Totally agree—setting clear expectations upfront is key. Had a similar issue when my neighbor asked to use my side yard for equipment storage during his remodel. Thought it'd be a quick thing, but weeks turned into months... Learned the hard way that even friendly arrangements need clear timelines and limits. Glad you sorted yours out early; saves everyone stress in the long run.
Yeah, clear boundaries are definitely important. I'd also suggest getting something in writing—even just a quick email outlining the terms. Doesn't have to be formal or anything, but having something documented can save headaches later if memories get fuzzy. Had a neighbor borrow my driveway once for a weekend project, and suddenly it was two weeks with trucks blocking my car. A simple email would've made things clearer from the start... lesson learned.
Totally agree with documenting things, even informally. But I'm curious—have you talked about specifics yet? Like exactly how often they'll use it, what hours are okay, or if there'll be heavy equipment involved? Could make a huge difference in your day-to-day comfort. A friend of mine once agreed casually to let neighbors use her driveway, and next thing she knew, there was a cement mixer parked outside her kitchen window for days... not exactly the view she'd planned on having with her morning coffee.
Good point about specifics—I think it’s easy to underestimate how much those little details matter. Like, my neighbor asked once to use part of my yard temporarily for some landscaping stuff. It sounded fine at first, but then there was this huge pile of gravel sitting there for weeks, and it totally killed the grass underneath. Have you thought about things like potential property damage, or who’d be responsible for fixing any issues that pop up? Could save you a headache down the line...
Totally agree on the details thing—those little things can spiral faster than you'd think. Reminds me of when my neighbor borrowed my driveway last summer to get their camper out (tight squeeze on their side). Seemed harmless, but they ended up cracking a couple paving stones. Wasn't a huge deal, but replacing them came straight outta my pocket. Might be smart to at least casually bring up who covers repairs if something happens...could save you some awkward conversations later.
