Need Tips on What to Watch Out for Regarding Construction near Our Property

Survey your property line and have it clearly marked so everyone knows and there is no question where your property starts.
Take lots of pictures from every angle (with the lines marked) to show the state of your property before anything changes - annotate with dates, states of bushes/trees, etc.
Post a 'No Trespassing' sign in clear view.
Check the marked line frequently - make sure posts/flags are not moved or altered.
If/when problems arise - take a picture immediately and document it.
I'm not sure if it's pushy, but talk to the builder/owner about their insurance coverages and claim procedures:
1) so you know
2) so they know and
3) they have an idea you WILL expect any damages that occur will be fixed/repaired and
4) knowing this will provide incentive to not damage in the first place.
Being well prepared is about the best you can do.
The survey will cost you, but the cost is well worth it in the long run.

Take pictures of your foundation before as They knock down the house check your foundation from shifting. Also the day of wrecking. Snap a picture if your yard. If stuff changes for your property call city permit or building dept and let themknow debris is coming into your space. Most Towns will be on it because at least here that sort of permit is about 40k.

My Dad was a construction Superintendent for a builder for 25+ years in Fairfax so I grew up visiting construction sites.

Since the houses are across the street from you, your issues will be different then if the houses are sharing your property.

1. Parking - there will be a lot of vehicles in and out of your street. Trucks may park in front of your house all day long. This is allowed. If you are expecting company, they may not be able to find parking in front of your house. Also, many large trucks may be coming in that will from time to time block the street and/or make parking on the street iffy.

2. Trash containers - there will be a trash container, or several either in the driveway or in the street directly infront of the property. This is allowed. This also effects the parking locations.

3. Noise - in my area of Manassas, work is allowed from 7a - 10p, M-F and 8a-10p on weekends. This can include music, power tools, shouting, hammering.

4. Timing - if these are flips, there probably will be work going on 7 days a week. If it is a person building a newer house for themselves, 6 days a week.

5. Run-off - there will be run-off. There will be mud. The contractor is responsible for controlling the runoff from blocking the street and the culverts. They usually do this by blocking the culverts with rocks and mesh. This causes more water and mud to stay in the street. Mud can be in the street but the street MUST be passable at all times.

6. Bathrooms - there WILL be a port-a-john on the property. Its required.

7. Water - to make sure that the workers don't borrow your water for things, turn off the water to your front / side spouts.

8. Debris - the contrator is responsible for keeping the street clean. If debris and runoff end up in your yard, they will need to clean it up for you.

I am pretty sure plastic sheeting is not required. The problem you are going to run into is you can't say there is going to be run off until there is run off. Then they have to fix any damage.

I know in my state just getting a building permit isn't the end. There are inspectors that go out at least weekly to make sure everything is up to code. So chances are very slim that a builder is violating anything.

Oh, one thing we had a problem with that is easily preventable is put a lock on your phone box. One of the workers was coming down to our house almost every day making phone calls to Russia. We didn't find out till we got our phone bill. The phone company refunded the charges. The builder did nothing because how can he know who did it. Really, you have that many Russians on your crew?
It is just codes and regulations don't address what ifs. It has to happen.

I don't know about what builders are required to do or whatnot, but we had a little bit of experience with new construction in our neighborhood, and some if it might be helpful to you:

Have backup for things that it is necessary NOT to lose power to. The year they finished our neighborhood, the power went down frequently - not for long periods, but just enough to be obnoxious. So you might want to use your phone as an alarm clock, and have a UPS for the computer, just in case.

Expect pests - get mouse and rat traps, and consider plastic storage for your pantry items and pet food. We had field mice when they were building the new construction - they were run out of the field, and moved into the neighboring houses instead. If the houses being torn down have been sitting vacant for a while, there is a decent chance that there are pests in them, too, and when the houses are torn down, they are going to go somewhere.

I realize that in the grand scheme of dealing with construction, these are fairly small things, but sometimes if you can deal with the little things, it makes the big problems easier to handle, too.

Good luck!

You can easily call the town hall and ask if a permit has been filed for the specific address. I used to live in North Arlington and we did this when the house next door to ours was torn down and didn't seem to have a permit. But it did... I guess we just didn't see it. Take lots of pictures so that if anything changes you have proof. If you have a hose or any equipment on the side of your house where the construction is being done, move it. I found our hose and step ladder borrowed several times. Other than that - the guys doing the construction next to my house were actually really nice. They knew that they were inconveniencing the entire street and they tried to park carefully, clean up after themselves, etc. I was pleasantly surprised. It's noisy and annoying at times, but at least the properties won't be vacant much longer. Hopefully you'll get some great neighbors out of the mess!

Hi, L.:

Go to both your Planning Department and Economic Development office and get the facts. Tell them your concerns.

Good luck.
D.

As it goes on, I would document any problems you see.... take photos, keep a written diary of noise, extended building times, things like that.

If they are leaving a lot of debris around that you feel is hazardous (or tempting to small kids), document that, also.

In other words, document, document, document... take pictures, especially if it starts infringing on your property.

Sounds like a mess. I'd check my tires pressure every day to make sure I didn't run over a nail. That'd suck to be stuck somewhere b/c of the bozos nextdoor flinging bad nails all over the place, therefore earning you a flat tire.

In our area one of the worst things that I see is sub-contractors parking their vehicles all over other neighbors' swales (which is basically their yard). I've seen people put down those sharp pointed rocks to prevent parking on their property.