74]

Good job!!! God Bless you and keep you safe.❤

[@waynerichardson930]

As you have discovered the hard way - when cutting along property lines make sure where the lot lines are located. If the boundary markers are not readily visible have the person you are working for mark the line. In some state cutting material on another person's property is a criminal offense even if it is brush.

[@richardt3744]

Not criminal, but a civil offense with heavy restitution fees and fines if on a protected habitat. It would only be criminal if you trespassed without any permission. Property lines without fencing to indicate the line are commonly crossed during clearing operations.

[@radi2173]

Why do you make this?

[@annebellette201]

I wouldn't worry about the neighbors...you did a good job 👍

[@user-vg4wn9xj8z]

Great professional job and the way you handled it.. Great professional job and the way you handled it..

[@louise7429]

That is amazing what you and your machine can do. I wish you lived near me!

[@LabRat1511]

Looks amazing! Great job!

[@WeeZyWayne]

Always keep the audio rolling when dealing with other people, than who contacted you. Keeps a good account of what happened

[@CharlesDawson-hq4yl]

Simply amazing piece of equipment. Great video and great work.

[@pinkywilliams8063]

Great job Lance!!!!

[@jeffmayeux1692]

Great job clearing the property line and explaining the conversation with the other land owner. In the past my neighbor would come to me before clearing his vacant lot next to my property. I valued his courtesy more than the loss of my privacy.

[@nualanet]

Great advice for any subcontractor. Nice work! Love your setup, it's a beast.

[@user-yc2er6el1c]

Awesome work! Night and day difference.. Excellent job .

[@BrittCHelmsSr]

Awesome work! Night and day difference.

[@62cripple]

Nice job fella.....glad they kept the bigger trees....💪😎🍺🇳🇿

[@sid2112]

I got a new neighbor a few years ago. Nice couple from up north moving down intot he mountains to find peace. They thought they had water rights on my part of the river. The real estate agent lied about the property line, which actually goes about 50 yards on the other side. I made it a point to own both sides. So they have a landscaping company come out and I wake up to find half of my shoreline chewed up. Boy was I pissed! However, I wasn't pissed at the workers, I was pissed at the people who told them my land was their land. But since they already did half I told them to finish up but I was not going to pay for it, they'd have to settle with the people who hired them. Long story short they realized the mistake and are suing the real estate lady. Really a nice couple, they are learning marksmanship on my range!

[@tonygough8713]

Thanks for the good videos. Good job. Be safe.

[@itoady]

Used to be a land surveyor. The owner of the land would do a boundary survey and mark the line with wood stakes every few yards. I encountered some angry people; just doing a job. Like the drone view, pretty cool!

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

Thanks for sharing. I can imagine that wasn’t a fun job when you ran into an angry land owner that thought they had more land than they did!

[@ogopogo1916]

​@@honeycuttsbrushmore3244 Even more fun when you leave and the neighbor moves the stakes and nails.

[@minnesotarc7964]

I currently am a survey technician working to be a LSIT and it amazes me that one land owner finds out the lawn they mowed with the fancy landscaping extends 50 feet into the adjacent property and is made at me or another chief because they made the mistake of not hiring a surveyor themselves before doing the landscaping.

[@sharihere8809]

@@minnesotarc7964 that's why it always pays to have your property surveyed by professionals licensed in this. In Ohio, it's illegal to remove property stakes that are driven into the ground by a licensed surveyor; not some wooden stakes, those mean nothing. From experience, best to put a rock over that stake because heaven forbid the lawn mower catches it and then dad is in a tizzy over the damage to the lawn mower blade - I learned that at the age of eight

[@sharihere8809]

wood stakes mean nothing. Anyone contracting for a job like this needs to know where the true land boundaries are or better have good liability insurance before proceeding

[@HexD1228]

Awesome work and great video footage 👏 Thanks for explaining the situation very helpful and for others to learn from it. Thanks again

[@dwartfarquart9590]

I make my living with a Bobcat skidsteer and a 5 yard truck. 30 plus years. I have found that a knock on the neighbor's door is the best insurance policy against a litany of problems. I am very impressed with your brush rig and You did a nice job. You will not be short of work for long.

[@markusmuller4063]

Deine Maschine ist echt praktisch, tolles teil ❤😊

[@LPKlok]

The grassland has a very thin humus layer. By pruning you run the risk of more erosion, because it can now wash away into the stream. The result is even more erosion and even more soil problems. With drought and so many leaves on the trees and the first strip next to the trees clearly greener, this really means a humus problem. It is often said that this is due to the shade or too little moisture. But there is no water infiltration on the grassland. The soil is too dry and too hard, so the first rain will only wash away water with a little humus. Only after the ground it is completely soaked it wil take the water. Due to the thin humus layer, which is not expanded, it grows naturally by 1 to 2 mm per year. All kinds of human tricks are used, fertilizer, lots of spraying. Deep waterways, with the groundwater moving even faster to the deepest point. but the base less Humus they forget. Here in the Netherlands we dig a hole of 1 by 1 meter and 1 meter deep, we deliberately do this with a shovel. We look at soil life and to what extent we see worms and other soil life. We also look at the layers of the earth and feel how hard they are. If you hardly see any soil life, you already know enough. If you see a thin humus layer, you already know enough. Green grass deserts that have a limited lifespan and where yields suddenly decline enormously. The soil is empty and water and fertilizer are stopgap measures for recovery. It does not restore fertilizer, it only destroys more.

[@robertheinkel6225]

You hopefully noticed that this is a very small creek. Erosion isn’t a problem.

[@OcotilloTom]

You did a great job, I liked it better before the cutting, but I like peace and quiet and not having neighbors about.

[@charlesstockford6003]

Yes but if you want to control it you better own it.

[@charleswelch249]

Nice job cleaning up the mess, and by mulching the foliage you are helping with erosion. Just as good as mulch which it is now. Keep up the good work and expecialy with your real job as assistant principal.

[@johnjerrehian4642]

Nice job, (and cool piece of equipment)! Really looks a lot better.

[@chaspruitt2610]

That machine is amazing!! Subscribed... 👍🏼

[@professorg8383]

Just me I guess, but I liked the before so much more than the after. Generally, it s so much better environmentally too. I've seen this kind of things where people move out to the country and want to transform it to look like the suburbia where they used to live. If you move to the country and want to see a 20 acre lawn, buy something next to a golf course!

[@greymomma]

Agree. It's not just you! I see this and can't help but feel upset. Birds nests and nesting sites were destroyed because people have been made to believe this area didn't look good before it was cleared.

[@professorg8383]

@@greymomma It has a lot of impacts including wildlife. It cause changes to wind patterns, erosion, temperature changes etc, These kinds of wind rows with trees eat up a lot of CO2 also.

[@darkwood777]

LOL, yeah sure professor. You know this is the problem with not maintaining the undergrowth and creating the potential for thousands of wildfires that truly affect the environment. @@professorg8383

[@nappyhal]

+1. The natural buffer was nice!

[@tygrahof9268]

Smart that the owner already had the neighbors agreement. Well done!

[@kazeeky]

looks great, the property is much improved....i think u did a great job

[@jerryc3050]

Camera angles and drone footage along with parts of video time-sped were good in my opinion. Yeah, always that one neighbor who just won't be pleased. He'll need a privacy fence. 👍

[@ocho27hd]

Great work man…I’d like to see some footage from inside the cab. As in from your perspective. 👍🏽

[@Lee-mmg]

I wish I'd had that machine and your ability when I had several of my acreages. Wow. Talk about a labor saver. My goodness. Looks great.

[@RedheadedMusic]

That looks amazing and in a few years that overgrowth will be back no problem… we have had a few properties that needed this done to and I am always surprised that within 3 to 4 years if left alone it all back and sometimes with a vengeance... Great job sir! I am a little envious of that cool piece of equipment and it's power!

[@jimknott183]

That mulching attachment is a beast!

[@user-ux9is8ds7h]

Great video! Overgrowth has to be dealt with. I’ll be watching more of your videos!

[@MrSoccerdad68]

Great work! Looked awesome when you were finished.

[@brentking-gmailking2570]

Beautiful job Lance Have a great dat

[@sherylhumberger5417]

That machine is awesome. You handled yourself with the professional that everyone should have. That goes a long way to building your business. Thank you for sharing.

[@txhazmat1]

Awesome job. Once the grass grows under the trees it will be a nice place for a picnic.

[@noworriesmate5903]

Good for you on the jobs. Next summer will be even better.

[@markturner5996]

That machine is a Beast! Also enjoyed the birds eye view(though it is pretty neat to see the lower angles as well) Well done!!

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

Thanks Mark!

[@boysrus61]

Great job. Tell people earlier there is bonus before/after shots so they don't click off too soon. I wanted to see your inside the cab view of the mulching. Show your machine too. The teeth on that looked pretty cool from a distance. Why is watching mulching so addicting! LOL

[@ChrysanthsMum]

That machine is a beast. Your work is fantastic!

[@adamwinans9651]

Did awesome job. There always that one neighbor

[@robertflores4710]

All those beautiful trees! I think it's a travesty !😮

[@Nancy-zk9dj]

That's an amazing machine, you do good work! 👍

[@suziqbrown7073]

My goodness what can't be done with a good worker and the right equipment

[@hombredeacero3131]

The after picture is much more beautiful. Created a nice area for family gatherings and picnic like area.

[@robpanel]

good stuff. you can show all the tree grinding footage. no matter how long i would watch it all.

[@kenmccutcheon1067]

Excellent! High quality work 👍

[@robertfalcon6083]

Woods and not seeing the neighbors is the best…this guys plan is perplexing to me but like someone else said “diff strokes…” and all that Edit: it does look good at the end with the brush gone. I thought he was gutting all the trees as well so this is not as bad as I thought.

[@lovejcdc]

Lance you did a great job and you handled the situation very well. It isn't your fault that those people didn't properly communicate ahead of time on the boundaries. Sometimes I feel like people are looking for an excuse to complain and will jump at the opportunity. Anyway you did your part and did it well

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

Thank you!

[@Katter715]

He is at fault for not going through the right channel’s ,it is always the contractor’ responsibility!!

[@davidcolesr.8628]

Where are You Located Mr. Honeycutt?

[@Hawkeye517]

It is always the contractors responsibility to have all of his ducks in a row. Especially when you are clearing property that can not be replaced easily.

[@flyovernews22]

The problem with prior communication is this…… land owner tells his neighbor he wants to pay to have property line cleared. Neighbor thinks he means responsible company that comes out and cuts brush, maybe dozes it smooth, and for sure cleans up the mess…… so he says sure. Then the reality becomes a skid steer grinder that throws that stuff everywhere and leaves a huge mess. That is when it goes south.

[@0lympiazimms936]

I hate to see changes made to serve a person’s idea of “cleaning up” a natural growth system that serves the wildlife and water support. I totally get cleaning up undergrowth but not to the extent the natural water source dries up. Yup, to each his own…there’s probably a resolution to an issue we don’t see. You have done a really good job keeping it as natural as possible. Thank you for sharing your story as well.

[@jasonhovey815]

Nice job. Just found your channel and look forward to following along

[@jopool5840]

Yes, I agree have land owners Mark the area to be worked. Great job, you handled the situation well. Some people just want to have the last word!

[@Tnpops]

Another great job.

[@peteglander4146]

I enjoyed the video, the arial shots really add.

[@DottieWoods-um7ox]

New to your videos. Like your music. Great machine you have there. Good luck with your business.

[@petergielen5905]

Great video, thx for sharing

[@tristardiggin]

Been there done that! Thankfully the neighbor was willing to work with the situation...

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

Yes, southern hospitality definitely prevailed on this one. Keep up the great videos, I watch them every night before I go to bed!

[@robertstj7252]

That was so relaxing to watch….my wife was dumbfounded that I spent 20 min watching and loved it.

[@MatthewSmith-cp3hu]

because he did in 20min what could a man by hand 2 months to do by hand ... seems relaxing to me

[@rawuneditedvideos]

@@MatthewSmith-cp3hu I know I would have done all that work and dug a large ditch all by hand in a matter of a few weeks at the very very most! 2 months?? 😂

[@johnmclaurin]

Good job Lance!

[@speedfiend74]

First time watching one of your vids...the high five at the intro was a nice touch. Neat vid and the overhead perspective was really cool.

[@stevehaines6343]

I thought you were very aware of the line and took measures to avoid encroaching on the neighbours land even to the point of pulling the brush towards you. You can't win them all. On to the next one.

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

Thank you! I definitely tried to be considerate of their space!

[@rogerhodges7656]

There are a lot of people who commented on my post that cannot read. My post ended with: "He will now know that he needs to allow his side to become densely wooded." As the neighbor, I would be very unhappy. Clearing that brush opened up all of his back yard and took away his privacy. I value the privacy more than anything. He will now know that he needs to allow his side to become densely wooded.

[@AW-yv9sq]

That’s not something you can control. People always get their feeling involved but it’s not their land. If you value privacy create it on your land in case of this situation.

[@rogerhodges7656]

I said that " He will now know that he needs to allow his side to become densely wooded." @@SphereofChaos

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

Your point is valid, but make sure when you have an agreement with your neighbor you get the specifications clear and mark where you want a stoppage point. I’m sure next time they will be more clear with each other!

[@AW-yv9sq]

@@honeycuttsbrushmore3244 if there was an agreement it should have been flagged or marked. Honestly I would not do that job without a contract in place signed by both with marking being a condition. If you take down a tree based on a handshake alone you can be sued for a decent amount of money. Contracts need to be specific to protect everyone involved.

[@rogerhodges7656]

I said that. "He will now know that he needs to allow his side to become densely wooded."@ruZZkik_haZa

[@jlmitchell1135]

Beautiful work watching from Australia.

[@socal33]

Remember folks, things will grow back and achieve their equilibrium. Yes, the greenery looked beautiful, but the creek was inaccessible. Now the regrowth will be manageable.

[@chirigringo777]

Nice Job! As long as you are on property boundaries ROCK ON! The owner of the property is the boss not the neighbor who is losing his privacy!

[@bobbg9041]

Property lines are often disputed, even with a a certified servoy you can get disputes, the fact both property owners had any discussions from the start is amazing because it dosnt always happen. However because there is no defining marks to show who owns what you as a contractor could only use GPS maps and these can be as far as 5 feet off becuse as the sat that takes the pictures are not stright over the property line its taken at an angle. If you look at these maps year to year on a city or county property webpage youll see the maps lines change and if you look at the shadows it kinda shows how stright the picture was taken. You cant trust these maps to be accurate they are not. The one grace he had was the telephone pole but it stoped anything 10' of either side on an easment can be clear cut and neither property owner can say shit about it.

[@MeadowFarmer]

An amazing transformation in such a short time. I'm surprised the neighbor complained.

[@cornelliacrum74]

Excellent job sir!

[@garrysmythe]

Great video , enjoyed watching it, would love to drive it lol thanks for posting from Garry in the UK

[@davejiannuzzi4160]

Why cut down all the trees?

[@jamesupton3868]

All the negative reactions from folks are obviously those who do not own large amounts of property. None of that space was usabel or accessible to humans / and or large game like deer. Now that space can be accessed and enjoyed by the owner.

[@lorenblanchard4348]

And the risk of fire is cut by 99%

[@sharondurham3870]

Looks very nice. Makes it more available for those trees to grow bigger and stronger without all the under brush......We did the same and now we have more wildlife coming and going.

[@dirtyjohn6556]

I have seen those mulches on other vids they are amazing. It makes that place look a lot cleaner.

[@rogergoins8118]

Looks so so much better! Great job

[@clicknstack1398]

Looks really nice. What level of onX do you use? I have some property that I need done here in E. Texas but can't seem to find one of the corner markers. Hopefully the neighbor is more at ease since you did such a nice job. :)

[@honeycuttsbrushmore3244]

I use OnX hunt. It has the boundary lines on there. If you have a metal detector or a friend with one most corners are metal spikes in the ground or trees. Normally the corner will have 3 lines tied on it or painted.

[@jonathanseal5155]

Onyx hunt is +/- 20 ft…it’s not a survey quality product!!