There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a first home getting immediately tested by neighbors who apparently treat your backyard like reality TV.

One new homeowner found herself stepping outside only to be met, almost every single time, by one or both neighbors suddenly appearing with their dogs, staring in a way that felt more like surveillance than a friendly gesture.

The constant sense of being watched started chipping away at what should’ve been a relaxing new space, so she grew increasingly desperate for solutions.

Keep reading for the full story.

Backyard privacy from nosey neighbors

Any tips/recommendations for how to get privacy up in your backyard? And FAST? Anything that isn’t a fence, I’m fenced in on both sides with my neighbors’ fencing.

This new homeowner was excited about their new home — until it became clear the kind of people her neighbors were.

Just moved into my first home (obsessed).

But the neighbors are soooooo uncomfortably nosey! I swear they have a motion detector on my back door.

These neighbors don’t even try to be subtle about it.

EVERY single time I step outside, one or both of them is out there just staring at me with their noisy dogs.

I’m about to lose my mind over it.

Situations like these tend to get annoying fast.

Redditors take to the comment section to provide some insight.

There’s a pretty easy and inexpensive solution to this problem.

This commenter has a different idea.

This fellow homeowner shares their experience with an annoying neighbor.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about neighbors who complain about dandelions only to find themselves on the other end of a creative response.

It’s important to be strategic about these kinds of matters.

Wanting basic privacy in your own backyard isn’t an unreasonable ask, it’s honestly one of the simplest expectations that comes with owning a home.

Nobody signs up for homeownership expecting an audience every time they step outside, dogs barking included.

First homes are supposed to feel like a retreat, not a stage with recurring visitors who showed up uninvited.

Sometimes the real problem isn’t the lack of a fence, it’s neighbors who never learned the concept of minding their business.