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How to ask if I can mow my neighbor's lawn
Uncomfortable With Neighbor Mowing Our LawnHow to overcome the anxiety occuring when one wants to ask for help?How to ask a neighbor if I can replace our shared fence?Ask for support with weight loss, without sounding tediousDo we need good fences to make good neighbors?How can we ask neighbours to be more quiet without escalating?My friend doesn't realise he's fallen for a multi-level marketing scheme. How can I help?Uncomfortable With Neighbor Mowing Our LawnHow to Disengage From Complaining Co-WorkerHow can I diplomatically ask my neighbor to move his/her patio off my garage wall to stop dampHow can I ask my neighbors - so that I will have an honest answer - who is the owner of this trespassing cat?
My neighbor and I share a lawn. It isn't clear where the property line is without looking it up in an official resource since there are no physical barriers between us. His house is quite a bit nicer than mine. We have had a few pleasant interactions but certainly are not well acquainted. He moved there a year ago.
I used to mow both "sides" of the lawn when my previous neighbors (who were my friends) lived there. Now, I just mow a bit closer to my house since I have a new neighbor. I have a nice mower and would like to go back to mowing both sides. This would be helpful for my new neighbor since his mower is an unpowered push mower. However, I don't really know how to ask if he is okay with me mowing his lawn without sounding like I am annoyed with his lack of care for his own lawn. I don't want to come off as if I'm hinting that I want him to better take care of his lawn.
How do I politely ask if he would like help without patronizing him?
neighbors helping
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
|
show 1 more comment
My neighbor and I share a lawn. It isn't clear where the property line is without looking it up in an official resource since there are no physical barriers between us. His house is quite a bit nicer than mine. We have had a few pleasant interactions but certainly are not well acquainted. He moved there a year ago.
I used to mow both "sides" of the lawn when my previous neighbors (who were my friends) lived there. Now, I just mow a bit closer to my house since I have a new neighbor. I have a nice mower and would like to go back to mowing both sides. This would be helpful for my new neighbor since his mower is an unpowered push mower. However, I don't really know how to ask if he is okay with me mowing his lawn without sounding like I am annoyed with his lack of care for his own lawn. I don't want to come off as if I'm hinting that I want him to better take care of his lawn.
How do I politely ask if he would like help without patronizing him?
neighbors helping
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hi there Reubens4Dinner, welcome to IPS! I removed the question of if you should set the idea aside as questions of the form "should I do X" are off topic here. The rest of your post looks fairly on-topic. I also have a couple of questions that might make it easier to answer this. How often do you mow, and how often does he? Have you had any interactions with him that make you think he might be offended by you just going ahead and mowing his lawn?
– Rainbacon
8 hours ago
1
No, there has not been anything unpleasant between us at all. I just feel uncomfortable doing this without permission. Basically, I want to avoid playing the role of the "offender" in this question: interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/8007/…
– Reubens4Dinner
8 hours ago
Are you going to mow his whole lawn or just one part of it?
– stannius
7 hours ago
His whole lawn. In practicality the entire yard is this area between our houses. A very small patch between his front steps and sidewalk would need to be mowed too. That small patch is probably 25 square feet-- very small. I would happily mow that too.
– Reubens4Dinner
7 hours ago
So why do you want to mow the neighbor's lawn? Is it simply to be helpful, or is there some other benefit you see in it? It might help to be able to explain it to the neighbor when asking.
– David K
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
My neighbor and I share a lawn. It isn't clear where the property line is without looking it up in an official resource since there are no physical barriers between us. His house is quite a bit nicer than mine. We have had a few pleasant interactions but certainly are not well acquainted. He moved there a year ago.
I used to mow both "sides" of the lawn when my previous neighbors (who were my friends) lived there. Now, I just mow a bit closer to my house since I have a new neighbor. I have a nice mower and would like to go back to mowing both sides. This would be helpful for my new neighbor since his mower is an unpowered push mower. However, I don't really know how to ask if he is okay with me mowing his lawn without sounding like I am annoyed with his lack of care for his own lawn. I don't want to come off as if I'm hinting that I want him to better take care of his lawn.
How do I politely ask if he would like help without patronizing him?
neighbors helping
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My neighbor and I share a lawn. It isn't clear where the property line is without looking it up in an official resource since there are no physical barriers between us. His house is quite a bit nicer than mine. We have had a few pleasant interactions but certainly are not well acquainted. He moved there a year ago.
I used to mow both "sides" of the lawn when my previous neighbors (who were my friends) lived there. Now, I just mow a bit closer to my house since I have a new neighbor. I have a nice mower and would like to go back to mowing both sides. This would be helpful for my new neighbor since his mower is an unpowered push mower. However, I don't really know how to ask if he is okay with me mowing his lawn without sounding like I am annoyed with his lack of care for his own lawn. I don't want to come off as if I'm hinting that I want him to better take care of his lawn.
How do I politely ask if he would like help without patronizing him?
neighbors helping
neighbors helping
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
edited 8 hours ago
Rainbacon
5,36422257
5,36422257
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
asked 8 hours ago
Reubens4DinnerReubens4Dinner
165
165
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Hi there Reubens4Dinner, welcome to IPS! I removed the question of if you should set the idea aside as questions of the form "should I do X" are off topic here. The rest of your post looks fairly on-topic. I also have a couple of questions that might make it easier to answer this. How often do you mow, and how often does he? Have you had any interactions with him that make you think he might be offended by you just going ahead and mowing his lawn?
– Rainbacon
8 hours ago
1
No, there has not been anything unpleasant between us at all. I just feel uncomfortable doing this without permission. Basically, I want to avoid playing the role of the "offender" in this question: interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/8007/…
– Reubens4Dinner
8 hours ago
Are you going to mow his whole lawn or just one part of it?
– stannius
7 hours ago
His whole lawn. In practicality the entire yard is this area between our houses. A very small patch between his front steps and sidewalk would need to be mowed too. That small patch is probably 25 square feet-- very small. I would happily mow that too.
– Reubens4Dinner
7 hours ago
So why do you want to mow the neighbor's lawn? Is it simply to be helpful, or is there some other benefit you see in it? It might help to be able to explain it to the neighbor when asking.
– David K
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Hi there Reubens4Dinner, welcome to IPS! I removed the question of if you should set the idea aside as questions of the form "should I do X" are off topic here. The rest of your post looks fairly on-topic. I also have a couple of questions that might make it easier to answer this. How often do you mow, and how often does he? Have you had any interactions with him that make you think he might be offended by you just going ahead and mowing his lawn?
– Rainbacon
8 hours ago
1
No, there has not been anything unpleasant between us at all. I just feel uncomfortable doing this without permission. Basically, I want to avoid playing the role of the "offender" in this question: interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/8007/…
– Reubens4Dinner
8 hours ago
Are you going to mow his whole lawn or just one part of it?
– stannius
7 hours ago
His whole lawn. In practicality the entire yard is this area between our houses. A very small patch between his front steps and sidewalk would need to be mowed too. That small patch is probably 25 square feet-- very small. I would happily mow that too.
– Reubens4Dinner
7 hours ago
So why do you want to mow the neighbor's lawn? Is it simply to be helpful, or is there some other benefit you see in it? It might help to be able to explain it to the neighbor when asking.
– David K
5 hours ago
Hi there Reubens4Dinner, welcome to IPS! I removed the question of if you should set the idea aside as questions of the form "should I do X" are off topic here. The rest of your post looks fairly on-topic. I also have a couple of questions that might make it easier to answer this. How often do you mow, and how often does he? Have you had any interactions with him that make you think he might be offended by you just going ahead and mowing his lawn?
– Rainbacon
8 hours ago
Hi there Reubens4Dinner, welcome to IPS! I removed the question of if you should set the idea aside as questions of the form "should I do X" are off topic here. The rest of your post looks fairly on-topic. I also have a couple of questions that might make it easier to answer this. How often do you mow, and how often does he? Have you had any interactions with him that make you think he might be offended by you just going ahead and mowing his lawn?
– Rainbacon
8 hours ago
1
1
No, there has not been anything unpleasant between us at all. I just feel uncomfortable doing this without permission. Basically, I want to avoid playing the role of the "offender" in this question: interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/8007/…
– Reubens4Dinner
8 hours ago
No, there has not been anything unpleasant between us at all. I just feel uncomfortable doing this without permission. Basically, I want to avoid playing the role of the "offender" in this question: interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/8007/…
– Reubens4Dinner
8 hours ago
Are you going to mow his whole lawn or just one part of it?
– stannius
7 hours ago
Are you going to mow his whole lawn or just one part of it?
– stannius
7 hours ago
His whole lawn. In practicality the entire yard is this area between our houses. A very small patch between his front steps and sidewalk would need to be mowed too. That small patch is probably 25 square feet-- very small. I would happily mow that too.
– Reubens4Dinner
7 hours ago
His whole lawn. In practicality the entire yard is this area between our houses. A very small patch between his front steps and sidewalk would need to be mowed too. That small patch is probably 25 square feet-- very small. I would happily mow that too.
– Reubens4Dinner
7 hours ago
So why do you want to mow the neighbor's lawn? Is it simply to be helpful, or is there some other benefit you see in it? It might help to be able to explain it to the neighbor when asking.
– David K
5 hours ago
So why do you want to mow the neighbor's lawn? Is it simply to be helpful, or is there some other benefit you see in it? It might help to be able to explain it to the neighbor when asking.
– David K
5 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Because it was something you used to do for the people who lived there before, you could use that to basically ease your way into it. Mention to him that you used to do it for the previous tenants/owners of the house, and that you really don't mind continuing to help out with it for them as well, if they want. Worst comes to worst, they decline, you continue mowing your lawn as you have always done.
This turns it away from "I am offering because you suck at lawn care" and more into "I am doing a friendly neighbour thing that I used to do and would love to do again".
(This is exactly what my dad did in their neighbourhood in this situation - he mows the lawn for his home and the ones on either side of them. People seem to like that sort of neighbourly connection between each other, and it is a nice way to bring people together. He doesn't take any payment or anything for the mowing, but periodically the neighbours share baking and things with him as a thank you. It works out pretty well.)
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
add a comment |
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Because it was something you used to do for the people who lived there before, you could use that to basically ease your way into it. Mention to him that you used to do it for the previous tenants/owners of the house, and that you really don't mind continuing to help out with it for them as well, if they want. Worst comes to worst, they decline, you continue mowing your lawn as you have always done.
This turns it away from "I am offering because you suck at lawn care" and more into "I am doing a friendly neighbour thing that I used to do and would love to do again".
(This is exactly what my dad did in their neighbourhood in this situation - he mows the lawn for his home and the ones on either side of them. People seem to like that sort of neighbourly connection between each other, and it is a nice way to bring people together. He doesn't take any payment or anything for the mowing, but periodically the neighbours share baking and things with him as a thank you. It works out pretty well.)
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
add a comment |
Because it was something you used to do for the people who lived there before, you could use that to basically ease your way into it. Mention to him that you used to do it for the previous tenants/owners of the house, and that you really don't mind continuing to help out with it for them as well, if they want. Worst comes to worst, they decline, you continue mowing your lawn as you have always done.
This turns it away from "I am offering because you suck at lawn care" and more into "I am doing a friendly neighbour thing that I used to do and would love to do again".
(This is exactly what my dad did in their neighbourhood in this situation - he mows the lawn for his home and the ones on either side of them. People seem to like that sort of neighbourly connection between each other, and it is a nice way to bring people together. He doesn't take any payment or anything for the mowing, but periodically the neighbours share baking and things with him as a thank you. It works out pretty well.)
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
add a comment |
Because it was something you used to do for the people who lived there before, you could use that to basically ease your way into it. Mention to him that you used to do it for the previous tenants/owners of the house, and that you really don't mind continuing to help out with it for them as well, if they want. Worst comes to worst, they decline, you continue mowing your lawn as you have always done.
This turns it away from "I am offering because you suck at lawn care" and more into "I am doing a friendly neighbour thing that I used to do and would love to do again".
(This is exactly what my dad did in their neighbourhood in this situation - he mows the lawn for his home and the ones on either side of them. People seem to like that sort of neighbourly connection between each other, and it is a nice way to bring people together. He doesn't take any payment or anything for the mowing, but periodically the neighbours share baking and things with him as a thank you. It works out pretty well.)
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
Because it was something you used to do for the people who lived there before, you could use that to basically ease your way into it. Mention to him that you used to do it for the previous tenants/owners of the house, and that you really don't mind continuing to help out with it for them as well, if they want. Worst comes to worst, they decline, you continue mowing your lawn as you have always done.
This turns it away from "I am offering because you suck at lawn care" and more into "I am doing a friendly neighbour thing that I used to do and would love to do again".
(This is exactly what my dad did in their neighbourhood in this situation - he mows the lawn for his home and the ones on either side of them. People seem to like that sort of neighbourly connection between each other, and it is a nice way to bring people together. He doesn't take any payment or anything for the mowing, but periodically the neighbours share baking and things with him as a thank you. It works out pretty well.)
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
edited 8 hours ago
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
answered 8 hours ago
AshAsh
2,147828
2,147828
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Reubens4Dinner is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Hi there Reubens4Dinner, welcome to IPS! I removed the question of if you should set the idea aside as questions of the form "should I do X" are off topic here. The rest of your post looks fairly on-topic. I also have a couple of questions that might make it easier to answer this. How often do you mow, and how often does he? Have you had any interactions with him that make you think he might be offended by you just going ahead and mowing his lawn?
– Rainbacon
8 hours ago
1
No, there has not been anything unpleasant between us at all. I just feel uncomfortable doing this without permission. Basically, I want to avoid playing the role of the "offender" in this question: interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/8007/…
– Reubens4Dinner
8 hours ago
Are you going to mow his whole lawn or just one part of it?
– stannius
7 hours ago
His whole lawn. In practicality the entire yard is this area between our houses. A very small patch between his front steps and sidewalk would need to be mowed too. That small patch is probably 25 square feet-- very small. I would happily mow that too.
– Reubens4Dinner
7 hours ago
So why do you want to mow the neighbor's lawn? Is it simply to be helpful, or is there some other benefit you see in it? It might help to be able to explain it to the neighbor when asking.
– David K
5 hours ago