Tree Stumps

Each HOA is different. So it's not necessarily a "Texas HOA" thing. It's what your particular HOA has written in it's CC&R's.

What do you mean by stump? Was it left after some tree work was done? Do you want it grinded down? Is it causing an issue? Is it in the common area or a private lot?

Tree stump grinding is an OPTION not a necessity. You can get rid of tree stumps a variety of ways. Some just go away on their own after time. There's also a product can put on them that makes the process go faster. Not knowing what you want the end result to be it's hard to decide the best method to handle it.

The HOA isn't necessarily responsible for tree stump removal. If you requested a tree cut down, tree stump grinding is an option with the tree company. Which is typically an extra expense. Cutting down tree itself is a separate item.

I think keeping or ridding stumps is a personal choice in some cases. I've seen some people use them for decorative purposes. If someone wants to keep their stump what is wrong with that? It's not harming anything unless it's a tripping hazard.

We had over 2K of tree removal done of multiple trees. We choose to grind the stumps. It caused a huge mess. 1 house they cut the cable lines and the line to the front yard light. Other yards it left holes we had to address. Since we took down the trees the stump removal was our responsibility. If the owner was approved to take down tree, then it was their choice what to do with the stump.

It appears that tree stumps fall under yard maintenance in your HOA because you have sent out letters to have them removed. If I was an owner that got a letter from the HOA and had to pay to have a stump removed I would be angry the Board changes their tune when the stump is in the Board members yard. I would continue to treat removing the stumps as yard maintenance unless there was a very good reason to change the precedent that was set. Also, if I was changing the precedent I would think about paying the people the HOA forced to remove the stumps earlier.

How in the world does a tree stump lower a home value??? That is insane and makes no sense at all. Home values are based on REAL #'s. It is NOT based on attractiveness of the property. Property value is based on what homes have sold/foreclosed for in a designated area in last 3 - 6 months. That is a different value when you talk "I saw a tree stump in the yard".

A HOA is a sales tool created to keep property ATTRACTIVE to potential buyers. It is NOT to keep "Home values". The two may share commonalities but are separate. My example is: I did not buy a house because I hated the wallpaper. Does that make the house less "valuable" and the price should go down? The houses around it were selling at 200K. Why would bad wallpaper choices make it now worth 150K? It just meant that I was NOT attracted to this house to purchase it. It doesn't mean someone else wouldn't buy it.

I don't care about a tree stump. If the buyer does, then they can ask the seller as a condition of the sale to remove the tree stump. The seller/member then can go to the HOA to ask them to remove it or spend the money themselves. That is the REAL choice here. Otherwise I say it's MYOB... Yee haw!

Actually most of us here on boards or former board members. Just telling you the truth. Tree stumps do NOT effect "home values". You have 2 options. The HOA pays to remove them or force the owner to do it somehow. Whether or not the person is on the board.

I don't necessarily call tree stump removal essential yard maintenance. It once was a standing tree. Was it maintained? This is more of a repair than maintenance. If you were "maintaining" the stump, would that not mean keeping it?

Melissa, you are still missing the point. I work closely with board members.
POINT...after threatening letters and 209s, many homeowners have spent thousands of dollars to remove stumps. Now the Board members in violation want to keep them. And you seem to think this is ok. You don't have any information to back this up with past experience that this is ok/legal. Your personal thoughts which is all they are add nothing to this situation.
Your opinion on stumps and lowered property values is not based on proof and you are using a limited amount of info to make this statement.
This has been turned over to our HOA attorney. I was curious regarding other people's experiences in this matter. No one cares about your opinions.

The basic concept of property value isn't opinion. It's fact. Tree stumps or ugly painted houses have NOTHING to do with "Home value". It has everything to do with ATRACTING buyers.

And if you can't attract buyers your home value goes down.

JohnC46, our DRs do not state what can be planted or removed. It does make a statement about maintaining a neighborhood standard. There hasn't been a problem getting them removed by the neighbors. It recently became a problem with the board members that okayed letters and 209s to the neighbors and now want to change that standard because they are getting letters to remove theirs. Glad to see another Texan reply. Our TX civil code governing HOAs is the same. Thank you.

Well go to the bank and then laugh...

BillH10, thank you. Our neighborhood is over 40 years old. It is a beautiful neighborhood with alot of Oaks and Pines. When Ike came through almost everyone removed their downed trees without being asked. Since then there has been a slow accumulation. TX Civil code protects homeowners and HOAs through codes/laws that are not outlined in deed restrictions. Our attorney is an HOA specialist and knows TX civil code inside out. I am looking forward to her response. The board members now arguing tree stumps are new on the Board are mostly uninformed of legal repercussions playing favoritism and or discriminating against neighbors not on the board. Again, thank you.

Hold to the neighborhood standard argument.