Count your blessings because...

[Kirahfaye]

Here's one thing, though - you can discuss your case with a lawyer at no charge. Most attorneys will give a consultation for free. So if you have a Morgan and Morgan or an attorney's office you have some confidence in, it doesn't hurt to call and ask questions.

[DollyKim]

Lawyer wise we'll go with whomever the smashed fence neighbor uses if they do. Meanwhile Monday looks to have phone calls with insurance companies etc, the tree removal people, and the real life blog stuff I'm always stuck with.

Did I mention the impossibly small dog that joined our house? (before the tree fell) Because we have to make sure it doesn't get out or stepped on or wherever it was hiding for a few hours the other day because all our plot complications like to happen in the same chapter.




*Now taking bets if anyone wants to guess what two things that survived the wind storm were broken by the tree removal people. ~eye twitches~

[DollyKim]

And because you learn something new every day our neighbor suggested Facebook to find a car. Mom might get the Pontiac Aztek like she really wanted.

*Part of mom's logic in wanting an Aztek or another Rendezvous is because the parts are interchangeable and aside from literally just getting the brakes done there's things like the catalytic convertor and other odds and ends that are very good on the Buick. I don't know if it's worth thinking that way but with what happened yesterday I'm not getting into it.

The neighbor's Toyota isn't ready to be sold so that's out of the question, and we're leery because those get stolen around here a lot :/

And all this posting I've been doing might end up making our case against the damage the tree removal people caused.

[Kirahfaye]

You probably already know these things, but just a few suggestions. Be as careful about buying off of Facebook as Craig's List. Test drive it for at least 30 minutes and under your normal street conditions (like take it on the freeway if you do that often). Don't hand over any money without getting all the paperwork that comes with the car, including smog info, bill of sale and, or course, registration. If they claim they don't have registration, run away fast. If the name of the seller isn't the name of the owner on the registration, run away fast. Get contact info (verify their driver's license against what they give you) and feel free to call their cellphone with them standing there. If they are legit, they shouldn't balk at you verifying that. If you give a deposit, take photos of the car inside and out (including tires and engine) and make the seller sign a contract which included the amount of the deposit, any time limits on paying the balance, the mileage of the car - heck, the BIN number if you want - and under what circumstances the deposit must be refunded (like if the car stops working or is in an accident between making the deposit and final payment, the seller sells it to someone else or it is stolen, etc). Basically, think of anything that could go wrong with the transaction and protect yourself against it. Cars bought privately are usually not covered by Lemon Laws, so protect yourself.

I think I watch too many TV judge shows. LOL

[DollyKim]

Use to seat fill for Judge Judy and Joe Brown at the turn of the century.

Being our umpteenth used car been there, done that, had the axel bent by someone with a back up camera who hit it in just the right place. Everyone we've contacted has been asked if they could bring the car to us anyway. Going to investigate if putting it on the credit card will protect us any.

Also taking lots and lots of pictures. When the sun comes up we're gonna count how many beer cans and bottles the tree people left behind. And the neighbor is checking her security camera to see if she caught them denting our shed. But that's going to be another can of worms.

PS: If you have cable they know the exact second the line goes down, three days after the tree did, and even so the branch we have pictures of being held up by the cable wouldn't have done squat to the shed.

~screams externally~

[davidd]

Reading through all this makes me so happy that my nearest neighbors are a mile away... on the other side of a highway and a river!

And that there are no large trees near the house.

Pontiac Aztek? That, for some reason, makes me feel very happy! The appearance of the Aztek was generally ridiculed in the automotive and the general press, but they were solidly constructed vehicles mechanically, practical in their design, and, personally, I always thought they looked pretty cool! These days, a lot of manufacturers are tacking "rugged" plastic visual accessories on to their cars to make them look more adventurous, reaping praise for doing the same thing the Aztek was ridiculed for. I hope you can find a nice one. When you do, share pics, please!

(There's only one Aztek listed on eBay Motors at the moment, and it is located in Canada. )

[victoriavictrix]

If the Aztek is mechanically sound, this is a really good car. As a bonus, it's set up to use as a "hard tent" for camping. A full sized mattress will fit in the back, and there's a "tent" optional accessory that you can still get that turns the tailgate into a canvas tent with screen windows.

Most people think they're ugly. I like them.

[DollyKim]

We're finding Azteks but they're disappearing and with sales tax another Rendezvous will have to wait a few pay checks. Managed to get the list expanded to any 4 door from this century that falls under the mini van-station wagon-small SUV category in our price range. And if a decent offer is made for the Buick, because everything but the roof is good, to let it go.

It's at the contact everyone in our price range and see what happens stage. And we're kind of stuck with an in state car because of emission stuff.

[DollyKim]

Okay, the tree and property owner and us came to an agreement and some time next week a Rendezvous that's a year younger will be arriving at our house. We'll have our mechanic go thru it, tell us if we need any parts off the old one, then probably sell the old one for parts. Already had some interest in the old one before we knew we were getting the newer one.

Without going into more details by the end of this we should be whole if not having basically the same car with less miles which we will just be putting back on, lol.

And free pine tree trunk for anyone willing to come get it.

[Kirahfaye]

Good news, then! And you should be able to find a few tree companies willing to take the trunk for free. The wood can be used to lots of things, so they will make money back from it.