Wednesday, 9 November 2011

The HOA and You

By Jethru Johnson


The Home Owners Association, you know it, you love it, you pay into it and you might even fear it. Some HOA's are almost purely symbolic while others would wield their authority with iron rod and everyone has heard a horror story or two about them. That being said, there a few things you can do to make sure you don't draw their attention.

Nothing says "fine me" like a bad lawn. Keep your lawn well mowed and at a consistent height. Weeds are a huge no, no. Also be sure to edge regularly and keeps things neat and tidy. After you edge be sure to sweep the dirt off the sidewalk. If you have any thin spots in the grass then sow some seeds or plant some sod. If it is the fall, rake all the leaves out of the yard. Make sure you water the lawn regularly to keep it green and healthy and throw in fertilizer as needed. All of this will go a long ways to keeping the peace. Need a home loan? Go to Fixed Home Loan for the best rates around.

Flower beds are another fun target. By way of extension, this naturally goes with the lawn, but keeping your flower beds neat is crucial. Flowers look great, but not everyone has a green thumb, so there are other options. One, is to fill it with rocks, lava rocks are cheap, but there are all types and the best part about rocks is they don't need watering. In the Southwest cactus gardens are a great way to go. Now is a great time for a Home Buyer Loans .

Exposure to extreme elements works horrors on your paint and trim. Keep an eye out for spots that have peeled off or blistered in the heat. You might have to do some sanding to make it look even. Yes, painting is a chore, but so are fines, so a touch up here and there is at least a good idea. You might want to look into aluminum siding if your temperatures are extreme.

Trees can get you into trouble as well. Low branches that overhang sidewalks need to be cut clear. Dead branches also need to be cut away since they look bad. Web worms are a huge eye soar and look like something out of a horror movie. Spray for web worms and insects that might be eating away your trees.

You might think that once inside your home, it's your domain and you are free. This is hardly the case as HOA's can very particular about interiors as well. Carpeting a garage is often frowned on. Others won't let you install outboard air conditioning units. Both of those measures are generally done to make you use your garage for its intended purpose and not for letting people live in it.

So there you go, a few basic ideas of how to stay in good standing with your neighbors. Basically try to fly under the raider and you will fine.




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