Shared Driveway Advice - Snow Removal

[Anonymous]

Can you just drive out over the snow and pack it down? On those HGTV shows from Canada, it always looks as though they don't shovel their driveways, they just allow them to get packed down. Do you know what the family would do if you didn't shovel? What did they do before you moved in?

[Anonymous]

Do the neighbors think that the driveway doesn't need shoveling? Do they think that the driveway is navigable without shoveling? If so, this may be why they aren't contributing. Today it's snowing, so try parking on the street, walking up the hill, and seeing what your neighbors do. Agree that no one should have a spot on your property. Another way to handle it--- just ask 'em. Nicely. Directly. Knock on the door, say, "Hey there! Lovin' this weather? BTW---- Do you guys ever shovel? We could use the help!" And they may tell you, "No, not really. We're able to come and go without shoveling, so we don't really bother." At that point, you're just dealing with a difference of opinion. If they do actually need and want the shoveling, but just don't want to contribute, this friendly 'ask' may be just the nudge they need, or, if they react badly to this reasonable question, then you know--- they're jerks. While you're visiting, say, "we'd rather keep our cars on our respective property, so could (the new guy's name) please not park by our place? Thanks so much!"

[Anonymous]

We never had a garage so now that we have one we were so excited to park in it, leaving this spot open. Who knew! Its shocking to me that this guy just parks here. I guess we will start putting one car there to send a message. Again, do not want to create issues with neighbors. I don't have time for that nonsense. Any snowblower recommendations or ones to avoid? When are the sales on these?

[Anonymous]

And yes, they don't seem to mind the snow building up as they have no where to be although I have seen them drive over it. Noone works out of the home and they can wait for the sun to melt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The covenants are clear - 50% shared responsibility.

So report them to the HOA. Tell the HOA that you are often left caring for the entire driveway because they will not do their part to either clear half of the driveway or pay to have it done. The HOA can fine them.

And I would definitely get something to put in the extra parking space to keep the houseguest from parking in your spot.

[Anonymous]

I lived in an HOA neighborhood with pipestem driveways. The plows that did the streets did the middle of the pipestem. I'd discuss with the HOA bc that is bs.

And thank god our HOA did that, because our neighbors were horrible.

[Anonymous]

I grew up on a long shared driveway in New England. Plowing was not optional, so there was no problem there, but in the 27 years my parents lived there, my dad was the only one who ever mowed the grass along the driveway. There was no HOA and no requirement that anyone maintain it, but my dad was meticulous about lawn care so he just sucked it up. But it drove him crazy that the neighbors took this for granted. As far as I know, no one ever thanked him. Maybe he should have confronted them, but honestly, I don't think it would have changed anything. Some people are responsible and some people are freeloaders. It stinks.

[Anonymous]

We have a shared driveway, and currently all the neighbors who use it help shovel it-but there have been times when they didn't. You just have to suck it up and deal. Worst is the adjacent neighbors who don't actually share the driveway but seem to think its their's to play in, have service people park in, etc. then they complain about the way we shovel snow.

[Anonymous]

They sound like lazy white trash. Park on the street and keep boots in your car. I would feel differently if they were not on your property, but they are, so its their problem now.

PP is right. There are some insane, bored, useless neighbors who won't think twice about spending all their time on you. Don't let them.

[Anonymous]

People who grew up in places that get a lot of snow are accustomed to dealing with it and don't necessarily see the need for shoveling driveways: they just drive over the snow. I've talked to people from "up North" who think it's kind of funny that we shovel our driveways here. I can see that the neighbors may not understand being asked to do something that they possibly don't see as necessary. Just a possible alternative explanation for the situation.

[Anonymous]

I'm from up north (NH) and my dad always shoveled the driveway. We also always cleared off our cars in NH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never had a garage so now that we have one we were so excited to park in it, leaving this spot open. Who knew! Its shocking to me that this guy just parks here. I guess we will start putting one car there to send a message. Again, do not want to create issues with neighbors. I don't have time for that nonsense. Any snowblower recommendations or ones to avoid? When are the sales on these?

these people are jerks, and clearly boundary challenged. you need to set things straight very fast or they will walk all over you. do not "send messages" with passive aggressive behavior, they either will not get it, or will not care. the first time the guy park in your spot, knock at the door and with a polite and firm smile tell him that he needs to move the car right away since he parked in your spot, and if he can please avoid doing it in the future. polite, firm and direct. do not wait any longer, since if you let him park for months, he is going to think it is OK, and when you ask him not to when you have guests he is going to think he is doing it a favor. as for the snow, if you do not want to take care of it yourself, park in the street when it is supposed to snow.

BTW congratulations for being able to park in your garage. we have not been able to do it since the second day we moved in. we would need to spend hours shoveling junk before we can park the car there

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the bottom of "their" part of the driveway is an excellent spot to deposit the snow as you shovel.

[Anonymous]

OP here - what is pipestem mean? There is a curve at end but no other real parts to the driveway (other than our popular spot). We can get advice from HOA which is homeowner run - most homes have their own drivewsys. Both my husband and I are from the north but everyone did their part. We also had lots of kids walking around ready to shovel for $. Not here. We have an old 4×4 so can get through the snow as needed but our van will be stuck as it was previously. Looks like sucking it up and getting a snowblower and reclaiming our spot is the game plan. Thanks fellow posters!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from up north (NH) and my dad always shoveled the driveway. We also always cleared off our cars in NH.

Likewise in NY and central PA. Everyone shovels (or snow blows).