What is all the uproar about

If you read thru some of this stuff you get the impression that many people are just looking for a fight. HOA appear to be a place where that people with no life can try and get some. If someone is willing to work for your community for free, why would you want to make problems for that person. Some of the issues on here are over a couple hundred dollars. Why would get your blood pressure up over a couple hundred dollars?

Do you actually think that all these HOAs are strickly following the covenants and statutes? NO. They are muddling thru it. Why would you. You don't get paid anything.

Why not just be a group of homeowners who have a polite conversation. And what is the point of having a five person board and using parlimentary procedure? That one is real funny.

You know what is happening here. Property management companies and lawyers have got you all so scared that you walk all over one another trying to do the right thing. But what are the consequences? Do you really think someone is going to file a lawsuit on you because you failed to follow the rules exactly?

Take a deep breathe and put it all in pespective. It doesn't pay you anything and on a dime you can quit.

Paul - I'd certainly agree with you IF this were a golf league or the PTA. But we're talking about people's HOME here, and that's pretty serious stuff.

Well, what's minor to you could be a major issue to someone else, especially if you're the neighbor living across from or next door to something that's really annoying. That said, I agree that some HOA boards do use a sledgehammer to squash a fly, which is unnecessary and a waste of energy.

As you've seen time and again on this board, the real issue is education. When you live in a HOA, you agree to abide by those rules (some of which you might not agree with). It's been said HOA living isn't a cafeteria - pick up what you like and ignore what you don't. For every heavy handed HOA board that didn't use a lot of common sense, you probably have twice as many homeowners who could have avoided a lot of drama if they'd only stopped for a moment, read the rules and then asked about anything they didn't understand.

As for the rules, if something doesn't seem to make sense (sometimes they're just outdated and need to be deleted), the thing to do is to discuss it with the board of directors (the ones the HOMEOWNERS elect to enforce the rules). Be prepared to come up with some alternatives, as well as rolling up your sleeves to help the board out. If everyone votes one way and you vote another, don't sulk and go on and do whatever you want because "this is MY HOUSE and I'll do what I damm well please."

Or run to the media, whining about how HOAs are "unconstitutional" and all that garbage. If you don't want to be told how many pets you can have or what color your house can be, don't live in that community. There are still some neighborhoods in the country that aren't governed by HOAs - you may have to do a little work to find them.

That's one of my biggest beefs about being a HOA board member - people criticize all day long, but when you ask "do you have any better ideas?" or if they would assist the board in doing some research on which alternative would work best for the community, the response is a deafening silence.

Hi Paul:

When you read through this stuff what you will actually most likely notice is they are not necessarily looking for a fight but instead are initially just angry and frustrated. Sometimes it can be a perceived problem or an actual problem as noted by John. However, in many cases the important aspect is generally after they express themselves, feel that someone has listened, are given potential information which may or may not help, they then usually are less angry and frustrated and can look at the situation with a calmer or maybe different view. While many threads will start angry and frustrated a large number end with individuals less angry and who can approach the issue with a more open or educated mind.

You are correct being on a board is a non-paying and sometimes thankless job. If someone is an individual who likes to be stroked and patted on the back, then being on an HOA board is the last place they want. The best board members are those who do the job and incur self satisfaction, they do not require pats on the back and just know inside they did their best for both their property and their fellow home owning members.

Communities have choices to make it easier or harder on them. One method to make it easier is going through your documents and those responsibilities which can be placed elsewhere, let them take over the burden. Example: I have read most of the CCR’s for various developments in my area and the vast majority will state: “All dogs must be on a leash.” Well … the city ordinance as soon as a dog steps one paw off your property, guess what, must be on a leash. When an HOA has this same statement in their documents all they are doing is putting the “legal liability” to enforce on themselves. The board instead of telling a Chief Complaint Officer (LOL … good one John) to whip out their cell phone camera, take a picture, and provide it to local authorities with the address of violator … instead must try to bend over backwards, collect evidence, and is legally liable by the CCR’s to pursue otherwise a neighbor can sue other neighbors. My advice would be to work smarter not harder.

Paul, i can tell you the bottom line, basis, crux of the issue, and you said it.

You said (and I didn't quote, so forgive the inexactness) that you could see all the energy being spent for something like someone painting their house purple, but not for many of the petty things that seem to arise.

And I am one of those people who believe that what color you paint your home IS a petty thing. It has no bearing on my life, or my enjoyment of it. What should I care what color your home is?

So, the one thing that you think might be important enough to have a rule and a penalty and and active HOA board to enforce is one of the "stupid" rules I personally feel is petty.

And that, right there, that difference of opinions, is what makes horse races and HOA boards.

Paul:

That is one of my points. Most cities govern political signs in yards and they have generally become more strict over the last few years. If this item then is removed from CCR's then your board would have not have an issue as you tell the complainer to please feel free to call the city and report the offense. An HOA can make things easier or harder on themselves and those who volunteer and are elected to the board by reviewing their CCR's. I like the "keep it simple" method. Individuals then do not have as big of an issue in volunteering because they are not fighting with homeowners on certain petty issues which are already governed by another entity.