The Bad Neighbor (Yarmouth: dermatologist, buyer, roofing)

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by BacktoNE

While I would not knowingly purchase a house where shooting regularly takes place, it is certainly your right to do so. I think the fact that you put the targets out in plain sight is really about all you can do. I don't think realtors are allowed to include your legal hobbies in the disclosure of an adjoining property...anyone know for certain?

As I stated above, if I am representing a client and I know that the material fact is so substantial and important as to influence my client I have to disclose that. If I am showing the home without representing the buyer, either representing the seller or representing neither party as a "transaction broker", the buyer has to find out on their own.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by L-88

Everything will probably be cool as long as you don't complain about the guy who buys the house breeding his beagles that howl at all hours of the day.

Draino meatballs stop barking quite effectively.(disclaimer to doggie lovers THIS IS A JOKE)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by elston

LOL on me! What have I been hearing all afternoon today???? Someone shooting not far from here I wouldnt guess from the sound of it to my absolutely untrained ear. Not So Bad! But I did think of your thread and my initial response and thought the fates do play tricks on us mortals. lol

Hey elston! Just another way to welcome you to Maine! It probably didn't last too long did it? Hopefully you don't have an unknown rod and gun club within ear shot!

[elston]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Hey elston! Just another way to welcome you to Maine! It probably didn't last too long did it? Hopefully you don't have an unknown rod and gun club within ear shot!

No it was over within a couple of hours or less. It isnt a biggie; as long as there aren't stray bullets heading my way.....but there is a lot of forest between the sounds and where I am.

At first I thought it was turkey season, but the shots were to many and too close together to be hunters.

I do understand that hunting and guns are part of the local culture, and I guess if people have them, it is better that they are proficient in their use.
It is just alien to me.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

For the new folks, here is a true story that happened about 3 years ago:

I posted a while back about the Connecticut lady who bought a home in Sangerville. One Saturday morning at 10 AM, life as she expected it to be was changed forever. Several M-60 machine guns opened up simultaneously, followed by a .50 cal Browning, numerous Uzis and all manner of automatic weapons continuing the barrage. It was the annual Hiram Maxim Memorial Machine Gun Shoot.

When she called 911 in an absolute babbling panic, the deputy said, "Oh, You must be new in town. That is perfectly legal in Maine. They do it every year. About half the deputies in Maine are there enjoying the fun."

[Binkygirl]

Hello - this post is interesting to me because right now I am a seller and buyer....LOL.. (soon to be purchasing a home in Maine)

Let me say that I DO NOT think you are a bad neighbor!! As a matter of a fact, I appreciate the fact that you put back your targets as a subtle way to tell potential buyers what goes on. If I was a hunter or did target shooting it would be great and I would be thinking - hey some neighbors with common interests. If it wasn't my thing - well then - I am certainly glad I was aware.

Of course, the sellers are probably not happy - and I can sympathize with them in a way. I currently have my house for sale and get a little nutty - everytime one of my neighbors does something that I think would "scare" away a potential buyer.

I would keep doing what you are doing and don't think you are a bad neighbor -- you are being honest and that is what counts!

[Cornerguy1]

Exercising your legal and proper enjoyment of your property is not being a bad neighbour unless you take things to the extreme and start engaging in activities for the sole and deliberate purpose of annoying those around you.

Obviously, that isn't the case here.

Just a suggestion for when the new owner moves in across the road. As the time approaches to sight in the 30-30 for deer season, maybe just pop across the street a couple of days ahead of time and mention that you'll be doing some shooting, safely, out back in the near future.

If that doesn't assure the new owners that things are cool and they insist on calling the cops, then so be it..........another case of city folk moving to the pristine country and trying to change it to the city.

[annernan]

As one is trying to move to Maine, thanks for the warning! Things I don't think about right now...LOL

I would definately visit the new neighbors, let them know what you do, invite them to join you sometime.
Let them know if there are certain times you KNOW you'd be out shooting (as a mom to a kid on the autism spectrum, this would be essential so I could be out of there or at least prepare her.)

I agree you're being a good neighbor by at least thinking about it! A lot of folks wouldn't give a hoot.

[emu742]

As long as I knew what it was, I wouldn't have an issue with it- I would hope the same to be true for your future neighbors! I think you're doing everything very tactfully and respectfully that you can from the sound of it!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

Exercising your legal and proper enjoyment of your property is not being a bad neighbour unless you take things to the extreme and start engaging in activities for the sole and deliberate purpose of annoying those around you.

Obviously, that isn't the case here.

Just a suggestion for when the new owner moves in across the road. As the time approaches to sight in the 30-30 for deer season, maybe just pop across the street a couple of days ahead of time and mention that you'll be doing some shooting, safely, out back in the near future.

If that doesn't assure the new owners that things are cool and they insist on calling the cops, then so be it..........another case of city folk moving to the pristine country and trying to change it to the city.

It's funny that you mention the warning tactic. There used to be three trailers on our street and every time I was planning to shoot I always called the neighbors to see if they had a problem with the shooting. Most of the time they had no problem with it. If I could sense they were hesitant or perhaps had guests over we just waited for another time.
It was always the people across the street in the house for sale that were the police callers. One time I called them and left a message on their machine when they weren't home as my FIL was bring down his "elephant guns" as we call them for sighting before one of his trips. Those guns are twice as loud as my biggest rifles and literally produce a shock wave when fired. Even after the warning the neighbors called the police . They even walked over to our house to see what was going on. When I met them by the road and explained these rifles were unusually powerful and that my FIL was getting ready for an International hunt they went back home ,heads hung low, as I'm sure the noise at their house, some 500 yards away, was pretty loud. We really try to limit those guns. Even I don't like hearing them being fired. I will do my best not to scare off the neighbors. I just hope we don't end up with more like the Washington DC couple who just never gave in to the idea that guns were part of life around these parts.