My neighborhood has always been peaceful, and I had verbal agreements with my neighbors anytime I wanted to erect a fence. Things took a drastic turn when they moved, leaving me with a problematic neighbor that was eventually resolved by karma.

I felt safe and comfortable in my Maple Street house, especially in the backyard where I could relax after a long day. Not long after moving home, I decided to build a fence for privacy. Jim and Susan, my neighbors, and I decided to save money instead of hiring a surveyor. I shook hands, chose a spot close to the property line, and then I got to work building the fence. Jim and Susan were relieved that there would be no expenses.

A year ago, Jim and Susan sold their house and moved in with Kayla, a big-city realtor. She was always well-groomed and pleased of her new home, which made her stand out from the other residents. A land surveyor drew boundaries in the region six months later. The next day, Kayla showed up at my house with a bunch of paperwork, telling me that my fence had intruded nine inches onto her property. She urged that I move the fence or pay for the land.