How to Avoid Complaints From Your HOA

The home buying process includes many key elements that must be factored into your decision-making process. Many people focus their home search on neighborhoods based on their proximity to their place of business, while others opt for neighborhoods that are known for their great schools. One of the more important things to consider when purchasing a home is whether your chosen neighborhood is governed by an HOA, or Homeowners' Association. The HOA is an organization of resident homeowners in the area who maintain the aesthetics of the homes in their neighborhood by enforcing a code of specific rules, regulations, and guidelines that must be adhered to at all times.

Some homeowners who have purchased houses in a neighborhood with an HOA can become frustrated by the violations and, in some cases, exorbitant fees they are hit with for failure to comply to the set standards. It can be particularly aggravating to receive a complaint notice from the HOA when you aren't aware of a particular rule, or when you do not feel that you are in non-compliance with the code. Here are some tips for keeping the HOA away while ensuring that your home stays beautiful and well-maintained for years to come.

Prepare to Paint

Each year homeowners across America get hit with one of the most common- and costly- HOA violations for having a house that is in need of a fresh coat of paint. In addition to ensuring that homeowners maintain a house exterior free from chipped, faded, or worn paint, most HOAs also mandate that the houses in the area follow strict guidelines for the paint color choice. While this can be beneficial to homeowners who don't want to live next door to a bright-magenta house with orange shutters, some residents resent being told what colors they can and can't paint their own home. In order to avoid bad blood with the HOA, not to mention crazy-high fines, we suggest you select an approved color that you like and plan to paint once every 3-7 years.

Decor Drama

Let's face it- not everybody has good taste. Your HOA makes it a point to keep all the houses in the neighborhood looking tasteful, and tends to frown upon front-yard clutter, an overabundance of knickknacks and statues, and decor that can generally be classified as tacky. Keeping your front-porch furniture in good repair and limiting your decorating to a few simple things, such as an American flag and flagpole, will appease your HOA and spare you from violation notices. If your taste tends towards pink flamingos and garden gnomes, however, take heart: most HOAs let you decorate your backyard however you want- within reason!

Love Your Lawn

A healthy, green lawn is the focal point of the front of your home. One weed-filled, overgrown, brown patch on the block can cheapen the entire overall effect. Because of this, your HOA exerts a great deal of effort to ensure that everyone in the community adheres to the regulations and keeps their front lawns from becoming an eyesore. While some HOAs only ask that the lawn be properly trimmed, weeded, and edged, others are a bit more strict, going so far as to mandate a specific height, in inches, that each blade of grass should stand. Regardless of the specific set of rules laid out by your HOA, it's good practice to keep your front lawn watered, freshly mowed, and looking great at all times.

An HOA is there first and foremost to make sure the neighborhood looks its best at all times. Next time your neighborhood HOA is getting you down, try to remember that there is a reason the rules are there in the first place, and imagine how different your block would look if there were nobody to enforce them. By taking pride in your home, you can rest assured that your local HOA won't hit you with violation notices, fines, and fees.