Money Moral Dilemma: Should I give my neighbour the cash I made from selling their railings?

Eccentrica_Gallumbits

I think you've done your neighbours a favour and they're happy you've done the work involved for them. When you listed the railings, you didn't expect them to fetch anything to speak of, and unexpectedly got a little windfall. I don't think there's any need to feel obligated to share that windfall with them, although if it makes you feel better about your unexpected good fortune following on from your good neighbourliness, then of course you could.

If I were in your shoes, though, I might make a proportion of the windfall into a donation to a charity I support, but I wouldn't feel conflicted about it if I felt I could use the money well myself. It is most likely a fair reflection of the time and effort you put in and you didn't enter into the service for your neighbour so that you could make profit out of it. You sound like a decent neighbour to have, so enjoy the unexpected bonus!

john_evmk

I would tell the neighbour what you did and offer them all the money that you got from the railings. £100 might be a lot of money to the neighbour so they might be grateful to have it. They might also give you some of it or ask you to keep it all.

You did offer to demolish the wall without expecting to be paid. You did it as a favour. Offering them all the money is more likely than not going to really add to your relationship with your neighbour - and, most importantly, you won't have on your mind the dilemma that resulted in you posting this in the first place. 

Most importantly, what a wonderful and kind neighbour you are - we need more people in the world like you who selflessly help others without expecting payment or reward. Well done you.

iclayt

I don't think I'd be able to have a conversation with them ever again without thinking "a hundred quid, a hundred quid, a hundred quid..." the whole time. He asked you to dispose of the railings, not sell them for him. This is a bonus bit of cash neither of you were expecting, so split it and enjoy it guilt free. 

MarkyMark1064

In a word, no.

amandamac59

If you are on good terms with your neighbour you could do as others have said & go 50/50 or take them out for a nice meal, you are quids in anyway as the railings cost you nothing 

Pollycat

Isin2000 said:

Presumably you are on quite good terms or you wouldn't have offered to demolish the wall. Why not put the £100 towards a meal for all at your local pub

The originator of this MMD didn't offer.
They were asked to do it.

Ed_Addis

No, your neighbour effectively gave you the rights to the remains of the wall, unless they specifically retained them for themselves by agreement, so you're entitled to do what you want with them.  You might like to tell them though out of courtesy.

Shell1989

Keep the money, you spent time and effort to do them this favour, you listed the items for sale in order to get rid of them, you saved your neighbours a lot of time and energy from doing the task themselves. £100 is quite frankly just a token for the job you’ve done. Treat yourself with it! 

Gaberdeen

In the grand scheme of things, £100 is not a lot of money - the goodwill of offering the proceeds of it on the otherhand could arguably be worth far more, especially if you find yourself needing a favour yourself in future.

Speaking from my own POV if a friend / neighbour had offered to do what you did, then revealed that they'd made money in the process and offered it back to me, I'd never in a million years accept it - but I'd be very moved by the gesture.

Just a thought.

Isin2000

Pollycat said:

Isin2000 said:

Presumably you are on quite good terms or you wouldn't have offered to demolish the wall. Why not put the £100 towards a meal for all at your local pub

The originator of this MMD didn't offer.
They were asked to do it.

Offered / asked - semantics - my point was that as the originator voluntarily undertook the demolition it points to a friendly relationship between neighbours. If so I  suspect both parties value and would want to maintain this