i heard back from the neighbor - they dropped off the note. i asked if they are still in touch with my mom, and she said 'she still calls, but we don't respond any more. just polite.' to which i replied 'makes sense to me.'
they just left a typed note saying what i asked them to say but didn't sign it. that'll make her paranoid! oy.
maybe it'll go really easily, no drama, just a simple transfer of a piano.