My DH has agreed to something stupid or AIBU?

[OrangeTwirlGate]

Phone call from DH

DH: “Forgot to say, my friend rang and asked if he could advertise his new business in our front garden so I said yes. So he will be coming today to put the sign in”

Me: “WTF! Who? What business? Why didn’t you ask me???”

DH: “oh just - (insert name of someone I’ve never heard of) - and his joinery business. It will just be like the size of a for sale sign or something and he will knock it into the grass. Just for a few weeks or months maybe”

I am raging with him the utter knob. We live on a main route into the city so yes it would be a prime position but I’ve never even heard of his friend. And there is nothing in it for us.

So AIBU? WWYD?

sigh men

Yeah, I wouldn't be happy about this either. It's a really cheeky ask and having advertisements in your garden is so tacky.

Tell him to advertise on a local Facebook group for the area instead, he'll probably reach more people that way.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. I can see my front garden from my kitchen and it's pretty to look at whilst doing dishes. A joinery advert isn't pretty! Plus you will probably get some people knocking thinking it's your business.

That is what mates do for each other, and looking on the bright side, you might get some decent work done for free.

I could not be bothered to get upset about this. It's what friends do for each other.

Meh. Non issue.

Would you gladly have an advert stuck in your front garden for all to see?

Would I fuck. It would look a show. He can stick it in his own garden.

I am raging with him the utter knob

I would hate it. It would feel like an intrusion. Also good points about planning permission.

Not something I could care about in the slightest, let alone rage about.

If your DH agreed to do it then he must be friends with him. Why do you have to know the friend? is he not allowed to agree to anything without going through you. If it is the size of a for sale sign then it is no big deal minor enough not to involve a big discussion. Your reaction is totally over the top.

It wouldn't bother me at all. If it helps him get some new customers, then that's good. Unless it's a huge billboard which will block out the light and restrict your view (of the road presumably), I really wouldn't get my tits in a tangle about this.

I wouldn't want to advertise something without first knowing that it was reputable. I would hate for anyone to invest their money in something on the basis that I had advertised it and then find themselves screwed over with shoddy service or the like.

It’s not something I’d be jumping for joy at if I’m honest but would probably say it could stay for 3 weeks tops.

It wouldn’t make me rage though.

Don’t you only need planning permission for stuff over a certain size? There would be no sale boards otherwise. Huge over reaction, OP.

I wouldn't be thrilled either, for all the reasons PP have listed (not knowing if this man's business is one you can fairly be seen to endorse, not wanting people knocking on the door to ask about it - are you a SAHM? IE will it be you forever having to answer the door rather than your H?)
But I don't know that I would be furious. Does your H have form for this kind of thing, though? Does he like making big friendly gestures that actually make him look good while creating extra work and stress for you?

I'm surprised about the responses on this thread. Mumsnet seems to be full of people who think that washing in gardens is unsightly, as are vans and caravans parked in the street and yet the consensus seems to be that the OP is wrong to be bothered about this.

I wouldn't mind this for a couple of months, no longer, and I'd expect a little bit of freebie work done in the house by the friend in exchange, not least so that if anyone asks you can say he did some work for you that's satisfactory/good/excellent.

It's not like it was a sign for a escort service and if it helps the guy out then it seems like a good thing? I haven't looked at my front garden in the 10 years I've been in my house except when I pull on the drive so unless you use your front garden it seems your anger at your husband is uncalled for?

Alsohuman
Estate agents boards have an exemption. The rules usually 0.3sq m for planning.

You're not being unreasonable. I wouldn't want a pile of shite in my garden. Specially where EVERYONE YOU KNOW will see it and be like "OMFG, HOW CHAV, CAN'T VISIT HER ANY MORE"

When he gets here, tell him it's going in next doors garden. What does hubster think hes doing, make your house look common as muck. If there's ever a good case for LTB sure THIS IS IT?

Actually, you're being a snobby dick who should be proud that her other half is doing a really nice selfless act of sharing, helping a friend with his business and expecting nothing in return... You do know this is what friends do, don't you? Your poor husband.

This really isn’t worth getting excited about

Complete non issue, it's a nice thing to do for a mate, why does it matter if you don't know them. Just a nice thing to do, your DH sounds like a nice fella

I wouldn't care. If people started knocking on my door because of the sign, then I would care and want to remove it, but at this point I'd be totally not bothered. I'd think my DH was a nice friend.

@BarbaraofSeville could be just that it’s different people answering on this thread.

Honestly, some people’s blood pressure must be through the roof if this is the kind of shit you “rage” about. Why not just have a fucking adult discussion about it? I couldn’t be arsed with such levels of drama for something so trivial. I’m guessing most people are worried it might look common. As for @YetAnotherSpartacus, sounds like your husband’s balls are already firmly in your handbag! Does he have to ask permission for everything?

I’d be pissed off for the fact that these people might think the business is at your house and come knocking and I hate answering the door (well I don’t answer the door)