If you’re planning a major renovation, your neighbours can be your greatest ally or your biggest pain with regards to permits, by-laws, applications and so on. I know this from experience. My parents have two neighbours, directly across the street from them, who have been renovating their homes for years. Both are causing an equal amount of noise, eye-sore and general annoyance, but one has gotten away with a lot more than the other. 

Let me backtrack a bit. One neighbour, lets call him Mr. Smith has been slowly renovating his century home for years. He has attached home made scaffolding to the front of his house made out of old 2×4′s and left it there for years, had building supplies piled up on the street, had jackhammers and other noisy equipment going at all hours, had bulldozers and other equipment parked on the street, and so on. The other neighbour, Mr. Jones, has had a similar amount of work done, albeit in a slightly less offensive manner.

The biggest difference comes down to chocolate. Before Mr. Jones started his major renovation, he delivered a box of gourmet chocolates to each neighbour with a note explaining what would happen and hoping they would not be too bothered by it. Mr. Jones is consequently a hero, while Mr. Smith is detested. 

The real difference though, is that whenever Mr. Smith starts working on something new, the neighbourhood watch begins, and permits are checked, by-laws enforced and complaints are made. Mr. Jones has much more leeway with the neighbours, who wouldn’t even know if he’s pulled permits or following the approved plans. 

If you’re planning a major reno – chocolate can go a long way!

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