Do your neighbours ever copy you?

[RedBlu]

We recently purchased our first home, its a new build on a new development so our house isn't unique and is nearby several other identical houses so we have done small things to make our house a bit different from the rest.

However, these small things are being copied by our neighbours within weeks and it is really starting to annoy me. I swear one in particular watches to see what we do, then rushes out to buy the exact same stuff.

For example, we painted out shed a bright colour, put bunting up, some decorative bits and pieces and it looks really nice. This particular neighbour copied us within weeks, painting their shed a slightly different tone but in the same colour, putting up bunting, etc.

They have also copied the plants we planted at the front and the topiary we have near our front door.

They have never introduced themselves to us, keep themselves to themselves but are seemingly "single white female-ing" our house.

Anyone else ever had this issue? I am considering seeing how far I can get them to go with the copying, may have to buy some really hideous lawn ornaments and see if they go for it?

[AngelinaCongleton]

pipbin

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Yes. we think our super dodgy neighbours use us as models of normality or something, having only lived on dysfunctional estates all their lives and suddenly finding themselves in a council house in a nice village...

The year they were first here, the day we first brought out our BBQ - they bought a new one the very next day. The day we brought out the kids' paddling pool - they bought their kids a new one the next day... we got a new car.... despite being unemployed, they somehow had a new car about two weeks later. The day my husband put our grey roof box on the car... they rushed out and bought a roof box, (which they promptly then removed and don't need so have never used once since). The latest one kind of proved to me they are trying to copy us, as it is weird. I was decorating the living room so put a reading lamp on the front windowsill, just to get it out of the way. The very next day... suddenly they have a lamp in the windowsill - never had one the whole time they've been here...

Sometimes I get out expensive things for the lolz just to break them or make them get into (more) debt. I'm evil that way.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

They won't be affording to copy my sheds any time soon. ;o) I had a big two storey playhouse for the kids costs the best part of £1000 (when I had more money than I have now) - that has pretty windows and window boxes. It's now a rabbit house! I also have a big shed with a verandah at the bottom of the garden - also cost hundreds. So far the shed envy remains unexpressed.

[Botanicbaby]

agree with fourtothedozen you need to get out a bit more OP, do some voluntary work or something that will take your mind off this terrible travesty.

Seriously, you are getting worked up about this enough to start a thread about it? oh dear.

[circleskirt]

My neighbour and good friend cloned my whole life and everything I did, it became very upsetting and I did actually have to move. She carried on from a distance, which was better.

It was flattering at first, but then became very disturbing when other people started making comments.

[lastuseraccount123]

wow, am quite riveted by this thread. I had no idea people actually did this. Thankyou again MN for showing me a whole new side to life

[Flingmoo]

Our neighbours started taking more care of their front gardens once we sorted ours out recently.

We bought the exact same car in same colour as our neighbour about 2 months after them, looks really twee as we basically share a driveway. We didn't really intend to copy them, it was just chance that we got a good deal on the car.

We bought the same slate house number as two of our neighbours as I liked the idea of them matching.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery and all that. I would be happy if my neighbours copied our front garden as it would mean we get to enjoy looking around at a neighbourhood which reflects our taste rather than some hideous ornaments or a scruffy mess.

[circleskirt]

I would feel silly buying the identical car to my neighbours and parking it on a shared driveway, I bet they had a moan in private.

[Oldraver]

When my next door neighbour moved in her some pointed and laughed at our front lawn....I doubt they would be copying US

Quite a few of the neighbours have gone in for white front doors, garage doors and beige stones replacing any green at the front. Probably worried my dandelions are catching

[echt]

OP, this is what you need:

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jul/10/the-michelangelo-next-door-david-statue-in-front-yard-divides-suburb

Oh, and I'm afraid the fecking hideous house is far from unusual in these parts.

[CruCru]

Hard to say though. Where I live (North London), it seems as though every other car is a silvery grey Golf (including mine). We have about six parked on the street. Did we copy each other? I don't think so.

[NKfell]

I also think cars are a funny one, I've just got a car recently and a neighbour already had one but, I hope doubt they think I was copying.

[60sname]

Strangely our neighbours don't seem to want an unkempt lawn and a prehistoric shed

[Timetodrive]

My friend is always complaining about being copied but it probably would not happen if she stayed away form the Next directory. She is not a style setter but a style follower, not that I say any of this I just nod whilst sat in her grey shaker kitchen which her SIL has supposedly copied.

[Apatite1]

Jumping on the bandwagon of a tired and ubiquitous trend is not copying you, but merely displaying a similar lack of imagination.

Pipbin: ROFL!!

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

OP, do some guerrilla planting of Pampas Grass in their garden. evil

-----
The first couple to move in visited them and told them they had decided it would look better if all the houses got white roller blinds with a tassel to match theirs, and they felt it would look best if residents stuck to blue or white planting in the front gardens.

I wonder if they tried to set up/organise a "Home Owners' Assoc.". as well?

[IreallyKNOWiamright]

yup we get a new door three people on same road get similar colour. Next door but one gets the same design and colour. And same windows. I was not bothered by the copying but I was bothered about her approaching my husband at work to talk about it when she sees me the same time every afternoon. So I put her in her place.

[FelicityMorange]

Yes! My bloody neighbours are always doing this kind of thing. We bought a new (second hand) car and within a week they had got an identical one but a year younger!

Creepy and sad.

[InToMyHeart]

So your neighbours saw something that looked nice and did the same? Can't really see the problem. Is it any different to using Pinterest?

[Skittlesss]

My neighbours copy off me. It really pisses me off that they try to be discreet about it - they copied off my house name but just changed it slightly so now we look so cosy together... I call my housr 7 Daisy Drive and now I saw the postman with their letters and the cheeky twats called their house 9 Daisy Drive!