Re: Pet Peeves?
 

That's all very well, but they arent going to like him standing in the alley drinking beer with Bill and Boomhauer.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

They don't have alleys in Charlotte, it's not that sort of city. :rolleyes:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

:rofl:

Checking out a nice place later, not too far from here, with an optional HOA.

I'm fully prepared to keep the place presentable, after all I don't want my house's or street's value to be compromised.

I just don't like the idea of having to forcefully pay dues, which in 20 years who knows what the price would be, or face a lien on the property.

It seems a step too far in losing control over my land.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

I can just about appreciate the underlying animosity towards HOAs, but ... after being around a while, I've seen an awful lot of really ugly stuff perpetrated by individual homeowners. Yes, it's your property, but - it's in full view of all the other properties and it does materially affect the other properties (be it just visual impact, or the affect on resale value). If you want to jack up your rear (hidden) yard, go for it, but the 'front yard', and front of the house, is 'shared' in many respects.

When I lived in SF (as opposed to the burbs of SF), one neighbor painted his ornate Victorian house solid black, top to bottom, without a hint of 'detail'. It was hideous. One guy I had the displeasure to work with was a total and utter slob, and he collected junk cars on his front lawn and used them for parts. He finally got cited by the city, but it took years for him to comply. He was up in arms about his 'rights', and had no concept of how his house was impacting others. His desk was, not surprisingly, the same ... I finally had to fire him and had the great pleasure of cleaning out his desk ... decaying food was only one of the many surprises I found.

On balance, I'm now in favor of a good deal of rules, as long as they pertain to the general upkeep of the place, and also things like barking dogs, massive RVs parked on the driveway, paint color, window coverings, etc - because I've seen what their absence can lead to first hand.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

I have similar views about living within the city limits or living in the unincorporated county. As you say there are good and bad. HOA's can impose stupid rules and can be expensive, but you have a voice. Cities can have stupid ordinances and charge high property tax.

I hate my neighbors RV, I am waiting for him to die or move out.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

I agree, without reservation. You only have to look at what can go wrong in property outside HoA restricted developments, as you listed, to see why people put up with some of the antics HoAs engage in.

We live in a non-HoA area, but we received a snarky note, sent anonymously, but we traced to a woman down the road, who was a known busybody, when I didn't complete the house painting as quickly as she would have liked. Most neighbours were glad that we were covering over a nasty reddish-pinkish-brown colour that was truely hideous, and almost looked like it should have been a primer as it had a matt finish. :blink: I even got compliments from neighbours as I worked, but that wasn't good enough for the witch down the road. :rolleyes:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

There seems to be one of these in every neighborhood. I think is should be listed on the disclosures.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Mrs Deagle.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

The biggest investment most people make in their lives is buying and owning a home. I can understand people having concerns about the appearance of the neighborhood. One slob homeowner can and does sometimes bring down the value of the surrounding properties. I'm generally a live and let live kind of guy but who would want a rusty old pick up sitting on blocks in the neighbouring driveway, an old ragged sofa out on their front porch and bed sheets for window curtains?

I've seen many a property like that during my travels around this country

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

I'm waiting for the NIMBY's in the sub-division to start moaning about the Brit who spends much of his freetime in his garage, door open, NPR blaring and a car engine in the hoist or transmission going in/out, etc, etc. Bloody interfering busybodies, it's not as though I keep crap in the yard or in the driveway.:britflag:

Did I mention the ever present bottle of beer? :hehe:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

People who take goods out of the chiller cabinet, one of the upright ones, and then leave the frigging door open, which means that the food still in there warms up, it's a simple sliding door ffs.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

I was walking past someone who did that the other week. I quite loudly said 'I'll close that for you shall I? You seem to have a problem with how it works.' They looked as me as though I was simple. :lol:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

That must be why the ones around here have spring loaded doors, then :lol:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

A table was set up outside of Walmart's yesterday and I purchased the thin mints and shortbread cookies. Only one of each as I had placed substantial order with my granddaughter in NY back in January.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Rural NYS is like that. Although I would have loved to be able to dry clothes out of doors, being an apartment dweller that was not possible. Down here in MS, hubby was aghast at the thought that I wanted to string a clothesline. Damn Canuck.