There it is—the tree your neighbor has been ignoring for the past decade. It’s violating your property’s airspace. And really, it’s not a problem except for windstorms, ice storms, and the relentless requirements of your insurance company.
OK, so it is a problem. Now to the issue: How do you address this with said neighbor?
For one real estate investor, that means documenting everything and steeling for a fight. Blue Collar Corey (@bluecollarcorey) posted a reel to his Facebook page illustrating this dilemma.
Neighbor Troubles
In a voice just above a whisper, Corey explains that he and his companion, Devon, are trying to figure out how to cut down a tree that’s growing too close to a house but from the property next door. Considering the reel has gotten 5.1 million views, this situation has struck a chord.
“Me and Devon’s trying to figure out which one of us is going to go ask this neighbor-guy, whose yard this fence is in, if we can cut it,” he says.
However, as Devon takes photos of the tree (and Corey films), they notice a huge, blue problem. It’s the kind of suburban monument that promises potentially tremendously awkward interactions.
“He’s got a 55-gallon drum of [empty] Coors Light [cans],” Corey says. “We know he’s gonna fight us on sight.”
The video ends, with no follow-up.
Silver Bribery?
Though Corey (and by presumption, Devon) are bracing for trouble, Facebook users see opportunity.
“Well you know what he drinks…. Bring a 30 pack and he’s 100% gonna say lay down it [four cry-laughing emoji],” suggested Clinton Brown.
Others tries to help strategize. “Catch him before 4pm. They’re nicely buzzed + haven’t drank enough to be in rage mode. Def don’t wait til after 7pm cause they may not recall & be cranky by whatever you do. They’ll Def oversee the work while you do it,” said Jane Barbone.
Jay Johnson got a little more creatively authoritative, saying, “Just do it. Put on a hi viz vest on and say your [sic] from the city. 50% of the time it works all the time [wink emoji, salute emoji].”
1 Problem Is Actually 2
Seemingly the overhanging tree is the problem. But, as the 55-gallon drum full of empty Coors Light cans suggests, the actual problem might be trying to reason with a drunk person.
But first, if a tree is overhanging a property, yes, the owner of the property can trim it back, even if the trunk is next door. However, there are a few caveats, most of which are just neighborly behavior.
To start, let the person whose property the tree is on know what you want to do. Because if you need access to their property, you need permission. Finally, you can’t ruin the tree—either by cutting it down (without permission) or by making it look like an awful asymmetrical haircut. If so, you could be liable for three times the replacement value of the tree.
Add in Coors Light as a lifestyle, and you’ve got a potentially tricky negotiation on your hands. So it’s recommended you go to talk to the neighbor in person and consider offering to help defray the cost, according to Elite Tree Care.
Additionally, consider a daylight conversation, as suggested by the Community Associations Institute. Further, addiction experts suggest trying to find a lower-stress time, like a weekend, to chat.
Failing that, remember you can lop off your problem branches, and let the (wood) chips fall where they may. Which is exactly what Corey and Devon did.
In a Facebook Messenger exchange with BroBible, he told us that he didn’t really even remember that day. Because in their line of work, which is rehabbing neglected properties, they’ve seen much crazier things. “I don’t even think we talked to the neighbor I think we just cut the tree and ran away,” he says.
BroBible reached out to Molson Coors Beverage Company, the parent company of Coors Light. We’ll update this article if they respond.