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Answers (14)
Best Answer
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4694
One big issue to consider is what time the trash is picked up. It could happen in the middle of the night and wake you up every night. It is also possible that house is being renovated and the dumpster will soon be removed..
- Caveat Emptor
- Contributions:500
I'm going to say, no. it is highly unlikely that you can purchase your home and force the apartment behind yours to move their dumpster that is in some type of enclosure.
your remedies are
1) keep looking
2) build a privacy fence that comes within 1" of the ground, if you are really concerned, a steel plate used to control weeds can be installed to cover the gap or hedging could also be used(either of these methods will help with soil quality if strange liquids mix with rain water and run into your yard.) railroad ties are another option, but they don't extend beneath the soil. supplementing a fence with bamboo is a cheap way to go as well(in California)
3) build a "play area" within your yard that you feel creates an adequate buffer.
4) do something creative with the space like creating an outdoor theater or water feature if its more of an aesthetic qualm.
5) remember that when you go to sell, potential buyers may have the same concern.
your remedies are
1) keep looking
2) build a privacy fence that comes within 1" of the ground, if you are really concerned, a steel plate used to control weeds can be installed to cover the gap or hedging could also be used(either of these methods will help with soil quality if strange liquids mix with rain water and run into your yard.) railroad ties are another option, but they don't extend beneath the soil. supplementing a fence with bamboo is a cheap way to go as well(in California)
3) build a "play area" within your yard that you feel creates an adequate buffer.
4) do something creative with the space like creating an outdoor theater or water feature if its more of an aesthetic qualm.
5) remember that when you go to sell, potential buyers may have the same concern.
- nicktix
- Contributions:7
Its actually a driveway.Its being used by other residents in the complex.
And the dumpster does not look like not a temporary one. There is a trash enclosure constructed where this dumpster is present.
When we went there yesterday evening, there were two dumpsters one in green where trash was present and another for recycled stuff. Both are big, like the steel ones present in apartment complexes. There is a name of the waste management company, which we noted down.
Ofcourse now , after this I dont have energy to dig more into this. Kind of disappointed with this situation. But atleast we found out now, rather than after we put an offer.
And the dumpster does not look like not a temporary one. There is a trash enclosure constructed where this dumpster is present.
When we went there yesterday evening, there were two dumpsters one in green where trash was present and another for recycled stuff. Both are big, like the steel ones present in apartment complexes. There is a name of the waste management company, which we noted down.
Ofcourse now , after this I dont have energy to dig more into this. Kind of disappointed with this situation. But atleast we found out now, rather than after we put an offer.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
So, is it an alley, or a driveway? And is it temporary, or always there? And is it for the one unit, or shared by multiple units? And is it construction debris, or mixed waste? And what time is the regular weekly pick-up? And what other traffic takes that path? And was the bin "clean" or not? And are the lids steel or plastic? And how many other bins are in that alley or driveway that have to be emptied when the refuse truck comes?
- nicktix
- Contributions:7
Thank you folks. All your suggestions were true. It was indeed a dumpster and we are lucky to have checked before jumping in.
- Laura McKenna, "LauraMcKennaHomes"
- Contributions:27
I would find out who owns/manages the property with the dumpster, and have a friendly conversation to find out what the current and future status will be.
Also check with the respective town to see if the dumpster is allowed. Then base your decision on the information gathered. The dumpster is very likely a liability on the current and future sale of the home.
Also check with the respective town to see if the dumpster is allowed. Then base your decision on the information gathered. The dumpster is very likely a liability on the current and future sale of the home.
- nicktix
- Contributions:7
Thanks @Pasadenan . We are going there to check this out.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
By the way, is it a "driveway" between the back neighboring units, or is it an alley? In either case, it looks as if a trash truck is likely driving that path at least once a week to empty the bin, so you do want to know the schedule. And if a driveway, are the resident constantly driving that to get to their unit? And if an alley, what other city traffic uses the alley?
If it is a driveway, it appears very likely that the bin is shared between several different units. If that is the case, the noise level could be higher due to more people accessing the bin. And there could be more garbage in it.
Normally garbage is not a problem if:
1) properly bagged
2) the lids are kept shut.
(Rodents don't get in nor out of those bins if they are kept shut).
My concern for a 6 or 7 year old would be the possibility of "dumpster diving" for "treasures", and the possibility of getting hurt on sharp metal, or getting stuck. But that can be resolved with parental guidance.
If it is a driveway, it appears very likely that the bin is shared between several different units. If that is the case, the noise level could be higher due to more people accessing the bin. And there could be more garbage in it.
Normally garbage is not a problem if:
1) properly bagged
2) the lids are kept shut.
(Rodents don't get in nor out of those bins if they are kept shut).
My concern for a 6 or 7 year old would be the possibility of "dumpster diving" for "treasures", and the possibility of getting hurt on sharp metal, or getting stuck. But that can be resolved with parental guidance.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
One of my neighbors several blocks away has a trash bin contract with one of the refuse companies; possibly the city. It is because he is a contractor, and is often bringing back scrap building materials from the job-sites he works on.
The only way to know if it is temporary or not is to talk with the owner. The bins also usually have the refuse company name and telephone number on them, so you could contact the refuse company directly, but they probably cannot disclose too much information regarding other customer's records.
If it is for a present remodel project, you can check with the local building department to see if there is a permit on file, and if there is, what the approximate time frame of the construction is.
For it to smell, there would have to be something decaying. That usually wouldn't apply to building construction items. Hazardous wastes like paint, oil, and insecticides... could not legally be put in the trash anyway. Unless there was a large kitchen for serving multiple parties, it is doubtful that there would be a lot of "garbage", and thus is more likely "trash".
Still, you won't know until you check.
The only way to know if it is temporary or not is to talk with the owner. The bins also usually have the refuse company name and telephone number on them, so you could contact the refuse company directly, but they probably cannot disclose too much information regarding other customer's records.
If it is for a present remodel project, you can check with the local building department to see if there is a permit on file, and if there is, what the approximate time frame of the construction is.
For it to smell, there would have to be something decaying. That usually wouldn't apply to building construction items. Hazardous wastes like paint, oil, and insecticides... could not legally be put in the trash anyway. Unless there was a large kitchen for serving multiple parties, it is doubtful that there would be a lot of "garbage", and thus is more likely "trash".
Still, you won't know until you check.
- nicktix
- Contributions:7
Thank you all. We need to do more investigation. Its a dumpster for sure, but it looks like a recycled one. But also could be related to construction material.
There is a huge compound wall behind the town home. That driveway where dumpster belongs to another town home complex. We are more worried about the smell in the summer and rodents if any.
There is a huge compound wall behind the town home. That driveway where dumpster belongs to another town home complex. We are more worried about the smell in the summer and rodents if any.
- Hamp Yonce, "Zilluminati"
- Contributions:3463
Hope they don't come dump it, with a huge noisy truck at 4:40 AM, every Tuesday, like the one behind my house. There's probably absolutely nothing you can do about it being there, except buy a different home.
It looks like a temporary construction dumpster in the photo. Hard to tell for sure.
It looks like a temporary construction dumpster in the photo. Hard to tell for sure.
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26804
I would do more investigation. It is rare that a single family residence has a dumpster for long term, therefore, what would I check.
Is it still there? Perhaps they were doing construction, or moving and getting rid of junk.
Is it really a dumpster? Perhaps it is a playhouse or storage shed.
Is it a single family residence, or an apartment building?
What is it doing in the back yard? Is there pavement around back so cars and garbage trucks are driving around in the back? (This would offer noise also).
If the townhouse of interest has a solid fence, I wouldn't worry about it so much as of safety of your child (because if your child is scaling the fence anywhere, there are many safety hazards) but noise and perhaps smells on hot days.
Is it still there? Perhaps they were doing construction, or moving and getting rid of junk.
Is it really a dumpster? Perhaps it is a playhouse or storage shed.
Is it a single family residence, or an apartment building?
What is it doing in the back yard? Is there pavement around back so cars and garbage trucks are driving around in the back? (This would offer noise also).
If the townhouse of interest has a solid fence, I wouldn't worry about it so much as of safety of your child (because if your child is scaling the fence anywhere, there are many safety hazards) but noise and perhaps smells on hot days.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21453
I don't think the 2 year old is going to be climbing that fence nor that tree. But that doesn't mean it won't be an issue at age 6 or 7.
Personally, I don't know where you would expect them to move their trash bin, since the lots are so small. Where would your trash bin(s) go?
About the only thing you could do would be to discuss it with the neighbor to see if there might be a compromise that would work for both of you.
If not, it looks like you need to search for a property more suited to your needs and desires.
Personally, I don't know where you would expect them to move their trash bin, since the lots are so small. Where would your trash bin(s) go?
About the only thing you could do would be to discuss it with the neighbor to see if there might be a compromise that would work for both of you.
If not, it looks like you need to search for a property more suited to your needs and desires.
- nicktix
- Contributions:7
Attached is the photo of what I was mentioning.
Dumpster in the back of the house
We are considering purchasing our first home and have liked one town home. Everything is fine, except when we looked at the surroundings, we saw that there is a dumpster at the back of the house behind the compound wall, in the other community. Is there anyway we can get that removed? We are scared of the consequences of having a dumpster close to our compound wall, as we have a 2 yr old.
What should we do? Or we are overly concerned?
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you
First time buyer
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