Complain 'bout the Neighbors - Page 2

Graff took the other side, stating, "I am not in favor of homeowners associations. Posts like this keep people informed [and] keep the homeowners associations away."

Pierce agrees with the latter position, stating, "Honestly, I think a lot of homeowners associations distract from the homeowner experience because there are so many restrictions."

Pierce said some buyers refuse to look at homes in communities with such associations, adding, "They don't want people in their business, telling them what to do."

This is exactly the issue with confronting a neighbor with something about their property that you would like changed.

"It's awkward for anyone to say, 'Hey, could you take your lights down, or keep your yard up,'" Pierce acknowledged. "People feel a license to speak up online [rather] than face-to-face."

"I would be upset if somebody told me what to do," admits Glenn Sennett, an Eichler resident for two decades who has sold scores of them for Coldwell Banker in San Mateo. "Everybody has their own taste."

"Who made any of us the head of the good taste committee?" posted 'ajm' on the Chatterbox thread. "Everyone's different. Everyone has different circumstances."

"We live in America—people have a choice," Sennett said pointedly. Still, he expressed confidence that some of tguptha's issues could be addressed more successfully face-to-face than online—if done tactfully.

"If I know the person, I think in-person is the best way," said Sennett. "If it's said in the right tone, I think people will be more responsive than with email."

Sennett suggests asking the neighbor in question out for coffee, and making small talk as an introduction to gentle prodding about the issue at hand, whatever it may be.

"Some people [will say,] 'You know, I didn't think it offended that many people,'" he predicted, adding with a laugh, "It's all about being a diplomat, but most people don't know how to do that."

And because of that shortcoming, or a fear of insulting someone you have to continue to live near, they take it to the Internet instead.

"It's interesting, because I don't know if anything gets accomplished other than venting," noted Pierce, but that doesn't stop some from going online with their beefs. Most likely, such homeowners are trying to create a groundswell, as tguptha was.

"Sorry for the rant, however, 'Eichler-proud' folks really need to work together to take back their neighborhoods," tguptha concluded. "Thanks for listening."

And Fred can just hope that Barney is tuned in to the Internet.