New neighbour AIBU?

What a horrendous woman.

Just say no sorry we’re busy but I’m sure you can post on the local Facebook group for a handyman!

Yes some people need to be stopped in their tracks. It's bizarre that she would ask with expectation that you'll agree.

I had a friend like this. She is no longer my friend.

My DH was requested to do some DIY which he did happily. Then again which was a bit of a suprise but we said ok then requested again. I said no and she went directly to him. He told me. I was not impressed at all and told her again no and to please not ask again.

Her dad and her brother did all the major jobs in the house.

Her neighbour put her garden patio down. His wife was visibly annoyed.

An older married man installed her bathroom and tried it on with her (her words). She rebuffed him as he's too old and she finds him highly unattractive. The fact we know his wife seems irrelevant. I have since become close with his wife. I've never said anything as I have very limited information but I hate that I know anything.

Do you get any of those local directory booklets? If you do they’ve usually got a handyman ad in. I’d drop one through the door with a note saying “Welcome to Arcadia Avenue! So sorry we can’t help with shed but found this and thought it might might be helpful; by the way bin day is Thursday” type thing?

My dh started helping a neighbour. He did her garden then laid her kitchen floor which she somehow managed to flood so he took it back up and relaid it. Me and the kids helped her too. She started coming to talk to him when he got home from work asking for little jobs to be done and he went straight over because they'd only be 5 or 10 minute things. I did tell him to come in to see me first as it really wasn't good that he went straight to hers. He looked at me like I'd got 2 heads because he just thought it was quicker to go do whatever instead of coming in and then going out again. He can be a bit thick.
Anyway things settled down and we asked if she could help us one Saturday morning for an hour and she said no. So he stopped helping and she told another neighbour that she'd had to stop him coming over as he was hitting on her. I told everybody what she'd done and told her she was absolutely out of order.
It's really not worth being helpful and it's a bit sad.

2 options

1. cheeky fucker
2. massively stuck and no one else to ask

The best way to deal with checky requests is to laugh like it's all a brilliant joke

"Hahaha, that's a good one! I don't even build my own shed! Who has time to build a shed?! Nice to meet you" big smile. Cheery wave, close the door

I would say 'sorry DIY is just not his thing. Would you like me to look on the local Facebook page for a local handyman'.

I would have thought it was too windy to put a shed up today.
If she asks again just give her a local handyman number and say we don’t do any diy thank you.

Wow what a CF. That really was a “no because I don’t want to” moment wasn’t it! I’m not sure I’d want to build my own shed let alone someone else’s!

Hard agree. The type of person to make this kind of huge request straight out of the gate is the type to make themselves the bane of your life from then on. People like this just aren't wired like the rest of us (ask me how I know). They see cooperation with their batshit requests as a green light. Best to erect very tall boundaries from the get-go.

Well if she's the kind of person to ask a total stranger to put up her shed, then she's the type of person who will ask someone she knows slightly better to paint her lounge! She might frame it as 'I need a hand' - and then leg it all day to leave him to do it alone.

CFs are going to CF. The only real response is 'no, sorry, can't' and if you're feeling kind, a copy of the local free paper that has phone numbers in of handymen.

Next time she asks for your husband to help her, tell her he has enough to do in your own home. Suggest if she doesn’t have family to help, she will need to hire a handy man. Do this every time she asks.

I agree with an above poster. It’s a really good thing you said no as this was unlikely to be a one off - she’s clearly a CF. If it’s a shed on the first day, she’ll probably be expecting him to paint the lounge next week or lay new carpets. Best to stop it before she even gets started- firm no every time till she gets the hint.

It's incredibly cheeky. It's not a five minute job and could easily take up half a weekend if it's not a straightforward build. I bet she doesn't even have the tools she needs.

CF
A flat no should do the trick and every time she ask it’s a no. You don’t need to elaborate. Some people you have to be blunt with.

Great idea to have the handyman number ready, these people make it hard to say no as you feel like you have to have an ‘excuse’! I am always getting caught out by CFs like that - there is good advice that ‘no that doesn’t really work for us’ is the best answer and don’t feel the need to say why because they can always work around it!

I had this when my neighbour moved in on her own, my husband being the soft get he is was going along with it, er nooo fuck off neighbour and pay someone to do your odd jobs or get your own fucking husband if you're not capable of of odd jobs. I kindly spelt this out to her😁to which she promptly did get her own, two in fact over the ten years she's been here, all good they have both been competent diyers it seems.
So no op yanbu to tell your neighbours to feck off, they'll forever take the piss if you don't.

You weren’t unreasonable to say no. But I will usually offer an alternative as I think it’s good to help people who genuinely need it if they are elderly, lone parents, disabled etc

Just avoid her as much as possible.
Bloody pest!
There's always one and this one's strange....

These people always catch you on the hop, don't they 😁
You absolutely did the right thing, cheeky buggers!!!

I'd say this is the opportunity to be very firm about not getting involved or they will constantly be CFs

I think you need to stamp this out straight away. If her first request is "build my shed" what on earth is she going to escalate it to in the future?!

I think you just have to say sorry, we can't help, but here's the number of a local handyman (and have it ready to thrust into her CF hand 😂)