Proper Exterior Maintenance Can Help Homeowners avoid HOA Fines

It is important to know and understand the community rules when purchasing a home in an HOA regulated community.  One common rule is maintaining the exterior appearance of your property. This can include types of fencing allowed, color regulations, how high grass can grow, and standards for keeping the exterior of your home clean. Over time dirt, mold and mildew build up on siding and other exterior home surfaces.  Once they become noticeable and unsightly it may become an issue.  Usually, a yearly or bi-yearly (maybe more frequent) community inspection is performed and homeowners are notified in writing if they are violating any community rules.  A warning letter usually gives the homeowner a certain amount of time to correct the issue before fines are issued.  The best way to avoid getting into this situation is to have your home set up with scheduled house washing services.  If your community requires power washing check with the HOA or property manager to see if they have any approved or recommended contractors.  This simplifies the process and hopefully ensures the contractor offers a quality service at a reasonable rate.  Check with your neighbors and see if they would like to set up service with you, and ask the contractor if they offer any discounts for scheduling multiple houses. Once you receive an HOA warning letter it may be too late to schedule in time to avoid a fine.  Most professional power washing companies are scheduled a few weeks out and in addition, would need some time to estimate and get pricing to the homeowner, or there could be an additional fee for “emergency” service.  Being prepared saves time and money.