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I'm having a problem putting my own best interests in ahead of my word.
I own some land that a neighbor's son's friend always wanted and I told him I would eventually sell it to him. Recently I decided to do it and as soon as the surveyor started, another neighbor, whom I am employed by, offered me triple of what I would have sold it for. Not only am I concerned about the money, I am worried I would hurt my relationship with my employer. I care take for him and would have to move out of the area for work if he decided not to renew our contract. No matter which way I go someones going to be mad at me.
I'm looking for some opinions.
I would have an honest discussion with the neighbor's son. "I know I had promised you the land, but here is the situation I find myself in ..." Hopefully he will understand why you feel you have to go against his word.
It seems that your relationship with your employer is probably more important than your relationship with the other neighbor's son.
And hopefully it's a lesson learned about making these sorts of promises.
I would have an honest discussion with the neighbor's son. "I know I had promised you the land, but here is the situation I find myself in ..." Hopefully he will understand why you feel you have to go against his word.
It seems that your relationship with your employer is probably more important than your relationship with the other neighbor's son.
And hopefully it's a lesson learned about making these sorts of promises.
We had something similar happen in my family. While we had never actually promised them the land, our friend/neighbor was expecting to buy the land adjacent to their property at a low amount with a land contract (so they could pay for the land over 15 years).
We were unexpectantly offered three times the money, cash up front, from another neighbor for that land.
We told the first neighbor if they could match the amount we would sell the land to them instead. They could not do that, and were grumpy at us for a while but it blew over.
Even if you had agreed to sell the land to the first neighbor you had not agreed on a price. If he can not pay the market rate you are under no obligation to sell him the land.
You told A that B offered you XYZ and are concerned that B will eliminate your income.
Three times sounds like a windfall, loosing trust sounds like a downfall so does loosing employment. Not a good place to be in. Can you let some grass over the dilemma or do you need the money?
Status:
"I don't understand. But I don't care, so it works out."
(set 9 days ago)
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Has the neighbor's son given you anything in return for the promise to sell him the land (taken care of it, for example, while you live somewhere else)?
If he's done nothing, except expect that you will eventually sell it to him, I don't think he has a leg to stand on, especially since the other buyer has offered you 3X what the neighbor's son was going to pay.
I did agree on a price and then proceeded to survey, then the second neighbor asked the surveyor what was going on. It is right across from him so he offered an outrageous sum to keep his privacy.
I think you should sell it to the employer, and then after the fact, tell the neighbor's son's friend that the sale went through with another party, and that due to your need to keep your livelihood, this was the decision you came to. You could express that you're sorry that he must be disappointed in the outcome. And leave it at that.
I think you should sell it to the employer, and then after the fact, tell the neighbor's son's friend that the sale went through with another party, and that due to your need to keep your livelihood, this was the decision you came to. You could express that you're sorry that he must be disappointed in the outcome. And leave it at that.
That's exactly what I want to do but I I'm going to feel like a jerk if I do.
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