Aunt Clara: How to Retrieve Your Lawnmower Without Starting a Neighborhood War

A friendly fellow down the street asked to borrow my lawnmower last month and still hasn’t returned it. Now my own grass is getting ridiculously tall, and every time I walk over, he isn’t home or doesn’t answer the door. What is the best way to get my mower back without making things awkward between us?

— Tool-less in the Valley

Dear Tool-less in the Valley,

Oh dear, there is nothing quite like watching your front yard turn into a cozy habitat for local wildlife while your perfectly good lawnmower sits in someone else’s garage! Neighborly generosity is a wonderful thing, but it certainly loses its shine when your good deed leaves you up to your knees in tall grass.

It is entirely possible your neighbor simply lost track of time, or perhaps he feels embarrassed that he has kept it so long and is now awkwardly avoiding the situation. The secret to keeping things friendly is to take away the pressure of him having to bring it back, while giving him a polite, clear heads-up that you are coming to fetch your property.

A Friendly Note Does the Trick

Since knocking on the door hasn’t worked, it is time to leave a warm, old-fashioned note on his door. Keep the tone light and focused entirely on your own lawn’s urgent needs rather than his delay. You might write something like: “Hi neighbor! My grass is getting pretty wild, so I’m planning to mow this Saturday morning. I’ll swing by around 9:00 AM to roll the mower back home so you don’t have to worry about wheeling it over. Thanks!”

By doing this, you aren’t scolding him or putting him on the defensive. You are assuming good intentions and setting a specific time for retrieval. When Saturday morning arrives, walk over at the appointed time. If he answers, give a cheery thank you. If he doesn’t, and the mower is accessible, simply wheel it on home.

For the future, a handy rule of thumb is to lend tools with a built-in deadline: “You’re welcome to use it this afternoon, just bring it back by dinnertime!” That simple boundary keeps your equipment in your garage and keeps the peace on your street.

Warmly,

Aunt Clara