Free-market strategy

My heart aches to see such animosity between neighbors [“Oleruds’ appraisal says tree cuts value of house”, NWWednesday, Nov. 7]. Might the Oleruds and the Bakers consider a win-win compromise?

The Oleruds contend that their home value has been decreased by $255,000. Let’s put that in perspective. It sounds like a lot of money to me and probably to most of your readers. My home isn’t worth much more than this $255,000 difference. However, this huge amount represents not quite 6 percent of the Oleruds’ home value.

Why doesn’t John Olerud simply offer Bruce Baker $250,000 to cut down the tree and to preserve the open view? The Oleruds would still gain financially by increasing the market value of their home and the Bakers might just be enticed by an offer worth almost 25 percent of their own home’s value. Why not apply the free-market system here?

— Mare Sullivan, Kirkland