Am I being silly on this? It really bothers me to think that later on down the road when our tubs, fixtures etc are in that our neighbors are walking through and looking at everything. I think it is rude honestly. I have never walked through a home that was being built unless it said open house. DH and I are thinking about buying more trespassing signs and putting up more signs that say under surveillance. I also plan on telling the GC about this as he stated on Thursday he was going to have a simple security system put in to watch the house. He is also planning on putting up a temp wall in the garage so that when the back and front door are locked up at night no one can get in through the garage.

What have you done to keep people out or do you not mind if strangers walk through your home? LOL! I did decide that the next time someone stops by and states they have been through the house I am going to say:

Please feel free to stop by when you see us here if you would like to take a look but we have to ask that if we are not here to abide by the no trespassing signs. We would hate for someone to get hurt since this is a construction site.

*sigh* always something isn't it! :-)

Until your house is secure with doors and windows you should expect the walk-thrus to continue.

I don't think this is a big deal at all.

Could you put just a rope/chain with a No Trespassing sign hanging from it across the construction driveway? It'll annoy the crew, of course, and they might not hook it back after leaving. But if that can be dealt with it would be one more small measure.

Here's the thing, though. You're not going to stop the thieves (probably) and you're not going to stop the boldest and incredibly nosy neighbors. The only good thing about it is that you won't run into most of them and what you don't know won't hurt you. It really won't. OTOH, if you have a camera and have to watch all of them then you will know, and it will weigh on your mind. Not that you can stop them.

Here's an off-the-wall idea: You could have a sign printed up and post it:

To My New Neighbors: For you safety and protection, please don't enter our construction zone. As soon as we move in we'll open the house for a tour so you can see the finished project and meet us. Please contact us at XXXXXX so we can put you on the guest list.
Looking forward to meeting you then!

Now, most people will not bother to take you up on the offer, so you might not have to actually follow through. It's a polite way to put them on notice and to distinguish them from the nasty intruders and thieves. You'll seem like a good neighbor. If anyone does contact you, then have a really simple Tour Our House (for 2 hours). NO FOOD dragged through your new house. Do not call it an Open House; they'll expect food. It's not a party; more like a Tour of Homes where they don't feed you.

We now have a gate across the road because we're keeping a lot of materials and equipment at the site. My husband is on site everyday and he says he gets neighbors stopping by for a look every other day or so. We don't mind that at all. they seem to show up within minutes of him arriving so I'm guessing they're looking for him so they can drop in.

I can completely understand your feelings. It just never bothered me. The one thing I always stress is to please be very careful because it is a constructions site, and to please not bring their kids. I didn't even allow my own in there, too dangerous. That, and we asked the neighborhood boys to stop dirt biking around the back of the house, although I could understand the urge to do so when we had huge mounds of dirt! I explained to them not just that I was concerned for their safety, but that there were nails and stuff that could ruin their (precious) bikes!! They haven't been back to the best of my knowledge:-)

It just depends on your personal feelings about the matter. I've never "caught" anyone in there that we didn't know. Our current neighbors have also gone down now and then and always report back to me. "They got (fill in the blank) installed, looks great!" or "Make sure they don't get lazy and (fill in the blank)". A lot of our current neighbors are friends, and many have construction and painting experience. I thought of it as they were watching our backs. When we went to the beach for 2 weeks, a couple of them checked progress regularly, and I was grateful. Again, these are people we know.

I think you are completely justified. Also, depending on whether your gc has that mess cleaned up, tell them it is for their own safety, and you are telling the truth!!

Amy

I can't stand rudeness.

If I ever saw a No Trespassing sign however, I would never set foot on the property.

Lindy

We have one neighbor who simply opened the door and walked into our unfinished home while we were inside and started nosing around. This same neighbor is extremely nosy to the point of where she even bothers the builders, asks to look at the house plans and takes pictures. Talk about invasion of privacy!

But since 1990, things have tightened up. Almost all new infill homes are surrounded by temporary steel fences with padlocked gates. If there are more than a couple luxury homes under way, there may even be 24-hour security.

I fence my sites and post NO TRESPASSING signs. Of course, this doesn't keep a dedicated thief out. But securing your property from damage is only part of the equation. More important, fencing and posting reduces your liability if one of your uninvited guests injures or kills himself while touring your site.

Close your windows too! One morning we cornered a masked bandit who had snuck in through an open window. We gave him room to escape. Damn raccoons.

DH has still not put up no trespass signs. I worry though that if one of these kids get injured while skateboarding thru our private property's construction site, even though they are trespassing, who do the parents come after? Us probably.

I'd love to come across someone while they were exploring my home. We have had other neighbors stop while we were at the house.

But no, I really don't think you can stop the lookers & nosy rosies 'til the house is actually locked-up. We have locks now, but it's not locked of course as workers are still coming & going. How can you really stop anybody from coming & going 'til you're actually in, so why stress about it?

When we were considering our builder, they gave us a list of about 20 homes that were under construction and encouraged us to visit them. We visited nearly every one. Sometimes no one was there, but since we usually went on weekends, we often found the owners there. We always introduced ourselves, explained the reason for our visit and asked permission to tour the home. With one exception, the owners were gracious, proud of their home and happy to show us arround. They were also fountains of information about the builder and the subs.

When our home was being built, I simply assumed we'd have visitors. Most of our visitors were our new neighbors and it was a good way to meet them and let them get to know us.

We are in a rural area and just were not uptight or paranoid about it.

Eventually, the owner warned him that the police would be called if he didn't stay off the property. So he was reduced to sidling up to the fence to see what he could hear.

Some of you may have seen this sign before:

"Never mind the dog. Beware of Owner."

That's the type of sign I'd put up. Frankly, I cannot believe the audacity (and ignorance) of people who believe that it is their right (or that it is "OK") to put their foot (or finger) prints on stuff that they know is not theirs. Doesn't matter if a house is 'sold' or not; somebody owns it and is responsible for it "as is". Unless you have permission, you DO NOT have the right... Did your parents teach you anything about respect for other people's property?!?!

--RANT OFF--

Now to go find some caffeine...

We live in a very small populated area. One road in-same road out type place. Minimum acreage is 2 acres to build (most have 5 or more) so neighbors are somewhat away from one another. Because it's also a tourist area neighbors are good at watching out for each other and since we've moved in we've developed a great rapport with them. Even with no trespassing tape and signs, it never bothered me a bit to hear that a neighbor had come through on occasion to check our progress. Heck it took 3 years to complete this house so I would expect them to be a bit courious.

I appreciated developing a relationship with my neighbors before we moved in as added "eyes" against theft or damage to our build. To give an example, one neighbor called us when 35 tourist decided to use our build to play in the snow. Wiring, nails, forms, etc. all around the build (get the picture?). It was a 25 minute drive to our site and by the time we got there we found out another neighbor came over and simply kicked them off our land. If I had alienated my neighbors who knows what the outcome might have been.

We have only gone through homes under construction while trying to decide on which builder to go with. Usually the contractor met us at the homesite, but there were a few times that they weren't able to, but we always made sure that we asked whoever was there if we could walk through and explained our purpose for touring.

I don't think I would care if someone came to look at our house while under construction, but I'm not on that end of it yet so I can't say for sure. It will be a hike for them to get to our homesite anyway, so good luck to them and I hope they don't get stuck! LOL!

BTW, I wouldn't do that tour only thing for the neighbors someone suggested. If you want to meet neighbors and make friends, then I would just have a "bring your favorite covered dish" party or a cookout which you could keep everyone outside, (if you are worried about mess) and then give tours. Food makes friends-- at least for me!LOL!

The other thing to think about--isn't this one of those "good" problems to worry about during a build? Hang in there! Wish I was as far as you!

My friend is also building a home. They are almost done with their house and she told me the other day a man and women where coming out of the house around lunch time when the workers were gone. They were neighbors and they stated they wanted to get an update on the house. She was not happy to hear them say "how cute the little girls room was". To me that is just wrong. Total invasion of someones home whether that home is just now framed or almost done, same thing to me I guess.

Our GC said he informs the crews that if someone comes up they are to ask them to please leave since they are not the homeowners and that this is a construction site. The framers told me one lady said she was walking through whether they liked it or not. I laughed about it at first but yesterday when I saw the car pulling out (they had backed in) it freaked me out. We are very rural, each lot is at least 7 acres.

I guess this is on of those subjects we can agree to disagree! I am going to put up more signs though.

Strangers walking on or through your property is creepy. I was creeped out when my neighbor decided to use my back yard as a short cut to the store down the road. He did it while I was there. I thought that was real nervy.

Here's our door on the front of the house. We've installed the permanent doors on the side and back already.

I don't know in which order builders put houses together, but since my DH was building ours I wanted to make sure it was secured ASAP. As soon as the framing went in we put in the windows and rear doors and this temporary one on the front. No, I don't want anyone walking through my house even if it is just 2 x 4's and plywood. We made sure we built the garage first so we could store supplies and we feel comfortable that things are secure.

I know this is a simple thing to deal with and I sure hope I am not posting in a few weeks we got robbed! My friend who is building who I mentioned about the little girls room, they had their house broken into the other night. They punched holes in a few walls, turned over a left over paint container that got all over the freshly painted walls and cabinets and punched a hole in the front door (construction door). Such a shame. I guess after today we will be able to see all the people coming and going with the camera. The GC is also going to put up a simple security system to track who is coming in and out of the driveway and house.

Worthy - thanks for the advice on the little bandits!

That said, I would probably feel very differently about it if I were building in a development or a neighborhood where there would be strangers coming through.
Even then, though, you don't want to antagonize them if they're your future neighbors.

I have to say if by asking them not to walk through my home when we are not present is perceived in a rude and unfriendly matter then maybe that is their fault and not mine. Would they like it if I walked up to their home and asked to walk through just because I was curious? I keep thinking back to my friend who is almost done with her home. Some strange man and women is walking around in her daughters bedroom, their bedroom, looking through their appliances, touching their property....I don't think so.

After much thought on this today, going out to the property today and reading these posts I do not feel like I am being silly about it. No trespassing means just that, no trespassing. If I am perceived as rude by my neighbors well then I guess there is nothing I can do about it. I will just be glad when no one can just walk through on their own once the wall in the garage goes up.

When our house got to the point of having valuable components added, the doors were installed and locked. (Of course the key was kept on top of the electric meter so subs could get in. And anyone who knew the protocol would have been able to do the same.)

A "no tresspassing" sign is certainly your right, but the kind of folks you are worried about probably wouldn't be deterred by it. In our neighborhood, a "no tresspassing" sign would be perceived as unfriendly, but neighborhoods do differ.

You are the one who will have to live with the neighbors - if they percieve you as being snarky, it will be your problem. Personally I value having a good relationship with my neighbors. When we are away, I like knowing that if they saw something suspicious, they'd act.

On the other hand, if they disliked me, they could easily think, "Well, hmmm" and do nothing.

I don't like it, but I'm also not going to invest a lot of time, effort and emotion in stopping them: with all the stress of a new house, this is just not a battle I'm willing to fight.

But usually, the lot + house under construction belongs to the builder/developer until closing.

When my previous house was built, even though I signed a contract to buy the finished house, I didn't care at all, if some stranger entered during construction because it wasn't mine to begin with.

In fact, when I entered the construction site, even though it was "my" future home, it wasn't really different from a stranger entering.

So before you get all upset seeing other people in "your" future house: Ask yourself, do you actually own the land already?

Each person has their own personal boundaries that should be respected. Any good neighbor knows that.

My husband, on the other hand, was bothered by it. He was raised in VA, where the culture is a bit more stiff & formal. He didn't feel like they were going to rob us, but he just wasn't used to people coming over without an invitation, and feeling free to look at our plans in the doc box and walk through the house.

He eventually got over it; it's better to keep on good terms with the neighbors, and I explained the whole "it's fair game until the door is up" philosophy to him :)

Cheers!
Heather W

Doing something illegal, naughty, but it's so unlikely to get them in trouble that they enjoy their little thrill. I swear, I think that's part of it. If it's not your property, it's not your property whether someone lives there or it's only partly built.

I have gone through production builders' homes in a new subdivision before the "for sale" sign goes up. And I recall feeling I was doing something a bit sneaky. And, therefore, fun! Like some other activities that come to mind, it's more fun if it's forbidden and a little risky. Sick, but there you have it. My explanation of the moment.

So, Kelly, I think you're fighting a losing battle. You can't fight human nature. Well, you can, but it will cost you. Just try to think about other things since you're moving rapidly toward the end of the problem.

I'm on your side of the issue, BTW. But I don't think you're gonna win this one.

With locked doors, how did the partying teenagers get in?

They got in through the garage. I give on this battle and save my energy for the next!

It's rude - AND I'M A LIBERAL! LOL

CB

Ditto that!

I'm sorry you have to deal with all that, kelntx. Such a shame that those kids were in there partying. My parents didn't raise me to do such things and I can't imagine making myself at home in someone else's house. I sure hope there wasn't any damage.

Our home site is up on a hill, hidden amongst the trees, with a 700' gated driveway. We put in natural barriers along our road frontage (large stones, mounded garden beds, trees, etc.) to keep people from driving onto the property. I really don't think signs are enough to deter people.
Prior to installing the gate, several people drove right up to neb around. I found that just amazing. They have no idea what is going on up there and the fact that they may get hurt or run over something didn't even seem to cross their minds.
I don't mind my immediate neighbors stopping by while we are there and I have appreciated their kindness. But that's as far as it goes. We are private people and just because we are building a new home, that doesn't give every Tom, Rick, & Harry a license to roam around our property. That's called TRESPASSING, and that is what the camera's are for.

In my case, I think the gate has been enough. But, if people are brazen enough to walk all the way up there...well.....say cheese!

I would have no problem taking the video to the state police. I'm not going to stand for any trespassing. I don't think that's unreasonable.

I think Lindy and I have the same experiences. Up until now I've always lived in a subdivision that had new subdivisions popping up all around it. When 30-40 houses are being build right next to you everybody walks thru them and talks about them. Some of those walk-thrus lead to sells for the builder.

I really, truly never gave it a second thought and didn't care at all when people walked thru our home. Now if teenagers threw a party I'd call the police, but a curious couple spending a couple minutes admiring my home just seemed normal to me.

I kind of agree w/ hmp....maybe it's a regional thing.

However - they were not problems when we spoke to the builder.

I REALLY did not appreciate it that they would just walk right in and look around at our cupboards and so forth when we were not there. Then take photos.

But out here in the boonies I think it's more that people want to neb or steal. They aren't looking at floor plans, unfortunately.

The thread I posted on about our experience has rolled off. We owned our lot before we found a GC and we paid for the house as it was being built. So no, I did not like to find out someone had been walking around my home when I wasn't there and I didn't like them coming in, walking around when I was there either - DH and/or I were there every single day, even on weekends, and we didn't see that many visitors.

One Sunday, about the time the framers were finished and the back upper veranda had been poured, we were sitting outside with my parents when I saw a man and a woman in my kitchen. I walked in and asked if I could help them. After asking me if I was the homeowner and me replying yes, he said "I'm going to build this house." I said "What?" and he repeated himself.

Well, considering we had purchased the plans from a well known architect, poured over them for a year while the youngest two finished high school before making numerous changes/additions to the plan and paid for them I wasn't very pleased. I told him the architects name, gave him his web address and said he could help him find a plan that suited his lot. "Oh" he said "my lot is a point on a lake, just like yours. This house is perfect."

Me, being the southern lady Mama raised me to be, I pressed on nicely on the outside but boiling on the inside. He went on to tell me he had been in the house before and he was showing his girlfriend. I was nice, they didn't stay long but I pushed for him to call the architect for (his own set of) plans.

The NEXT weekend, here they are AGAIN! He acted like we were best friends! I was irritated enough to tell him right off the bat that I'd like him to leave. When he asked why, I told him that my house plans were copyrighted (which they are, he acted like he didn't know what that meant), I told him again who the architect was and I asked him to leave and not come back. Up until this time, the house was not able to be secured - DH put a temp lock on the front door the next day.

That's not all - I find out from my cabinet guy he was there another day or two. He asked him to leave. THEN he calls my GC and asks him to SELL HIM his set of plans after the house is finished. >:( The GC tells him the plans are not his to sell and he always returns them to the homeowner. Mr Paininthebutt is not satisfied and asked for our phone number. GC knows I'm ticked off at this guy so he gives him my DH cell number. DH doesn't tell me for several weeks that the guy called him and asked to purchase a set of plans - DH tells him they are not for sale and the guy argues with him for ten minutes, telling him "she'll never know" etc. >:(

I don't know if he ever built his house or what it looks like, but his girlfriend said he couldn't afford a house as big as ours anyway. Then why was he asking to purchase the plans? I have no idea but it still makes me mad to think about it! ;) I didn't go to the trouble of building a custom home, working with an architect and brining my ideas into reality for someone to copy - whatever happened to being creative?!

Our house is in the third phase of a gated community with only 72 lots. Everyone has at least 3acres and up to 20. You can't even see our house from the main road. We're on a cul de sac with no neighbors. (Two have just started building on our street.) There are four other houses on the lake (only one during our construction) so I did worry about things getting stolen during construction. We were lucky, only thing to disappear was the left over copper gutters/hangers (that I was going to do something with).

My GC told me a story about a house he built - the night before closing, someone broke in, tore up the carpet, stole the appliances and cut down the light fixtures! The lady had gone by the house that morning to walk thru before the closing and called him to ask why he had taken up the carpet - she didn't realize how bad it was at that point.

Anyway, interesting story Allison.

We learned a lot about the stages of construction by seeing the foundation, framing, plumbing, wiring, drywall.

We also learned a ton from talking to the owners, most of whom were gracious and helpful when we explained the reason for our visit. Most of them had done exactly the same thing before they started building. If the owners weren't there, we did not feel like we were tresspassing by walking through the bones of a house under construction.

A home is where you live. A house under construction is a future home.

It's got to be a regional thang. dixie's post simply displayed ignorance.

After the house was finished (way before mine!) his wife gave me a tour and her DH said, "So I guess this is your first invited tour?" He said it in good nature but it really made me feel scummy. I won't do it anymore. Just because you may not mind someone walking around in your unfinished house doesn't make it okay for you to do the same.

Those of you who say you do it all the time and don't mind someone in your house, what if you found out someone was unhappy with you being in their house? Would you blow it off and think the owners need to lighten up or would you feel sorry for your actions?

I still do not think it is regional. I live in the South, and if we are going to go by stereotypes, you are equally likely to be looking down the end of shotgun for entering private property than to be invited in for tea. Obviously everyone has a different viewpoint on this debate, and that's fine. As missymar said (in essence)live and let live.

charliedawg- I'm sorry if I offended you in particular. I always appreciate your feedback to posts, and I appreciate the humor you generally bring to a situation. Since missymar drew attention to the fact that it was you who I was referring to, I will state that I am surprised that you don't find it a big deal. You never know who of the uninvited guests will decide that they want a small parting gift after all.

A few things I've learned from this thread:

Some people just don't get it and always find an excuse to justify inappropriate behavior.

Levels of respect and manners do appear to be regional. It's a pity...

Dixie and Charlie are not going to have a tea party together anytime soon. :)

I would never, ever go thru a home that had no trespassing signs or sneak thru a wall when there were actually doors on the home. Helll, even *I* ain't that classless. :)

Dixie - Yes, copper was stolen from my home but all the signs in the world and all the worrying about innocent onlookers are not going to stop that from happening. I have yet to meet a thief that thought "oh, look, a no trespassing sign, I better not go in there" BTW - how do you like your tea?

This thread has given be a lot to think about. It's a good thing this came up after we completed our forever house or I probably would have missed out on a lot of ideas that were inspired by my walk-thrus. whew!

Oh and buzz, what kind of spoon do you use when stirring that pot. ;P

Just as clearly, some people are incredibly rude (ref Allison's experience0, and some are dishonest.

Hopefully common sense and courtesy are not regional differences.

Having said all that, I was not upset when my neighbors confidced that they had visited our home during construction. (I would have been offended if they had taken pictures, or offered unsolicited opinions), and I'd have hit the roof if I found that teenagers were using it as a party site.

Now that we are building, i certainly would entertain anyone having an interest and wanting to check out our build as long as we are there.I wouldn't want anyone there with no one around not only for safety concerns, but for those who might be tempted with sticky fingers,(although that is unlikely in our area, it can happen anywhere).

We are building long distance and are thankful for our overzealous neighbors the next property over. If they spot a little dust flying around our build when we are away, they call us. It's usually subs that are helping out on our build, but we appreciate their enthusiasm and will definetely return the favor while they are away should my wife and i live long enough to see this build finished.

I would have to guess if the police are called it would depend on where the sheriff is in the county as to how long the response time would be. At least 15 minutes easy. There is some times one on duty sometimes 3, you never know. Each lot in our subdivision is no less then 7 acres. Most are 14-20+ acre lots.

As far as it being a regional thing. I'm not sure on that. My neighbor who lives on the one side of us is a very sweet and kind lady. She lives the closet to us because she built right no her property line. I have spoken with her on many many occasions and we have gotten to know her well. I have told her I do not mind if she would like to take a peek at the house any time. She is a southern Texas women and she replied: "Oh goodness no! I would never think of going in your house or setting foot on your property with you not here". That is a neighbor I do not mind having! No John or Joe who ever drives by and sees a house going up and just wants to go and take a look, that is wrong. My house is not a show house for you to take a look around and see. You know where my daughters room is??? You know the lay out of the house?! How do I know this is just a innocent neighbor who is just curious. That might be over the top but I'm sorry. You are a stranger to me I will probably never see you that much since you live 6 miles down the road. Oh gosh I could just go on and beat it in the ground but there is no use. I now know you will never really be able to stop anyone unless you are there 24/7.

I guess I can understand how some feel that the house does not belong to you until you close. I guess you could say your house will not belong to you until you have it paid off also. We have already closed on our house and we just need to turn the loan over to a 30 year. We are having it custom built so it is not in a subdivision with 5 or so other houses in a row going up. I also have had a builder give me a list of homes he was building to tour them and see his work and how the floor plans were being laid out. I see no problem with that at all. Now if you have a house being built out in the sticks like ours, on property that we own, on a house that I have already invested over thousands of dollars on and I am responsible for every penny coming and going, I feel that I have every right to expect someone to respect the fact that I do not want them to trespass on our property.

I am off to check on the house! LOL! Ext. paint should be done today :-)

Have you posted some recent progress pics? I can't find them if you did.

So kats- I never called your neighbors classless. In fact, your response is a perfect example of the distinction that I explained above. By your own original posting, you stated that you developed a relationship with your neighbors. By doing so, you formed an implied consent that allowed them to enter upon your property. These same neighbors who did have permission to enter upon your property did so to remove others WHO DID NOT have permission to enter upon your property. What differentiates the 35 snow bunnies from your neighbors? Permission to enter your property! And, the fact that they were potentially harming your land/house and could get hurt! These were exactly the points that I have made on this topic.
Really, this is a black and white issue. I don't understand why it is being painted in shades of gray. There is no one on this forum who is a mind reader. Just because you wouldn't mind someone wandering around your half-built home, does not mean that someone else would want you in theirs. And, at the end of the day, it is not what you want to do, or what you think is okay to do, that matters in this case, it is what the property owner/home owner in question would want you to do.

By the way, we still have people coming up the drive to take a look around.

BTW..... what time did you-all say tea was?

:)

People are building houses all around me and there is one house in particular I would love to go in and see, but I feel "funny" and feel like I would be intruding to even ask if I could look around. That's just me.'

When we have people stop by and compliment us on our house, we always invite them in. We are friendly people and we're very proud of the house we designed. We like to have people compliment us on our house. We had 2 people ask if we minded if they built the same house. I told them heck no, knock yourself out. It's a house so what's the big deal if someone else builds a house like mine. It's not like it's next door. I find that quite a compliment.

Since he liked the floor plan, he could have contacted the architect and worked with him. Either he was too cheap or wanted to take the easy way out. I've seen this topic discussed on the forum before and everyone will have their own opinion - just like tv's over the fireplace. ;)

Rachelh, I would not be comfortable being given a box code to someone else's home unless the owner gave it to me. I would have made other arrangements to meet the carpenter.

Or Ikea for that matter?

;-)

(Backing away from the keyboard.....)

:-p

In the end at least if we can all have a sense of humor about it, we're doin' allright.

Now I am dealing with ROACHES in this rent house we are staying in!!!!!!!! I just saw one that was so big he could have taken my head off.....YUK! YUK! YUK! I just called DH and told him buy BUG SPRAY!!!!!!!!!!!! YUK! EEEWWWWW YUK! I would rather have scorpions then roaches. YUK! He was under the toilet seat...oh YUK! DD just said she is not sleeping until we find him! LOL! This is the 5 one I have seen in the last 5 months of living here. We thought we got rid of them after we moved in.....my skin is crawling....YUK!

Did the man who wanted to build your house come right out and ask you for your plans? I would be a bit turned off by someone that pushy myself.

Getting back to the topic at hand, just because it isn't finished doesn't mean it's not private property and entitled to all the common courtesy that a completed home would have.

Stumpy

Allison and klntx, that is quite rude of them. I haven't had anyone ask for a copy of my plans, only that they would like to "copy" the roof and porch design which like I said, they can take a photo and copy the design if they'd like. I gave them the name of my architect and told them he could design them anything they wanted just give him an "idea" and some sketches of what they want and he'll go from there.

Our architect was so good that he had it right on the very first drawing and only had to go back to tweek some minor things. I guess I got real lucky finding his talent and at such a good price.

I have done it myself. Designers, contractors, everyone in the industry does it, and has told us that we can. I know legally it is trespassing, but in real life people just do it.

We are building a $2 million dollar (not counting $1 million on the land) home and Im sure it will happen there. I won't care i guess. it is very helpful to people in our shoes, and I will understand it when others are doing it.

Now, if someone is JUST looking for the heck of it, and not building anything on their own (i know its not possible to really know) i guess that would bother me more.

We are building a large home. If someone was walking through uninvited they would first deal with our dog who lives there full time (partly for this reason) and then they would deal with me, then police. It undoes me to think the homeowner is wrong or "snarky" just because they ask for common courtesy. It is the intruder who should be apologizing not the other way around.

After going through the whole process I would never walk through someones home unless there was an open house sign or I was invited. We live way out in the country too, so I can't imagine how many people would have been walking through if we lived closer in :-) So far I have been insulted (a lady told me she did not like the color on our walls) and scared to death by our intruders! LOL!

The thing that got my goat was the man who kept coming back and telling not only my subs but me he was "going to build this house." WTH? He even called my GC and asked him to SELL his set of plans after construction was finished. When GC told him no, he actually called my DH. This was AFTER I asked him to leave the property and not come back after finding him in my great room for the 3rd time. Aarggh! I'm getting mad all over again!

Hey, how about a guest book?

jodied, we are in a gated community. That does not always guarantee you no lookers or workmen that are interested when out here on another job.

We plan on putting in a gate and fencing in the whole place. Baby steps! LOL! I guess our garden was more important. LOL! No we have been trying to rake up a lot of the rocks and get the out of the yard. DH has a tractor (piece of *bleep*)but every time you give it power it dies! :-) It is of NO help. I am amazed at the dirt we have though. I thought we were just one big rock mess but once you get them up the dirt is wonderful!!! OH NO, the cat just "fell" in the tub.....there is laughter and screaming at the same time....got to run!

I've scanned through the posts and it seems that this particular topic is a lot like religion or politics. Some people have a strong opinion on this subject, others don't.

My personal take is that the property is a construction site. Unless there are doors with locks, I see no difference between a curious neighbor and one of the hundred+ subs walking around the site through the course of the build. The caveat, of corse, is that no one gets hurt and nothing gets stolen or damaged.

In short, on my build I'll take steps to disuade trespassers (mostly for safety reasons), but I won't get bent out of shape if someone is just browsing the new construction.

At least that is my current opinion. Maybe that will change when I'm a few months into my build and I run into some of those terribly unreasonable people that some of you had to suffer through.

But then again this is just another persons opinion but I have to say going through the building process, if we were to do it again. I would put up a fence with a gate and only the subs would know the code. I don't mean to sound unneighborly at all, matter of fact we have been to a few functions and found most of neighbors to very nice BUT...I asked the guy we snooped all around our house and gave us unwanted advice if we could come by and look at his place and he said NO!!!!!!!!!! LOL! If you can believe that!

As bad as trespassing is, I think the people who've tried to get your house plans and that give unsolicited (and rude) comments about your choice of finishes are bad neighbors. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. And if this happens to us, we won't be inviting them to the big parties we like to throw.

Our last home was a tract/semi custom builder, tract homes with lots of options on changing the floorplan and adding things. We were the first built of a particular house plan. We put in a coffered ceiling and completely re-designed the kitchen layout among other things. Well, those "custom" "options" became the norm as everybody building that plan added them because they saw ours being built. One couple even got the coffer for free because the workers thought it was the standard. LOL. We were a little put off at first, but then I remembered that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and invited people to see just how great a job we did choosing options for our house.

That being said, no one is allowed to build our custom home plan (according to our purchase agreement with the architect, they can't sell it and we can't build another without their permission and a fee). I know everyone who's seen a copy of the plans and I check to make sure it's not being built somewhere else.

Since our home construction is totally DIY, we don't have subs coming and going. The gate has been one of our best purchases and has kept lookie-lous off the property for almost 3 years. Not one idea or piece of property stolen! You don't have to do anything fancy either....a farm gate with a heavy duty lock will work just fine. :)
If you want to avoid headache's and aggravation, I highly recommend gating your drive.

kellilou3, I have experienced exactly what you are describing at my current home - we bought a very old home in a very old neighborhood and did a total renovation. As we were bricking the exterior I never saw so many brake lights! lol
People were making all sorts of excuses to drive or walk past, some even wandering into our yard. After a while I really got tired of being in the "spotlight" or having to deal with random strangers standing in my garden. I understand that it's the most exciting thing going on in the 'hood, but it doesn't give folks the right to trespass. Hopefully you won't have to deal with that.
Best of luck to you with your new home!

Dawn

No one ever thinks something like that will happen to them, but it does happen. At least in her case someone eventually remembered that she was going to be looking at some houses, but if she was just being curious no one would have looked there and it would have been Monday before she was found. That could have been too late.

My DH is building our home and he has to keep the front doors closed because people will walk up on him when he's in the back of the house. He's hard of hearing so it's kind of chilling for him to have strangers approach like that. He can leave the back doors open because we don't yet have stairs back there and they'd have a big jump to get onto the porch. People are too cheeky and rude for my taste. LOL

thepond, that subject has come up before and I'm trying to remember some of the excellent answers some people had for the nosey folks. I believe one person said they just respond, I really don't like discussing this so can we change the subject or something to that affect. Another person answered, I'll tell you how much I paid, if you tell me how much you paid, first.

When people ask how much our cost we can genuinely tell them we don't know. We have kept such bad records, we only have a rough idea. It's taken us 6 years. At some point in time I think DH didn't want to know.

I don't mind telling people how big the house is, that's no big deal to me. It's not a large house (1900 sq. ft.), but it appears much larger because of the wrap around porches and it being raised off the ground.

If you want some more discussion on this go ahead and start a new thread. I'm sure you'll get lots of great feed back.

I will say though it has taken me a year to "get over" the open door policy the subs etc seem to have with a build. This was especially annoying right as we moved in. We had several things that needed tweaked during the first months. One day I was working at the computer and I hear the back door open- NO KNOCK. It's the security company people (of all folks!) to repair something. That about set me off. Our general also was a bit that way at the end. I came home from an errand one day and he was in our basement. Granted he was picking up a shop vac he had left behind but he hadn't been there in over a month and I thought it was rude to walk right in. So glad that is over.

I work a lot and historically when I am home, I do not want to be bothered. I even resent the UPS man coming down the lane when I am home alone etc. I really didn't realize how stressful the continual flow of known and unknown was until it was over. It's taken a year to feel like I have my haven back.

Good luck!

Amy

Unless you have fences and no trespassing signs up to give notice it is very unlikely they have broken any law.

If it bothers you, pay for a temporary fence around the site.
It is done all the time.
10 foot wide by 6 foot tall fence panels with concrete weights to hold them upright are joined together to surround the site.

Our house site is rather prominently placed in the neighborhood so it gets a lot of attention.

I drove to the neighbor's house to talk to him. He stated what nice sunsets I get from my inside balcony/loft. I had never met this man before.

That creeped me out as there is no way he could have known I had an indoor balcony/loft unless he had been through my house as it was being built.

Our new house will be built in a much more secluded location. I'm worried about trespassers and also theft. I'm somewhat comforted that a State Patrol officer will be living next door, but it is a heavily wooded area so he couldn't see much from his house.

A contractor (not one they hired) walked in on the wife one day as he was looking for the GC to offer his services to install the driveway.