replacing a wooden fence with a brick wall?

[frankc29]

What is the name of your state? CA

How do you go about this with the neighbors. I am surrounded on 3 sides, so I will have 3 owners to deal with. Do I ask for help paying? What steps should I take to avoid any hassles in the future? I'm guessing a simple written agreement isn't enough? Any help appreciated.

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

What is the name of your state? CA

How do you go about this with the neighbors. I am surrounded on 3 sides, so I will have 3 owners to deal with. Do I ask for help paying? What steps should I take to avoid any hassles in the future? I'm guessing a simple written agreement isn't enough? Any help appreciated.

You may want to explain what you are asking. So far, you are surrounded by 3 neighbors, that's all I got from it. If you are suggesting a brick wall instead of the fence that is up, you better be speaking with them.

If they say go for it, it is your dime.

You could always build your brick wall within the fence line on your property.

 

[frankc29]

I want to replace the common fence (cheap stuff the home builders put in) with a common block wall. Nothing fancy, but much much better than the fence. Building it within my property lines would be ugly and waste space. I understand that it may or may not require a permit, I understand that it might be a good idea to have a surveyor come out and make sure the current fence is exactly where it's supposed to be. The thing I am wondering if there is some sort of standard contract or written agreement, rather than just verbal, so that one of my neighbors can't lie and say he never agreed to the wall and sue me, etc.etc.

 

[nextwife]

If you are removing an existing fence, and placing this on the lot line, DEFINATELY:

get a survey

get a permit and comply with all applicable municipal restrictions, uincluding any height restrictions

read your title policy to determine if there are any easements, deed restrictions that must also be taken into consideration. Especially be wary of building across any underground pipes or other easements. At such spots, you may need to build a gate. instead. CC&Rs must be complied with. Don't presume that ONLY the municipal restrictions affect what can be done.

Get WRITTEN notarized agreements with all OWNERS of adjacent property. Make certain it is the owners, and not just a resident that you are dealing with. And not just ONE of the owners.

 

[frankc29]

Thank you, sounds like great advice. As for the surveyor, what does he do, just put stakes and string in the ground? Should I schedule him to do his thing after the fence is taken out and just before the wall goes in? I also wonder if I need to not only get agreements from the 3 adjacent neighbors but also the 2 neighbors that meet me at the corners. I'm assuming some slight fence modification will be necessary there as well. Boy, what an ordeal this is going to be.

 

[kmo199]

You don't need to speak with the neighbours by the corners,
as it they aren't affected. Get written agreements with
the other 3.
It won't be an ordeal if you plan and discuss everything
with everyone accordingly.

 

[seniorjudge]

Get the survey before you start taking up any of the old fence.