A potential lawsuit against my construction project is looming! What now?

You have had the property for 5 months now, have been thinking about litigation scenarios, and haven't exchanged a single word with a neighbor? What's going on there? Social skills often replace a lawyer, as many disputes can simply be avoided from the start.

It is truly sensible to get in touch with the neighbors before buying the property and to ask what you can do to become a good future neighbor. If someone reacts hostilely – don't buy the property. You may live in the most beautiful house, but life is hard if you have a toxic neighborhood.

You have had the property for 5 months now, are dealing with lawsuit scenarios, and haven’t exchanged a single word with a neighbor? What’s going on there? Social skills replace lawyers for many, because many disputes can simply be avoided from the start.

It really makes sense to introduce yourself to the neighbors and ask what you can do to be a good future neighbor even before buying the property. If someone reacts hostile – don’t buy the property. You can live in the most beautiful house, but it’s unpleasant if you have a toxic neighborhood.

Well, that sounds pretty good, but in my view it’s not the reality! Why should I as the owner, right from the start, to put it bluntly, apologize or even ask what the other person had done before, namely building? I would have certainly done that if there had been a reason to do so, just like with the immediate neighbor I met and had a nice small talk with. I definitely won’t be ringing doorbells throughout the neighborhood. Besides, you don’t expect such a scenario since you don’t even know it. So, with all due respect, I am certainly not a sourpuss, but I just don’t see it that way!

I don't understand the panic at all. Objections to a building application are a very routine process. You receive notification from the authority that a neighbor has raised objections and then have the option a) to come to an agreement with the neighbor or b) to adhere 100% to the development plan. "Lawsuit" is such an exaggerated and factually incorrect word for this process.

It really makes sense to get in touch with the neighbors before buying the property and ask what you can do to become a good future neighbor. If someone reacts hostile - don’t buy the property. Living in the most beautiful house is unpleasant if you have a toxic neighborhood.

In many areas, you can be glad to find any property at all. And I’m supposed to cancel because the neighbor doesn’t like my house, which I’m legally allowed to put there?

Why should I, as the owner, apologize or even beg right from the start, to put it bluntly, for what the person before did, namely built.

That's not the point at all. Either you have already gotten lost in the world of your assumptions or you don't understand much about social skills. It reminds me of Paul Watzlawick's story about the man and the hammer from the book "Instructions for Unhappiness" from 1983. The wonderful and short text is easy to find online.

In many areas, you can be glad to find any plot of land at all. And I'm supposed to cancel that because the neighbor doesn't like my house, which I am allowed to put there completely legally?

Thank you! That's exactly the case. Plots of land are very rare here and hardly affordable.