I hate my HOA!!! - Long Vent

[marlasmom]

I've never seen a clothesline so it's never been an issue. I'm just grateful to have an excuse not to hang clothes outside. But if I did, it would be out of sight. No need for people to see this fat old lady's granny panties.

The point I am trying to make is that someone has to collect the $ to pay the electric bill and the gardner. We are pretty laid back on everything. I have had complaints about someone's party going far into the night and someone's kid getting picked on or a dog running loose. I can't do anything about these things - nor would I want to. I can only suggest that someone call the police if necessary.

 

[disneymom3]

I would much rather live in a neighborhood with a purple house and a few unmowed lawns than live somewhere where I have to call up a bunch of busybodies and ask them what color I can paint my house - or ask them for permission to put a deck on my house - or get nagged about having my driveway door open.

My house, my castle.

HECK--in ours you have to get permission to plant a stnking tree!! Or a not stinky tree! Need approval for any and all changes to the outside of your house. I am so glad we got our roof changed to a different color before these stupid rules went into effect. The guy up the street got a citation for having his boat--very nice, licensed boat on a trailor--sitting in his driveway for more than 72 hours. In the summer. In MN. HOW does that guys boat effect my property value I ask you?? I HATE our HOA and will never move to one again. I will make sure that the city I move to has appropriate rules. For instance, you cannot have unlicensed cars or cars that don't run sitting in your driveway. That to me works as a city law. Well, our HOA says you can't have a vehicle of any kind, or a dumpster or anything else sitting in the driveway for more than 72 hrs. Ever finished a basement? Gotten a new roof? Did you get it done from dumpster delivery to pick up within 72 hours? We sure haven't!

 

[babytrees]

Coming from first hand experience with this -- make sure your board is very diligent about knowing everything the management company is doing!! Our first board (the HOA was just turned over to the residents in the past year or so) trusted the management company too much, IMO, and as a result, it took a fraud investigation by the FBI to uncover the amount of funds (hundreds of thousands from our community alone) that was missing.

We read through the minutes of the past years (what few there were) and could tell that the management company stunk(9 houses so far behind in fees that it's half the budget missing) nothing getting done...I mean nothing!! I was thrilled when our neighbor said there was a new one coming on board and they interviewed others before choosing this one. One of us will be going to all of the association meetings....PTO is done for us now(no more elementary school kiddos)....gotta fill my time somehow.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Ok, so today I decided to finish clearing out a very overgrown rose bush that is around 8 feet tall. While I'm clearing, a gentleman comes up and starts in on how the yard is overgrown. I just stopped, handed him a shovel and said, "Well I'll get it done a lot quicker with some help." He just stood there and gawked. I continued my work and he just walked away.

This whole thing with the HOA really just boils down to a bunch of grumpy elderly people who don't like change. The only people in this community who get any complaints against them are the younger set. The HOA here has no teeth and they know it.

 

[RitaZ.]

Ok, so today I decided to finish clearing out a very overgrown rose bush that is around 8 feet tall. While I'm clearing, a gentleman comes up and starts in on how the yard is overgrown. I just stopped, handed him a shovel and said, "Well I'll get it done a lot quicker with some help." He just stood there and gawked. I continued my work and he just walked away.

Classic!!!!

One of the problems with 55 and over communities is that some residents simply have too much time on their hands. Some people are quick to point out the problems, but they are never part of the solution.

 

[C.Ann]

Many towns have ordinances that cover most of the problems that have been brought to light here - without the "beat people over the head" mentality that many HOA's have..

I would have to be desperate to live in a certain area if the only way I could live there was to buy into an HOA neighborhood..

 

[ChristmasElf]

Another pathetic thing about HOA's in Florida at least. Here if we don't pay our dues every quarter, they can place a lien on your house.
We have never had an issue, as I like my sofa inside the house, my landscaper does all the mowing and edging.

But, I will tell you that at any given time there are several cars and SUVs in the driveway-all black-maybe they think the Soprano's live here and they are outside overnight as well when we are here.
And when I get tired of the color my house is and want to change it, I will be darned if I am going to ask anyone's permission. Too bad, so sad.

(of course, I won't paint it a crayola color either-that's all they should worry about)

 

[KariC]

Ok, so today I decided to finish clearing out a very overgrown rose bush that is around 8 feet tall. While I'm clearing, a gentleman comes up and starts in on how the yard is overgrown. I just stopped, handed him a shovel and said, "Well I'll get it done a lot quicker with some help." He just stood there and gawked. I continued my work and he just walked away.

This whole thing with the HOA really just boils down to a bunch of grumpy elderly people who don't like change. The only people in this community who get any complaints against them are the younger set. The HOA here has no teeth and they know it.

Are you making comments about the elderly????? Are you discriminating against them because they might have to wear dentures????



(sorry, couldn't resist!)

 

[Cass]

We used to live in a neighbourhood where there were some houses with gnomes all over the yards, or Christmas decorarations left up all year (ie) a bent over santa and his reindeer. That's one thing I hate - christmas lights up in the middle of summer because people are too lazy to take them down.

Anyway, we live in a gated community now with some sensible rules that are designed to make the houses nice and presentable fromthe street, but if you want 100 gnomes in your backyard, knock yourself out.

Every year there is a colour theme for flowers (ie) pink & white, or red etc...you can have other colours too, but they ask that they predominantly the theme colours.

I think our little community looks smashing and no bent over Santa butts in July!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Ok, so today I decided to finish clearing out a very overgrown rose bush that is around 8 feet tall. While I'm clearing, a gentleman comes up and starts in on how the yard is overgrown. I just stopped, handed him a shovel and said, "Well I'll get it done a lot quicker with some help." He just stood there and gawked. I continued my work and he just walked away.

This whole thing with the HOA really just boils down to a bunch of grumpy elderly people who don't like change. The only people in this community who get any complaints against them are the younger set. The HOA here has no teeth and they know it.

Thanks for giving me the best laugh of the day!

 

[mickeysgal]

HECK--in ours you have to get permission to plant a stnking tree!! Or a not stinky tree! Need approval for any and all changes to the outside of your house. I am so glad we got our roof changed to a different color before these stupid rules went into effect. The guy up the street got a citation for having his boat--very nice, licensed boat on a trailor--sitting in his driveway for more than 72 hours. In the summer. In MN. HOW does that guys boat effect my property value I ask you??

Not picking on you disneymom3, just sort of using this post as a example.

I guess I don't mind having to get approval to change the outside of my house only because I know that the HOA covenants are so broad in my neighborhood that they're only trying to prevent the extremes.

I know many have said that no one will tell them what to do with their house, but really, when you have the polka-dotted house with the mural on the garage with lawn thats covered in statues and a sea of weeds, well, then maybe, just maybe you'd want some restrictions. Unless you're the owner of that house, you, as a neighbor may find that looking at such an eyesore may be hard to live with for years on end. Again, its the extremes that I think many HOAs are trying to prevent.

If a HOA says they have to approve all color changes to the house, then before buying into that community, simply read further to see what colors are approved. If any color is allowed, except polka-dots, stripes, or neon colors, well, then thats reasonable and I don't feel my liberties are threatened. If the rules say that no one can have the same color within a five mile radius, well, then thats restrictive and maybe not the best choice of housing location.

HOA can work when the rules that are in place are reasonable. Otherwise, I can see what others have said - that they can become a nightmare to live with.

In our case, the developer created the covenants and the HOA simply holds to them. They don't get together and create new rules based on their personal whims and/or time on their hands. In fact, they just did a survey on the garbage collection in the neighborhood (whether to standardize to one supplier), and they ultimately rejected it because it wasn't originally specified by the developer's original covenants.

To answer the boat question, people just don't see things like boats, RVs, trailors, etc. sitting in the driveway, often blocking the sidewalk as a neat and clean appearance to a neighborhood. They're often viewed as too big, an eyesore, and clutter. (When I was growing up, we had a horse trailer in our driveway and although I didn't see nothing wrong with it, our neighbors sure did!)

 

[RitaZ.]

Another pathetic thing about HOA's in Florida at least. Here if we don't pay our dues every quarter, they can place a lien on your house.

Our friends had a lien placed on their house by their HOA. Why? Because they refused to pay for the "special assessment" to cover the costs of a new and more attractive sign/plaque for the community's entrance. There was nothing wrong with the sign that the builder had installed and it wasn't even a year old. For the record, they don't live in a gated community, but the HOA felt that the community's entry sign wasn't good enough.

 

[chyam]

personally I've always found that whenever you are going to take the position that anybody who disagrees with you or has an alternate viewpoint must be irrational, uninformed, out to get you, not know what they are talking about, or just plain stupid

.....

well then "good discussions" are going to be hard to find.

Back to the OP - you have my sympathy. We have a 30 year old house ourselves and sometimes the yardwork, rehab and maintenance can just overwhelm. Sometimes, things just have to get a little messy before they will look better. I'm glad I don't have to deal with a HOA.

Very well said......and I do agree with you, sometimes people have just so much time in a day to WORK, and try to get things done with a house and yard, and are PEOPLE who cannot AFFORD to pay someone to do it for them, or live in a BRAND new home. Most people I find do the BEST they can with what resources they have, YES there are some who let there houses go to heck, but all it takes is a call to code enforcement and a fine and usually the problem is taken care of........I would never live in a community with an HOA, heaven forbid that my undies hanging on MY clothesline would affend someone! Or that my 7cats would escape the house one day to walk all over my neighbors car!.
Some people love to live the elitiest lifestyle so if that is how they chose to live then let live, but also let the rest of us chose what plants and amenities we want to have in our yards and homes.

 

[MushyMushy]

We used to live in a neighbourhood where there were some houses with gnomes all over the yards, or Christmas decorarations left up all year (ie) a bent over santa and his reindeer. That's one thing I hate - christmas lights up in the middle of summer because people are too lazy to take them down.

Anyway, we live in a gated community now with some sensible rules that are designed to make the houses nice and presentable fromthe street, but if you want 100 gnomes in your backyard, knock yourself out.

I know many have said that no one will tell them what to do with their house, but really, when you have the polka-dotted house with the mural on the garage with lawn thats covered in statues and a sea of weeds, well, then maybe, just maybe you'd want some restrictions. Unless you're the owner of that house, you, as a neighbor may find that looking at such an eyesore may be hard to live with for years on end. Again, its the extremes that I think many HOAs are trying to prevent.

Maybe it's just me, but that kind of thing really doesn't bother me in the least. While we are extremely reserved and don't go for wild colors or extensive decorations, I think properties like that have a lot of character and I love seeing them.

But then, as far as I know, my town doesn't have a single HOA, and all the neighborhoods are very eclectic.

 

[mickeysgal]

But then, as far as I know, my town doesn't have a single HOA, and all the neighborhoods are very eclectic.

You know, thats a good point. Maybe when an area doesn't have them for the most part, the one or two that do may stick out like a sore thumb and folks may not be used to living with covenants and the very thought in general may not strike a positve chord. In the area we came from, they were virtually unheard of. Where we live now, they are so common, its hard to find a neighborhood that isn't part of one.

 

[katerkat]

Honestly, I will probably lean toward an area with a HOA when we finally buy a house. After living on a military base for three years (plus 15 months on base in Mississippi), I'm used to following the rules - and I happen to like the look of the neighborhood where there are rules. We looked at a house in town that was gorgeous - and the next door neighbor had a skunk for a pet.

Yes, all our houses look the same (literally, there's two floorplans, the duplex or the single.) Yes, the Yard Nazi comes around on his golf cart in the summer and even writes up the houses where no one lives. ( ) But really, most of the rules aren't that hard to follow - obviously, since we don't own, we don't paint and such, but we have to keep the yard in good shape and can't park boats and RVs longer than 24 hours. And the base looks nice. (You know, if you ignore the fact that all the houses were built in the 50s and never upgraded and all painted a boring beige.)

 

[annegal]

Frankly I don't want the type of people who would paint their house purple living next to me.

Anne

I find this statement rather amusing from someone who has pink hair and spends her nights listening to young punk rockers half her age...thought you were more "with it"

 

[ducklite]

I find this statement rather amusing from someone who has pink hair and spends her nights listening to young punk rockers half her age...thought you were more "with it"

I'm not sure what the type of music I listen to has to do with my desire to reside in a neighborhood that has homes that are well maintained and "fit in" in order to keep the property values up. I guess by your way of thinking the several heavily pierced and tattooed rockers who live in the most expensive neighborhood in the Orlando area (Belle Isle) should move because they don't have the right look to live there.?

And for the record, I have deep fuscia highlights in my hair, and I'm not into punk rock. In fact of the last three shows I've been to, one was Tom Jones and the other was Heart. Hardly "punk rockers half my age."

Anne

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Our HOA doesn't even allow our subdivision to have mailboxes in front of our houses! They think it is asking for vandalism and I think at one time I heard they were thought to look tacky?! Believe me, I want a mailbox. We've tried to get it changed and some of the old school neighbors won't budge on it. Puleeze. We have to go down the street to a bank of mailboxes to check our mail. It drives me crazy. We also have to get approval to paint our house. Must be a certain color, as must be the shingles and the door and garage door. I will say HOA's have their good points and their bad points. I just want a mailbox!!!

 

[mickeysgal]

I find this statement rather amusing from someone who has pink hair and spends her nights listening to young punk rockers half her age...thought you were more "with it"

A comment like this just need doesn't need to be made. We may not all agree with the concept of HOAs but we can play nice, can't we?