maintainence free? Just a rant....

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

Our home is supposed to be in a mainatinence free community. I wonder what that really means. We got back from Pa on Friday. We spent all day yesterday and all day today working on the yard and lanai. Now I can understand that the lanai is part of the house not the yard. but in the yard honestly we were pulling weeds that were 4 ft tall. Some of them my DH had to dig up with a shovel. We have complained about this to the HOA and many other homeowners agree with us but still nothing changes. It says in our covenents that they are to do weed control. However, the board claims that it is an extra cost to have the weeds sprayed more than once a year and to have them pulled out is very expensive, so to have this service done the HOA fees would be raised considerably. However, I don't think if I have to crawl all the way around my house among the lizards and snakes and ant hills to pull weeds from all the planters that is NOT maintainence free at all. We collected 2 full 55 gallon trash cans of weeds. Now DH will attempt to maintain using weed spray on them when they are still small, and we will also put down new mulch - another job that should be done by the HOA IMO. Actually , if they would place sufficient mulch they wouldn't have so many weeds.

It was windy here yesterday and we cleaned the lanai screens and pavers using dawn dishsoap and oxiwash - we had bubbles everywhere. The neighbor ladies got a good laugh at us as we were both covered in soap bubbles, but it looks nice now with the porch furniture out. I think my DH uses too much dawn soap and we get those big bubbles. At least we entertain the neighbors.

libbyannE · ‎10-27-2010

If the covenants say they do weed control, then you should not have to do it. Period. It's a shame, but a bunch of you may have to sue or threaten to sue. They are legally required to live up,to those covenants, just as you are.

NicksmomESQ · ‎08-19-2014

I live in a community with a HOA.If it's in the by laws,they must do it!! You should take up a petition & threaten legal action!! It's not that expensive to negotiate that into a landscaping contract!!

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

And another thing about these huge weeds - it advertises to the theives that there is no one living there at present. We have lobbied to be allowed to put up our hurricane shutters before we go north - at least across the sliding door - which is in the rear of the house - to help protect against anyone breaking in as that is the weak point of the house. Those doors are so easy to get open - even when locked. But all those weeds growing - we could put up a sign that says UNOCCUPIED.

BTW - I got a cute little sign in Pa while we were home - it says WEEDS FOR SALE - PICK YOUR OWN and has wildflowers painted all around it.

nana59 · ‎05-12-2012

HOA's..........bet you pay good money for a service that is no service to you...........

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

Ironically, those ugly weeds might actually protect you. Once I attended a police lecture on what we snowbirds should do as we leave, and the only thing I learned is that most thieves don't want to break into our homes because they know we don't leave all that much of value behind. I know I leave no good jewelry or any computers or tablets or cell phones. None of the stuff lots of thieves want.

As to how do you get rid of the weeds - the Board may be covering your covenants with the two passes a year, but you can certainly petition for them to do more, but you will pay. Hand pulling weeds costs. I have a friend who had a whole business doing just that - $30 an hour. Minimum visit 3 hours. And she has gardens she weeds every week!

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

I can appreciate it costs more, but it should be done if it's documented. The board can't change things without a vote. They should be held responsible for maintaining the buildings and grounds. If there's no money, then was there a vote to do without?

My parents had a condo in FL that they visited for three months a year. The garden beds and mulch was rarely maintained by the HOA. They put in bushes and mulch when the complies was new, then it gravitated to everyone taking care of their own. My mother couldn't physically do it and the other owners didn't care, so it always looked bad.

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

I live in a gated community & we pay 2 HOA fees (1 to community & 1 to our complex mgt which we live) I don't mind one bit as our landscapers are Wonderful! Also, included in the complex HOA fees they paint our homes every 5 years & roof allowance.

They come every week to mow and every few weeks they trim, weed, fertilize, sprinkler maintenance, mulch 2xs/yr & more! They make sure everything looks nice, in fact, after the last storm they came the next day -- picked up all the debris blew the stuff out of the streets, driveways, common areas.

and best of all they are very pleasant and ask us (if we are outside) if there is anything else!

Of course, we are responsible to do powerwashing of driveway, keep roof area clean, etc.

As far as snowbirds, I'm the only one who lives here full-time on my group of villas & few of them have hired someone to watch & check their homes. Especially for broken windows, etc. from errant golf balls!!! Lol

Tigriss · ‎03-12-2010

I know HOAs are convenient, but they can be a ton of a pain in the bum. I have one of these Gatehouse 28-in to 48-in Aluminum Sliding Patio Door Security Bar on my glass patio door. I got mine at Lowe's for under $20. It is called

Gatehouse 28-in to 48-in Aluminum Sliding Patio Door Security Bar. It goes in half way up the door and just locks right acorss the middle. It is a bar in the middle of the closed door to keep them from pushing it open, which is so easy. It isn't pretty but it sure works. THere are other locks you can install that are very helpful, but none of that protects from them just breaking the glass. I do pray you get some resolution with your HOA as you are so right...it isn't safe for the winter. Maybe the neighbors are very attentive to who comes and goes, which also has its negatives, but that is life.