the note I put on people's mailboxes today

[Flasch186]

did it make a difference? not so far, some people even took it and left their cars in the street :( They want to completely blame the real estate bubble for their values dropping but if out of 100 potential buyers, 10 cross off this neighborhood because people left their portable basketball courts out, their trash cans out, and cars everywhere then the prices will drop exponentially further than they need to, to get houses sold. They'll be the first to yell at their neighbor but wont take care of their own community. Makes me so frustrated.

Tips That Make Cents!

It makes Cents that the fastest way to raise the value of your own home is to have those homes that are currently on the market nearby sell as fast as possible. The longer it takes the lower the price will drop and thereby your value will drop too. So here are some quick tips that should make our neighborhood more appealing to people who are looking for a new home and generally make this an awesome place to live:

1. Park your cars in your driveway or garage. Everyone knows that on occasion you’ll need to use the street but currently it is the #1 objection potential buyers have. “It looks like a parking lot in xxxxx,” so sellers will have to continue to drop their prices to compensate for that. This will lower the value of your home too!
2. Water and take care of your lawn. If it looks terrible than it certainly paints a lower quality to our beautiful community. Would someone not buy a home in xxxxx because a few people have chinch bug? Of course not, this isn’t what we’re taking aim at but for those of you who aren’t watering their lawn, or have planted something that has not been approved by the ARB then you know what we’re talking about.
2a. psst, this also means mowing your lawn. If you don’t care to do it I am certain that there are a few kids in the neighborhood who would love to earn a few bucks so that they can buy a new videogame, bike, or skateboard. If it’s too long you should be able to tell fairly easily, the grass grows so tall it’ll actually start to bend over. That’s far too tall, don’t you think?
3. Slow down a bit driving through the neighborhood. I know it is a very big neighborhood and you want to get home as soon as possible but that extra 5-7 seconds could be the difference between, well, 5 to 7 seconds and running a bike off the road, swerving to dodge those parked cars in the road, scaring off potential buyers of our homes, or worse injuring someone. We don’t have speed bumps and I am sure no one wants them so lets just try to remember to take the foot off the gas a bit. It won’t happen overnight as habits are hard to break but over time we should be able to see a difference. We can all help each other to by gently reminding those flying by us with a subtle downward wave of our hand right? No fighting!
4. Keep an eye on eachother’s homes. If you’re out riding a bike and see someone scurrying about a house that looks suspicious than perhaps circle back around and give it a second look. Perhaps it is someone locked out of their own home, someone looking for a dropped wrench, or perhaps you’ll have saved someone from having their home broken into. Do NOT try to approach someone suspicious. If in doubt call 911, better safe than sorry.
5. Keep an eye on eachother’s kids. If a kid is riding by, give them some more room while driving by. Again, better safe than sorry. If a kid has fallen, ask them if they’re ok. Under no circumstances should a kid be taken from the place where they have fallen, ever, but bringing them a towel might be a kind gesture, an ice pack might be ok, and if theyre seriously hurt DON’T move them, call 911, and stay with them until paramedics arrive.

Thanks xxxxx, we know some things we cant control but there are some things we can. Let’s just all give it a shot and see what happens because maybe we can make a small difference in each other’s lives.

[DaddyTorgo]

IMHO i'd find that pretty annoying and preachy and probably leave it crumpled up and littered on the road (unless I knew where it come from then i'd throw it on that person's lawn), no matter how much truth there is in it.

i'd be like "stop trying to tell me how to run my own life and go f*ck yourself"

but that's just my opinion

[DaddyTorgo]

dola

I understand and appreciate what you're trying to do...that just seems like...idk...the most obnoxious way to go about it

[MrBug708]

Good idea, but hopefully you were able to spell check and proof read it for grammatical errors.

[MizzouRah]

I think it was well written and agree with everything you wrote.

The sad thing is, about 10% will probably read it.

[MJ4H]

I would put the following on your mailbox in return:

A copy of your "tips" followed by:

If you ever fail at any of these things even once, I'm shitting in your mailbox.

[Flasch186]

well the best part is most people think these things but refuse to or dont say them. Im just saying what most people think, Ill bet I get some "amens" too.

[Flasch186]

I would put the following on your mailbox in return:

A copy of your "tips" followed by:

If you ever fail at any of these things even once, I'm shitting in your mailbox.

better or worse than in my shoes?

[MJ4H]

Depends on whether I had gotten permission first, I guess.

[MizzouRah]

I would put the following on your mailbox in return:

A copy of your "tips" followed by:

If you ever fail at any of these things even once, I'm shitting in your mailbox.

I'd say... go for it... I have 3 dogs. ;)

[Fidatelo]

I agree with most above, a flyer like that would make me want to do the opposite just out of spite.

[Lathum]

I agree with DT, I see what you are trying to do but my opinoion would be "If I wanted his advice I would ask him"

And if any of my neighbors suggested I should mow or water my lawn I would probably be pretty miffed

[Karlifornia]

IMHO i'd find that pretty annoying and preachy and probably leave it crumpled up and littered on the road (unless I knew where it come from then i'd throw it on that person's lawn), no matter how much truth there is in it.

i'd be like "stop trying to tell me how to run my own life and go f*ck yourself"

but that's just my opinion

Yeah....I'd read up until the "park in the garage or driveway", and then I'd wonder if this was a neighbor or a fucking meter maid.

Don't expect to get invited to any block parties anytime soon..people would be afraid you'd start carding everyone.

[Flasch186]

I agree with most above, a flyer like that would make me want to do the opposite just out of spite.

well than you couldnt be mad when your appraisal on your Refi shows up 50K less than what you hoped....which is inevitably the next complaint I hear, "I cant believe my home is only worth $X". You should see this one home where they park their cars in the cul-de-sac like a parking lot, you cant even make a circle. with your car.

[Jas_lov]

I also agree with DT. Mind your own business, keep your mouth shut, and never rat out your friends. Nobody's going to read it and the people who do won't care one bit what some schmoe down the street thinks.

[MikeVic]

It depends on the situation I think. I don't own a house or anything, but if you guys have some kind of neighbourhood meetings and talk about the dropping value, or regularly talk to neighbours and the majority complain about the dropping value... I would've brought up the idea of making a list like this to hand out. Judge their reaction from that. If they were open to it, great then do it.

If this was just out of the blue and I got something like this in my mailbox, I wouldn't pay attention to it.

[Lathum]

well than you couldnt be mad when your appraisal on your Refi shows up 50K less than what you hoped....which is inevitably the next complaint I hear, "I cant believe my home is only worth $X". You should see this one home where they park their cars in the cul-de-sac like a parking lot, you cant even make a circle. with your car.

yeah but who the hell are you to tell them where they should and shouldn't park their cars?

I think a better tactic would have been invite people over to discuss how to make the neighborhood more appealing.

[Flasch186]

I also agree with DT. Mind your own business, keep your mouth shut, and never rat out your friends.

Wow, I couldnt disagree more and think that many of our neighborhood's (all those that have problems) stem from attitudes like these. In the community I live in these things are an epidemic. I watched someone drive right next to a kid on the bike and when he fell over the car kept right on going. I thought that that was awful on so many levels it prompted this reaction.

[mauchow]

One day our whole neighborhood had bags on their mailboxes. Written right on the bags?

"Please do not put on mailboxes." plus more about how its not legal, bla bla bla. But our 'hood of 200+ houses had 'em. Needless to say, that bag went right into the garbage, even if it was a donation bag, I don't care.

[Flasch186]

yeah but who the hell are you to tell them where they should and shouldn't park their cars?

I think a better tactic would have been invite people over to discuss how to make the neighborhood more appealing.

actually....

in this neighborhood, Im the sales agent, the person they come to for appraisals, the person they complain to about the neighborhood, the person they turn to for news about the neighborhood and surrounding area, and I live here too SO I dont believe that there is anyone more qualified to do this for this community. that may not be the case for all communities but considering I spend all of my work and home hours here I think Im the expert on XXXX.

the funny part is I was talking to a resident who is completely in agreement and I realized that the people who do this stuff aren't going to listen anyways and the people who dont will say "Amen." so it probably wont do any good cuz the neredowells wont care what their home is worth....until they try to sell it, that is. oh, and they wont care if a home gets broken into or their kid is run off the road....until it happens to them, that is.

eh, whatever. I did it anyways and I think I did the right thing.

[Jas_lov]

Wow, I couldnt disagree more and think that many of our neighborhood's (all those that have problems) stem from attitudes like these. In the community I live in these things are an epidemic. I watched someone drive right next to a kid on the bike and when he fell over the car kept right on going. I thought that that was awful on so many levels it prompted this reaction.

Look, the bottom line is that it comes off as too high and mighty. I'm better than you, this is the way I do it, and so should you. You don't think that your letter might come off that way to some people? I know you mean well, but I agree with Lathum's suggestion of talking to people about effective ways to improve the neighborhood.

[Lathum]

actually....

in this neighborhood, Im the sales agent, the person they come to for appraisals, the person they complain to about the neighborhood, the person they turn to for news about the neighborhood and surrounding area, and I live here too SO I dont believe that there is anyone more qualified to do this for this community. that may not be the case for all communities but considering I spend all of my work and home hours here I think Im the expert on XXXX.

Right, if they come to you and ASK you you are by all means the most quailified but to just distribute your advice unsolicited, I dunno, I would think that person was being a jackass,

Again, not a personal attack on you, just my opinion if one of my neighbors did that to me

[Flasch186]

Look, the bottom line is that it comes off as too high and mighty. I'm better than you, this is the way I do it, and so should you. You don't think that your letter might come off that way to some people? I know you mean well, but I agree with Lathum's suggestion of talking to people about effective ways to improve the neighborhood.


you make a good point but....

this neighborhood has no meetings, ever.

[Flasch186]

Look, the bottom line is that it comes off as too high and mighty. I'm better than you, this is the way I do it, and so should you. You don't think that your letter might come off that way to some people? I know you mean well, but I agree with Lathum's suggestion of talking to people about effective ways to improve the neighborhood.

...actually these are the covenants and restrictions to the community, some people just choose not to follow them. They actually signed a contract to follow them, perhaps they didnt read the contract. Many people in another thread called people idiots who dont read and follow contracts but it happens so I suppose that could be it. Ill bet on a lack of care though.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is half the neighborhood for sale or something? Or is it likely to be in short order (I ask since that seemed to be the way this was approached initially)

By & large though, my initial reaction would pretty much be what DT described. And I'd give serious consideration to shitting in your mailbox at some point.

I'm assuming that this would be a neighborhood with covenants/HOA rules or something that deals with at least some of those things (local city/county ordinance maybe). If so, then they should be dealt with through whatever mechanisms those establish. If not, then a lot of this falls in the category of MYOB. In any event, if I wanted your opinion I would have asked you for it.
And until I do, pour yourself a nice steaming cup of STFU.

edit to add: Obviously you were posting while I was typing, since you cleared up some of the covenants thing. I guess that leaves me with the question of "are you the proscribed mechanism for handling covenant violations"? If not, then I would consider this out of line and would have a pretty serious problem with you. Good thing we don't live in the same neighborhood, huh? ;)

[BrianD]

Sounds like the property values may currently be higher than they deserve to be. You may be trying to artificially raise the values higher than the current residents can support.

[Flasch186]

I think it was well written and agree with everything you wrote.

The sad thing is, about 10% will probably read it.

thanks.

[DaddyTorgo]

Is half the neighborhood for sale or something? Or is it likely to be in short order (I ask since that seemed to be the way this was approached initially)

By & large though, my initial reaction would pretty much be what DT described. And I'd give serious consideration to shitting in your mailbox at some point.

I'm assuming that this would be a neighborhood with covenants/HOA rules or something that deals with at least some of those things (local city/county ordinance maybe). If so, then they should be dealt with through whatever mechanisms those establish. If not, then a lot of this falls in the category of MYOB. In any event, if I wanted your opinion I would have asked you for it.
And until I do, pour yourself a nice steaming cup of STFU.

edit to add: Obviously you were posting while I was typing, since you cleared up some of the covenants thing. I guess that leaves me with the question of "are you the proscribed mechanism for handling covenant violations"? If not, then I would consider this out of line and would have a pretty serious problem with you. Good thing we don't live in the same neighborhood, huh? ;)

I think this might be only the 2nd time we've ever agreed on anything. Let's not go making a habit of it hmm?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Let's not go making a habit of it hmm?

I don't think we have to worry about that ;)

Then again, we agree on not wanting it to be a habit so ... :eek:

[Lathum]

...actually these are the covenants and restrictions to the community, some people just choose not to follow them. They actually signed a contract to follow them, perhaps they didnt read the contract. Many people in another thread called people idiots who dont read and follow contracts but it happens so I suppose that could be it. Ill bet on a lack of care though.

is it your job to enforce these rules?

[DaddyTorgo]

I don't think we have to worry about that ;)

Then again, we agree on not wanting it to be a habit so ... :eek:

dammit!

[RendeR]

This is exactly the reason that Telle and I refused to buy a home that required joining a HOA.

No uptight windbag with a manicured lawn and prestenciled parking spaces out front is going to drop this trip into my mailbox. Not without getting my foot up their ass that is.

Its one thing to complain about housing value, its another to knowingly do things that detract from it, but it is their right to do so without someone sticking uppity schmuck letters in their mailbox unrequested "suggesting" that they do otherwise.

Its not your place to tell people how to live day to day.

[JonInMiddleGA]

This is exactly the reason that Telle and I refused to buy a home that required joining a HOA.

+1

Although I'm generally pro-zoning in the broad sense, my experiences with amateurs trying to manage property (or much of anything else) is pretty much exclusively bad. To the extent that I'd be pretty hard pressed to decide whether I think the Holiday Inn Express guy could do a better job of emergency brain surgery or the average homeowner could develop & implement rational rules governing anyone else's property.

This is such an issue for me that it was one of the most researched things about the house that we're in now. Technically speaking there is a HOA but is strictly voluntary on the <$50 annual dues, it has zero enforcement power, has zero rule making authority and exists for the narrowly defined purpose of maintaining the flowers & landscaping on the area where the small entrance-to-the- neighborhood sign sits. The only other covenant that applies to any of the property in the neighborhood requires that all homes include a garage that does not open toward the front of the house.
That's a HOA I can live with.

[oliegirl]

I agree that what you wrote is correct, and yeah, by coming to you for advice they kind of put that leadership hat on you, but all I could think of after I read it was the lady in that animated movie "Over the Hedge", when she calls someone and says "our HOA says that your grass shouldn't be higher than 1.5 inches, and today I measured it at 2 inches...". Sure, she is right, but it wasn't the best way to convey the message.

[digamma]

...actually these are the covenants and restrictions to the community, some people just choose not to follow them. They actually signed a contract to follow them, perhaps they didnt read the contract. Many people in another thread called people idiots who dont read and follow contracts but it happens so I suppose that could be it. Ill bet on a lack of care though.

Aren't there ways to enforce the covenants in the HOA rules? I'm guessing a note on people's cars isn't one of them, and people will throw this thing away.

Put me in the JiMG/DT camp.

[Flasch186]

to answer some questions:

- enforcement by the HOA and most HOA's is minimal. It is a Felony to apply a "false Lien" so most property managers weigh on the side of caution (because they can be sued personally) and do nothing.

- I felt in the above I was giving examples that weren't even of the extremes but were the more mundane and feel anyone pissed is probably doing this stuff. They wont care until it happens to them. Then they'll raise the roof.

- In this community 15% are for sale not including the builders.

- Parking in the street, like i pointed out is an epidemic which is exacerbated by the narrowness of the street. There are sections that you need a traffic person to stop the flow on the other end so your direction can make it through all of the way. Some cul-de-sacs are literal parking lots.

- The neighborhood is filled with children. Almost every home has at least 1.

- People are continually complaining to eachother and me about the above regarding the cars, basketball goals, trashcans by the street or left in front of the home all week, etc.

- I witnessed the driving thing myself which was the most awful thing of all of the above.

- I continually am trying to explain things to appraisers so as to help people's value be kept from being lowered. I guess I could do the opposite and help people's values go into the toilet.

- They signed the agreement to follow the covenants and bitch when others dont yet they do this themselves.

-Finally, at the end of the day it made no difference at all and there are cars and kids everywhere and the cars are flying through the zig zags of parked cars. Oh well, when they bitch to me Ill continually tell them their houses are worth less and less. They'll be pissed about that too.

[Flasch186]

Sure, she is right, but it wasn't the best way to convey the message.

I dont know of any other way as we have no meeting(s). It's do something or do nothing. I chose to do something, and later they will continue to gripe that they're values suck. Would you want to buy in any community that welcomed you with cars in the road that you have to zig zag around? Probably not, so they'll lower those prices so you'll not think about it.

[Lathum]

I dont know of any other way as we have no meeting(s). It's do something or do nothing. I chose to do something, and later they will continue to gripe that they're values suck. Would you want to buy in any community that welcomed you with cars in the road that you have to zig zag around? Probably not, so lower those prices so you'll not think about it.

I also wouldn't buy in a community where a self righteous neighbor tried to tell me how to live my life.

And you'll continue to have no meetings until someone takes the initiave to call one.

[stevew]

As long as you signed it with your name, I really don't have much of a problem with anything you wrote. If it was anonymous, then i'd throw it in the trash.

[Joe]

- The neighborhood is filled with children. Almost every home has at least 1.


You'll have lower prices due to this anyway, so I can see where you're coming from in regards to the cars and other things.

[Flasch186]

I also wouldn't buy in a community where a self righteous neighbor tried to tell me how to live my life.

And you'll continue to have no meetings until someone takes the initiave to call one.

Take initiative? Ill refer you back to your earlier comments (and many others, sorry), no offense. Thats what I did IMO.

[Mustang]

Amateur.

You completely overlooked asking your neighbors to turn their Wi-Fi off due to health reasons.

:rolleyes:

[Flasch186]

As long as you signed it with your name, I really don't have much of a problem with anything you wrote. If it was anonymous, then i'd throw it in the trash.

it was anonymous but that wasn't a big deal to me as I was talking to some people while handing them out. I just didnt think about adding a name or anything like that. I completely stand behind every bit of it so if someone were to ask, I'd proudly say it was me....I guess I shouldve added my name. It may have held more or less weight I dunno, I didnt think about it.

[miked]

Man, I hate that shit. Usually when I see somebody drive by and try to put shit on/in my mailbox driveway, I throw something at them. You want to get your message out, rent a soapbox and stand in the middle of the street and let people choose whether they want your message.

I even have people in my neighborhood drive down my driveway and knock on my backdoor to tell me they can a) sell my house for loads, or b) trim my branches, etc.

[Lathum]

Take initiative? Ill refer you back to your earlier comments, no offense. Thats what I did IMO.

I;m not saying you didn't. I just think you would get a far more positive response by suggesting your neighbors meet to discuss the community as opposed to distibuting unwanted advice through mass distrabution.

[Flasch186]

I;m not saying you didn't. I just think you would get a far more positive response by suggesting your neighbors meet to discuss the community as opposed to distibuting unwanted advice through mass distrabution.

TBH, Im not sure ANYTHING will change in this community no matter what. I tried and did what I thought was best. I will continue to give kids extra room in the street and try to help people re-finance their homes, but when they start bitching about it, Ill ask them what they did about it.

[Greyroofoo]

I wonder how many trees had to die in order for people to ignore Flasch's note

[Hoosierbuckeye]

In our neighborhood and community, anyone posting flyers on cars or on the doors of homes is a violation of a civic statute that restricts solicitation--with the exception of church groups, school fundraisers, and Girl Scouts (gotta love those cookies)--and anyone soliciting homes on the do not solicit list can be escorted out of town and fined.

So, just as an addition to this thread, another way to increase the value of your home is to protect your privacy and use law enforcement to escort flyer stuffers out of town. ;)

[BrianD]

TBH, Im not sure ANYTHING will change in this community no matter what. I tried and did what I thought was best. I will continue to give kids extra room in the street and try to help people re-finance their homes, but when they start bitching about it, Ill ask them what they did about it.

I think you are missing the obvious solution here. If the rest of the community is below your standards, maybe it is time to look for a better community.

[Flasch186]

In our neighborhood and community, anyone posting flyers on cars or on the doors of homes is a violation of a civic statute that restricts solicitation--with the exception of church groups, school fundraisers, and Girl Scouts (gotta love those cookies)--and anyone soliciting homes on the do not solicit list can be escorted out of town and fined.

So, just as an addition to this thread, another way to increase the value of your home is to protect your privacy and use law enforcement to escort flyer stuffers out of town. ;)

it was on their mailbox, I am not selling anything but I guess it is loosely under the solicit definition, and am a resident subject to the same C&R so I think that legally It'll be alright. Luckily, in this community I was "right" to do what I did. Like most have stated, I doubt it will do any good though.

[wade moore]

Yeah, this is a total a-hole maneuver to me. If I saw the person doing this a flaming bag of poop would be at the top of my mind.

[Izulde]

I'd have read it, snorted in disgust, then thrown it in the recycle bin.

[Hoosierbuckeye]

it was on their mailbox, I am not selling anything but I guess it is loosely under the solicit definition, and am a resident subject to the same C&R so I think that legally It'll be alright. Luckily, in this community I was "right" to do what I did. Like most have stated, I doubt it will do any good though.


Then the only thing I'd like to caution is this;

USPS 508 recipients mailbox (etc.), section 3.1.3. below

[/URL] (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/)3.1.3 Use for Mail

Except under [URL="http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1052096"]3.2.11, Newspaper Receptacle (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/), the receptacles described in 3.1.1 (http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1051813) may be used only for matter bearing postage. Other than as permitted by 3.2.10, Delivery of Unstamped Newspapers (http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1052091), or 3.2.11 (http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1052096), no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail.


There are also guidelines on what homeowners should do if they see anyone 'tampering' (I know you weren't tampering, you were doing what you thought was right) and the Postal Inspectors are sensitive to identity theft issues as well as mailbombs, anthrax, etc.

I spent twelve years in the army, and one of my extra duties beyond helicopter maintenance was to supervise the mailroom and the mailroom clerk. I had to know the mail regulations forwards and backwards. (I was the only NCO who's IQ qualified for Mensa, and thereby could pass the security clearance for the USPS as a supervisor of the unit mailroom. . brag brag brag).

just be careful, should you piss off a neighbor who doesn't water their lawn, they'll get you with that flyer and your method of delivery.

[Joe]

I would probably have punched you in the face.

[Flasch186]

Then the only thing I'd like to caution is this;

USPS 508 recipients mailbox (etc.), section 3.1.3. below

[/URL] (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/)3.1.3 Use for Mail

Except under [URL="http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1052096"]3.2.11, Newspaper Receptacle (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/), the receptacles described in 3.1.1 (http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1051813) may be used only for matter bearing postage. Other than as permitted by 3.2.10, Delivery of Unstamped Newspapers (http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1052091), or 3.2.11 (http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/508.htm#wp1052096), no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail.


There are also guidelines on what homeowners should do if they see anyone 'tampering' (I know you weren't tampering, you were doing what you thought was right) and the Postal Inspectors are sensitive to identity theft issues as well as mailbombs, anthrax, etc.

I spent twelve years in the army, and one of my extra duties beyond helicopter maintenance was to supervise the mailroom and the mailroom clerk. I had to know the mail regulations forwards and backwards. (I was the only NCO who's IQ qualified for Mensa, and thereby could pass the security clearance for the USPS as a supervisor of the unit mailroom. . brag brag brag).

just be careful, should you piss off a neighbor who doesn't water their lawn, they'll get you with that flyer and your method of delivery.

It's not watering that is a big deal but there is one yard that literally is just dirt. Now keeping in mind they dont give a shit those are the people who wouldnt read this anyways. I'll take my chances with the Feds :)

[Flasch186]

I would probably have punched you in the face.

the market is such that I would willingly take the punch in the face for the money that would follow it. :)

[Joe]

the market is such that I would willingly take the punch in the face for the money that would follow it. :)

LOL

[Apathetic Lurker]

did it make a difference? not so far, some people even took it and left their cars in the street :( They want to completely blame the real estate bubble for their values dropping but if out of 100 potential buyers, 10 cross off this neighborhood because people left their portable basketball courts out, their trash cans out, and cars everywhere then the prices will drop exponentially further than they need to, to get houses sold. They'll be the first to yell at their neighbor but wont take care of their own community. Makes me so frustrated.

Well, aintcha the busybody!

[Flasch186]

Well, aintcha the busybody!

actually Im quite lazy. I take pride in it actually.

[st.cronin]

None of those things mentioned in the note were of even the slightest concern to me when I was shopping for a house, fwiw.

[duckman]

Look, the bottom line is that it comes off as too high and mighty. I'm better than you, this is the way I do it, and so should you.

Which sums up Flasch nicely.

[Flasch186]

Which sums up Flasch nicely.

I havnt talked to one person yet who disagreed with anything in the note. The only thing is that people dont want to hear it. Im tired of people standing aside, all the while griping, but being unwilling to say or do anything about it. Im equal to everyone else and WISH more people would stand up and say what they believe in person or in a flyer. This could be applied to a ton of issues I think. When a person is talking on their cell phone during a movie for a long time and everyone just squirms in their seats unwilling to say or do anything about it. They'll bitch about it on the way home though.

No Excuses. Just results.
Kind of appropriate for being one to stand up and do what is right and speaking one's mind.

[Fidatelo]

If I was your neighbor I'd be hoping someone would leave me a flyer with tips on how to keep douchebags off my property.

Oh I'm sorry, was that rude of me to say? You probably didn't want to hear that, but tough. I can't just keep it bottled up and bitch to my wife about you later.

[Flasch186]

If I was your neighbor I'd be hoping someone would leave me a flyer with tips on how to keep douchebags off my property.

Oh I'm sorry, was that rude of me to say? You probably didn't want to hear that, but tough. I can't just keep it bottled up and bitch to my wife about you later.

Your entitled to keeping douches off your property, and your entitled to tell it to the douche. Doing nothing and bitching about it later, im done with.

[MrBug708]

I'm guessing this thread did have the same result and ending that was originally hoped for

[Flasch186]

well, it did enlighten me to one thing. I naively thought that perhaps it would make a difference but, from this thread, I realized that the people who couldnt give two shits about their home, the community, their value that they'll try to tap eventually, the kids in the community, etc. will not give two shits about this flyer. Some people will be pissed to hear it and some people will say Amen. I am not sorry I did it BUT I will not achieve the desired effect that I intended to have in making the community a better and safer place.

[JonInMiddleGA]

making the community a better and safer place.

Keeping children out of the f'n street would be a good start.

[oliegirl]

I don't think any of us are saying you were wrong to want to better the community, it's just the method that you chose which could come across as rude or offensive. I think it's great you took the initiative, but I think trying to do something more "organized", ie: create a newsletter to distribute - maybe via email, and touch on each point in a different mail-out so it's not an all at once thing. Or create a community webpage and have a "how can I maintain/increase the value of my home" page on it. Something not quite so "in your face".

[miked]

Have you lived there for less than 5 years? I'm assuming this change didn't come about overnight so either a) you didn't look around the neighborhood enough before buying, or b) you falsely expected everyone to prescribe to your vision of a community. I'm not saying your opinions are wrong, they are common sense. But the last thing anyone wants is for people to tell them how they should live to improve the value of their homes. I could tell you in my neighborhood here in Atlanta, all that really matters is what's inside the house. Every neighborhood is going to have people that don't mow, don't water, don't keep their dogs leashed, etc. Just to different degrees.

[MrBug708]

well, it did enlighten me to one thing. I naively thought that perhaps it would make a difference but, from this thread, I realized that the people who couldnt give two shits about their home, the community, their value that they'll try to tap eventually, the kids in the community, etc. will not give two shits about this flyer. Some people will be pissed to hear it and some people will say Amen. I am not sorry I did it BUT I will not achieve the desired effect that I intended to have in making the community a better and safer place.

A better community? Or a more expensive community? Your post was directed towards making property values go up, not so much making the community a better one

[Flasch186]

A better community? Or a more expensive community? Your post was directed towards making property values go up, not so much making the community a better one

I felt topics 3ish, 4 and 5 had nothing to do with values but safety for people and children. I guess it could eventually boil to values if we're known as a safe neighborhood but I didn't draw that correlation when i was typing it.

I see the points but I stand by my take that what I did was well intended.

to answer the question above, Ive lived here since the inception of the community and have sold the homes to 1/2 the homeowners and I can tell you that from the person who paid 190K to the ones who paid 416K they all wanted a nice family community to take advantage of the good schools nearby. It wasn't necessarily tops of the list for "affordable" housing in the area, marketed or known as more of a "move up" community (second home). My knowledge base of the community is good.

[DanGarion]

to answer some questions:

- enforcement by the HOA and most HOA's is minimal. It is a Felony to apply a "false Lien" so most property managers weigh on the side of caution (because they can be sued personally) and do nothing.


Wow in Orange County failing to follow the HOA rules can get you foreclosed on. I've read too many stories about it here.

One question, did you say you put this message in the mailbox? Because if you did, I think you committed a federal offense...

[Flasch186]

Wow in Orange County failing to follow the HOA rules can get you foreclosed on. I've read too many stories about it here.

One question, did you say you put this message in the mailbox? Because if you did, I think you committed a federal offense...

not in, pinched on the side of it. I knew not to put it inside of it.

[DanGarion]

- The neighborhood is filled with children. Almost every home has at least 1.


Sorry to post again, but there is your problem. Get rid of the children and you solve the problem.

[Hoosierbuckeye]

not in, pinched on the side of it. I knew not to put it inside of it.

Not to belabor a point about the mail receptacle, but. .
using any portion of a mailbox is a violation. . .quoted from my previous post

no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.


Now, what I think would be a better move would be to familiarize yourself with the city ordinances governing home ownership and the responsibilties therein, i.e. mowing, weed and pest control, and then get to know the officials that handle these ordinances. If anyone were to let their lawn go and not mow, or not repair or replace shingles on a roof, or weed their garden, and by doing so violated the ordinances, then a simple phone call to that office with a complaint against that neighbor should be enough.

We have an ordinance control officer that patrols our neighborhoods and they'll issue warnings and citations for unkempt yards, roofs, and homes. The ordinance control officers have to protect the privacy of the person making the complaint, so you're protected from any recriminations or harassment. You first receive a warning and a sufficient time period to correct the problem, then if it's still not corrected, you face a daily fine until it is corrected.

It's okay to want to make your community better, admirable even. But, there are statutes in place already. I'd use them.

[Klinglerware]

it was anonymous but that wasn't a big deal to me as I was talking to some people while handing them out. I just didnt think about adding a name or anything like that. I completely stand behind every bit of it so if someone were to ask, I'd proudly say it was me....I guess I shouldve added my name. It may have held more or less weight I dunno, I didnt think about it.

I understand what you were trying to do here but you should have signed it. Anonymous letters just come off as threatening, yet cowardly at the same time. As a relatively new homeowner, I would have no problems having a neighbor come over with a friendly corrective to anything I may be doing wrong. I understand that living in a neighborhood does require a level of courtesy to my neighbors.

But, if I got an anonymous letter, I would not consider that courteous behavior from a neighbor. In fact, I would consider that douchebaggery of a pretty high order. It would be over the top to say that it would be at the level of a racist flier left anonymously in my mailbox, but it still does come off as still a little bit hostile and I would be angry just the same.

[Flasch186]

Hoosier - I really wanted to avoid liens and fines and stuff as I thought that that route is worse for a recipient then a simple flyer. It's weird that I view that as being more "douche" like than what I did. I think I'm wrong to feel that way since that is the "appropriate" avenue that is laid out but I do nonetheless.

Klingler - I certainly had no hostile intentions and I hope that the flyer isn't interpreted as such. I do however stand by the verbiage of the letter and, again, left the signature off with no intention of not attributing it to myself as I did it in broad daylight and talked to some homeowners while doing it, sometimes putting it directly in their hand. Oh well, if people want the opposite of what I said to happen than they can continue to go that route too sans the bitching about how the "neighborhood is going downhill" like I hear people say.

[SnDvls]

I think the only way you are going to get through to them is to complain to the HOA and have them fine them. It's sucks that you are the "ratting" neighbor, but it keeps your home value up and in reality theirs too.

You still won't change everyone, some people have $ to throw away or they know if they change it and then wait 30 days and do it again they'll get another "warning" but it will help. Sometimes you can even call the city about exessive weeds/grass and illegal street parking.

BTW I'd be in the Amen group and pissed that my neighbor still doesn't give a crap about the CC&Rs and I am totally against HOA's in general, but I do realize they serve a good purpose when they don't over step their bounds.

good luck

[Klinglerware]

Klingler - I certainly had no hostile intentions and I hope that the flyer isn't interpreted as such.

I know that you weren't being malicious--I was just pointing out that an anonymous note could be perceived as such.

[molson]

If I got this in my mailbox, I'd think the guy was insane, and probably spying on everyone in the neighborhood.

I can't imagine anyone could think this would change anyone's behavior, even .00001%. And if I was looking at a house in the neighborhood, and I happened to come across such a letter, I'd get the hell out of there as quickly as possible.

People aren't going to know you have it to EVERYONE - they're going to assume you're targeting them individually for something, and that's going to piss them off.

[Flasch186]

People aren't going to know you have it to EVERYONE - they're going to assume you're targeting them individually for something, and that's going to piss them off.

I dont know about that except for maybe the last couple to get theirs considering that every mailbox has this big white letter attached to the outside of it. Tough to think youre the only one to get one that way.

[Karlifornia]

I guess Flasch will just have to rely on himself in his hollow, transparent money grab.

Nice try pretending that you care about "the children". That gave me a good laugh. You're using scare tactics to coerce people into doing what you want. You're George W. Bush. Police that hypocrisy.

[Ragone]

Don't feel bad flasch, i got in a shouting match with our local home owner's association about people leaving their car's parked on the road (especially in the winter time, it creates alot of extra issues)

Come to find out 3 of the 5 board member's currently park their some of their cars on the road (they leak oil was the common excuse)

Those cars being in bad spots have nearly caused many people to hit mailboxs,kids,animals etc. I'm wondering myself if i have a legal recourse to get them moved (2 of which are parked 20 feet from a intersection)

[Flasch186]

Don't feel bad flasch, i got in a shouting match with our local home owner's association about people leaving their car's parked on the road (especially in the winter time, it creates alot of extra issues)

Come to find out 3 of the 5 board member's currently park their some of their cars on the road (they leak oil was the common excuse)

Those cars being in bad spots have nearly caused many people to hit mailboxs,kids,animals etc. I'm wondering myself if i have a legal recourse to get them moved (2 of which are parked 20 feet from a intersection)

thanks. From this thread I now have a firm grasp on the variety of reactions there'll be but it doesnt change that even those that think I went about it the wrong way agree with what was contained within....except Karlifornia. Unfortunately the flyer didnt come with a coupon for him to re-up his porno subscription he cut off in that other thread ;) Karl, there is no hypocrisy to police with you...youre very consistent in almost all of your posts. I figured a scare tactic wouldve been threats of liens and fines. The harshest thing I inferred was the idea of speed bumps....not sure how frightening those are unless you drive a lowrider.

[Passacaglia]

You should have also told them to get better jobs and make more money.

[Flasch186]

I'm not a Republican.

[Schmidty]

http://www.itiscannizzaro.net/Ianni/booksweb/sito1984/immagini/winston.jpg

I better put away my basketball unit. Big Hatcher is watching....

[Schmidty]

(I was the only NCO who's IQ qualified for Mensa, and thereby could pass the security clearance for the USPS as a supervisor of the unit mailroom. . brag brag brag)

I have 3 penises. My dick is like a shark's tooth: When I fuck too much, and my cock falls off, I have 2 others waiting to replace it.

So suck my cocks, tough guy.

[Bee]

Sorry to post again, but there is your problem. Get rid of the children and you solve the problem.


Maybe we can organize an experiment to see how many 5 year olds Flasch could take in a fight. Kill two birds with one stone by answering that burning question AND raising the property value in his neighborhood!

[Flasch186]

how big is the typical 5 year old?

EDIT - Update:

I drove around this morning with a camera to take some pictures for you guys and something strange had happened. There was dramatically fewer cars BUT I am under no illusion that I had anything to do with this. Based on this thread I have learned quite a bit about the variety of feelings that will come up and inevitably the lack of response it will get outside of Joe's punch in the face. Being an early holiday morning I thought perhaps there'd be more since many people dont have to work and school's closed but perhaps it's the opposite and more people are away to take advantage of the long weekend.

I did talk to one of the people I spoke to yesterday while handing it out and it looks like it spurned them on to call the HOA about a neighbor whose driveway is on a steep angle and therefore all of the carpet cleaning chemicals inside the van seep out of the back doors of the van all night and run down the gutter in front of their home. They described it as a rainbow of colors all night that goes down the gutter and into the lake behind their house, so that's good if I pushed them to do that since they said they've been worried about it for a long time due to their kids playing near it.

Most of the letters are gone from the boxes so they were picked up but worst of all....

it seems that there must've been an accident between a car parked on the road and another as there is a quite a bit of debris in this one spot where typically a car on the street would be parked. That sucks.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f109/Flasch186/108_0642.jpg

I was going to go clean it up but I think I want people to see it.

[Passacaglia]

Dude, you're so going to get blamed for that.

[Lathum]

Here are a couple of other things I think about it.

There is a possibility your neighbors may talk with about it each other in a negative way and you will be the target of their ridicule, animosity, etc...

Another bigger problem I see is that everytime someone is reprimanded by the association for a violation they are going to assume it was you. This could aactualy cause real problems for you.

[Flasch186]

Here are a couple of other things I think about it.

There is a possibility your neighbors may talk with about it each other in a negative way and you will be the target of their ridicule, animosity, etc...

Another bigger problem I see is that everytime someone is reprimanded by the association for a violation they are going to assume it was you. This could aactualy cause real problems for you.

I thought about that and decided that I was tired of not saying anything because I dont want to ruffle feathers. Again, I go back to my movie theatre situation as my thoughts on those sort of situations. I weighed those possibilities and decided to do what I thought was right at the risk of being the "jerk". I hold out some hope that perhaps because of my unofficial stature in the community aand that people tend to turn to me to vent and for answers regarding the community and the fact that the verbiage in the letter is apparently agreeable that it might have some intzy bintzy effect. Probably not but that was my initial intent so I'm going to stand by it.

[Dr. Sak]

Dude, you're so going to get blamed for that.

Flasch better watch out for one of those flaming bags of poop!

[rkmsuf]

I want someone to put a note in his mailbox that just says

"Thank you, Mr. Helper."

[Toddzilla]

My first impression - geez, what a douchebag. If you got something to say to me about my house/lawn, then be a man and tell me face to face.

After thinking - you got some balls there putting your neck out like that. Good on you for trying to help the 'hood, unfortunately most of the homeowners are going to stop at the first impression...

[Passacaglia]

Are you planning to sell your house? Or might people think that you're planning to sell your house? It's one thing if you want to 'help the community' and all that, but if you're planning to leave it (or even if people think you might be), they'll think you're coming from a much different angle.

[rkmsuf]

Are you planning to sell your house? Or might people think that you're planning to sell your house? It's one thing if you want to 'help the community' and all that, but if you're planning to leave it (or even if people think you might be), they'll think you're coming from a much different angle.

they hope he is now!

[Fidatelo]

Are you planning to sell your house? Or might people think that you're planning to sell your house? It's one thing if you want to 'help the community' and all that, but if you're planning to leave it (or even if people think you might be), they'll think you're coming from a much different angle.

Actually it's worse: my understanding is he's the real-estate agent, so he's looking to make larger comissions. Classy.

[Fidatelo]

they hope he is now!

True dat.

[Passacaglia]

Actually it's worse: my understanding is he's the real-estate agent, so he's looking to make larger comissions. Classy.

I knew he was a real estate agent -- I don't have a problem with that alone, as increasing his commissions also increases the amounts the sellers get. Of course, if people aren't selling their houses, and want to, you know, live in them, then they're probably not going to care.

[Lathum]

I think he should set the example and offer to mow all his neighbors lawns

[Ben E Lou]

My first impression - geez, what a douchebag. If you got something to say to me about my house/lawn, then be a man and tell me face to face.

Bingo. I would read such a letter as roughly 75% "pussy," 25% "douchebag."

[Bee]

Bingo. I would read such a letter as roughly 75% "pussy," 25% "douchebag."


So I can put you down for less than 6 5-year olds to kick Flasch's ass? ;)

[Toddzilla]

Wait...what?

He doesn't actually *live* there, he's just a real-estate agent?

[Flasch186]

my commissions are fixed, I work for a builder, I cannot buy or sell any resale home in the neighborhood so I make nothing financially from the bulk of the homes in the community. Im not selling my home and plan on keeping it forever even if I move from it (if it's possible financially) as i feel it would be a good home to retire too someday. I live in the neighborhood (the one im talking about) I sell in so you could say I will sell more if it's a nicer looking neighborhood but I also live here too so I'm not sure why you would weigh one above the other.

---actually, if the neighborhood went to crap and the builder had to lower prices to sell we'd actually sell more homes since, for Jacksonville, we're a neighborhood that seems to be above the sweet spot price-wise (<$250K). I'm actually hurting myself financially.

[Buccaneer]

You need to update your sig.

policing hypocrisy one thread at a time.
(As long as it doesn't apply to Democrats or to me.)

[Flasch186]

Actually it's worse: my understanding is he's the real-estate agent, so he's looking to make larger comissions. Classy.

see my post above. I wont make larger commissions and I make zero off of the majority of the homes for sale in this community and as a matter of fact compete against them (in a way) so it's the opposite. I could argue it's better for me financially if the resale homes look crappy so I can sell someone a new one, in the newer section. I am not thinking that way and am trying to bring the entire community up. After reading the thread I understand that the people doing the things I am describing against will not change regardless. I did have a neighbor thank me for it when I got home from the grocery store and said that he couldnt stand the fact that his neighbor behind him parked up on the street on his backyard (he lives situated on a cul-de-sac). I have a feeling the "amens" wont hesitate to say thanks to my face while the people that think I'm a "douche" will happily talk about me, in groups, behind my back and my house will probably get egged.

[BYU 14]

The only reason this shit comes up now is because neighborhoods are no longer that......people don't know each other and just allow HOA's, many with too much power to dictate who life in their development should be.

I remember growing up in a neighborhood where people knew each other, helped those that couldn't take care of their yards do so and shared pride in their streets.

I live in a place now where the HOA spent over $35,000.00 last year on litigation on things like backyard Gazebos and putting an extra tree in the front yard.....Money that could have been better spent installing speed bumps to curb the fucking Nascar mentality that inflicts about half the people that drive through here.

Up until three months ago we had three teenagers in the house, which meant 5 cars and space in the garage and driveway for 4. The HOA threatened to sanction us and denied a request for a waiver to park one in the street. Their response was add on to your driveway!! Well we live on a corner lot and there is no room to expand the driveway, unless I did it in front of the house, which would look like shit. They also suggested parking one car outside the neighborhood....sure, I will have my 19 yr old Daughter park a mile away at 11pm when she gets off work and walk......safe area or not, shit can happen. I battled them on this for 4 months before one of my sons moved out to go to school on the other side of the valley......

Stuff like this is typical of HOA's in Arizona, and that letter posted by Flasch could have come from anyone of them here and would have drawn mostly ire. Flasch, I respect what you are trying to do, that was probably just not the best way to go about it....And besides, let's not forgot why Homes are overvalued now, people make their own beds and putting a Car in the driveway won't fix the problem.

[Flasch186]

The only reason this shit comes up now is because neighborhoods are no longer that......people don't know each other and just allow HOA's, many with too much power to dictate who life in their development should be.

...and I think that that stinks. thanks for the support :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

... the people doing the things I am describing against will not change regardless.

Damned sure not based upon some anonymous* note.

If there are rules in place to handle these things, use them if you genuinely want to see change in behavior.

Ultimately, if there's no power of enforcement then you have zero chance of success, and your opinion in the note (apparently) had nothing to back it up.
Truth is, nobody gives a damn what you randomly think unless you've got some power behind it.

*I know you didn't intend it that way but ultimately it is what it is.

[Flasch186]

*I know you didn't intend it that way but ultimately it is what it is.

thanks. It sucks but from this thread, which may be the best thing to come out of this all, Ive learned that the people I was trying to affect wont be affected. That frustrates me cuz I look back on what I wrote and there isn't really a debate that it's true but, like people said, to get the desired effect, this apparently wasn't the best way to go about it. I am still glad I did it though.

Kinda funny that Fidatelo got me to think more about it and financially, I think by "helping" the other half of the neighborhood (literally the neighborhood branches off in 2) I might be hurting myself. I hadnt thought about it until now LOL

[Anthony]

i think you went about it the wrong way.

i think you should've present it as "Proven Tips To Increase The Value Of Your Home: Looking to Refinance/Sell? Here are some tidbits you may have overlooked to help you maximize your returns, from an experienced realtor".

i would've left out the part about giving the kids enough room when they ride their bike and the part about not speeding. that's too preachy and plays no part in increasing/decreasing a home's value. when i see people speeding in my neighborhood - and it doesn't happen too frequently fortunately - i don't automatically assume the speedster was from my neighborhood. those are isolated, random events. likewise, i don't think prospective homebuyers see a driver not helping up a kid who fell from his bike as a negative aspect about a neighborhood.

you had honest intentions, obviously, but how you presented it was off and you probably rubbed a couple people the wrong way. but there's nothing wrong with trying to bring the standards of a community up. i applaud your effort, but the way you went about it was not the best way. you live, you learn.

[Flasch186]

That's what Ive learned. Thanks HA

BTW Im not a Realtor, Im technically a "site agent" which is why I cant help people buy or sell homes outside of New construction in this community although I do help their appraisers on their Resales when they need comp info because generally our homes are more expensive.

[Anthony]

no prob. i find sometimes it's not the message that moves people or gets through to people, but how the message is presented. i mean, Hitler got an entire country to subscribe to the theory that exterminating all Jews was a pretty logical idea. point is, you can go a long way in getting people on your side largely based on how you convey what you're trying to get across.

seems like you were trying to kill two birds with one stone. you started off pointing out how not taking care of your property reduces the overall appeal of the neighborhood. that i agree with. i read things like that all the time on websites (like cnn.com, etc). i'm always on the lookout for quick little bullet points as to what i could be doing to enhance the value of my home without spending much time and effort. then you went off on a tangent on how to live life - how much room to give kids when they're riding bikes, a quick how-to on what to do when you encounter a fallen child. by that point you lost me.

maybe what you coulda done, which, like hindsight, doesn't do much for you now, is put that same note in people's mailboxes minus the life-coach etiquette part. at the bottom of the note could've been a PS pointing people to a simple little website you could've set up where you went into detail and then also added maybe a section for "gripes" or blog/forum section where you then could've wrote things like "top 10 things that saddens/irratates me about the neighborhood". then invite people to comment on your thoughts and better - start their own threads about things they don't like and would like to change.

implemented properly, your site could be the de facto sounding board for your town or neighborhood where people could annonymously voice their displeasure and/or concerns about the community.

so basically you rope them in offering to provide your insight as to how to enhance the value of the neighborhod, then when you got people seeking further info you get them to read your comments on other neighborhood no-no's.

[flere-imsaho]

The only reason this shit comes up now is because neighborhoods are no longer that......people don't know each other and just allow HOA's, many with too much power to dictate who life in their development should be.

+1

i think you should've present it as "Proven Tips To Increase The Value Of Your Home: Looking to Refinance/Sell? Here are some tidbits you may have overlooked to help you maximize your returns, from an experienced realtor".

+1

I have no content to add, other than to say that I'm glad I don't live in a neighborhood with an association.

[CraigSca]

Funny -we see the exact opposite in our neighborhood. People blatantly disregard the rules they signed up for upon move-in, and the association that we pay roughly $300 a year to sits on its butt and doesn't do a thing about it.

Oh, and then there's the people who don't pay their fees at all, causing ours to go up. Lovely.

[ShaneTheMaster]

I think it sucks I make over 70,000/year in Florida and can't afford a new home.

[Lathum]

I think it sucks I make over 70,000/year in Florida and can't afford a new home.

we make a combined 150K plus and could barely afford a home in NJ

[Flasch186]

I think it sucks I make over 70,000/year in Florida and can't afford a new home.

not true, give me a call and I can get you an awesome deal and make zero on the commission for you. You only have to buy in this neighborhood I mentioned above :) and buy a new home, not a resale....and for it to be the best deal it needs to be a Spec home.

[Lathum]

so hows the neighborhood looking these days?

[fantom1979]

Besides the flaming poo in his yard, it is probably pretty nice.

[Flasch186]

not any better and those that said the people who are the problems wont care about the letter and those that do care about the letter arent the one's were talking about, were right. Only one lawn is really really bad but the HOA is cutting it. Lots of kids almost hit though which is partially due to them playing in the street but I do see that all the time and people that are in my car to see property do make comments about how dangerous the streets are because of the cars in the road. It'll take a kid getting hit before things change (for a while before going back to the same old same old). You just simply cant see them until its almost too late.

[sterlingice]

Lots of kids almost hit though which is partially due to them playing in the street but I do see that all the time and people that are in my car to see property do make comments about how dangerous the streets are because of the cars in the road. It'll take a kid getting hit before things change (for a while before going back to the same old same old). You just simply cant see them until its almost too late.

Now if you wanted to be proactive, you could just hit one of the little urchins. I mean, just enough to wing him and show all the parents in the neighborhood- like a warning shot where it doesn't do any real damage but gets the point across. Pick the one that's the biggest brat, too, so you get some satisfaction out of it :D

SI

[RedKingGold]

not any better and those that said the people who are the problems wont care about the letter and those that do care about the letter arent the one's were talking about, were right. Only one lawn is really really bad but the HOA is cutting it. Lots of kids almost hit though which is partially due to them playing in the street but I do see that all the time and people that are in my car to see property do make comments about how dangerous the streets are because of the cars in the road. It'll take a kid getting hit before things change (for a while before going back to the same old same old). You just simply cant see them until its almost too late.

Priorities man, priorities.

[flere-imsaho]

Why are people parking on the street? Laziness?

Interesting how we don't have any of these "problems" in my non-HOA neighborhood.

[lordscarlet]

This is vaguely off topic, but I think kids should be able to play in the street. In a suburban neighborhood, that is often the only choice. This is why low speed limits are posted. (This is not meant as an endorsement of the "mailbox letter")

[Marc Vaughan]

I personally bought my house because I liked the neighbourhood - its friendly and reasonably neat without disappearing up a posterior (ie. cars don't park on driveways all the time).

I agree with Flasch that such things probably do affect house valuations, however the house I live in isn't an investment its a family home which is much more important imho than its current market value .... I'd prefer a slightly scruffy friendly neighbourhood where my family are happy to one which is immaculate where I'm not.

PS - The points about looking out for each others kids and property though I whole heartedly agree with, just common sense imho.

[JonInMiddleGA]

This is vaguely off topic, but I think kids should be able to play in the street.

Only if I can drive on the sidewalk and through the yards.

[flere-imsaho]

Only if I can drive on the sidewalk and through the yards.

Bucc, is that you?

:p

[lordscarlet]

Only if I can drive on the sidewalk and through the yards.

No, you slow down and give the kids a chance to get out of the street. That's how it was where I grew up, at least. It just takes some courtesy and understanding on both sides.

Maybe we're talking about neighborhoods with yards much larger than where I grew up, but the street was the only place for us to play football. If a car was headed down the street, you get the "CAR!" yell and everyone vacates the asphalt.

[JonInMiddleGA]

No, you slow down and give the kids a chance to get out of the street.

Sorry, but if you were dumb enough to play in the street where I grew up (and that's a town so small that it wasn't even a "town" officially) you stood a pretty good chance of getting your ass run over. Happily most kids were smart enough to know that.

Streets are for cars, they are neither private nor public playgrounds. And kids have as much business playing in them as I have driving on the sidewalk.

[jeheinz72]

I personally wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood with perfectly manicured lawns, no one parked on the street and I felt any actual pressure to do X, Y and Z. We keep a clean house/yard but still, that kind of attitude just wouldn't work for me whatsoever.

Kid safety, yeah. That's gotta be a big priority. I played in the street when I was a kid, but I also grew up on a cul-de-sac so not really the same deal. If it's that big of a problem, petition to put in speed bumps...and watch the mailbox shitting hilarity that follows that one.

[chesapeake]

thanks. It sucks but from this thread, which may be the best thing to come out of this all, Ive learned that the people I was trying to affect wont be affected. That frustrates me cuz I look back on what I wrote and there isn't really a debate that it's true but, like people said, to get the desired effect, this apparently wasn't the best way to go about it. I am still glad I did it though.

Kinda funny that Fidatelo got me to think more about it and financially, I think by "helping" the other half of the neighborhood (literally the neighborhood branches off in 2) I might be hurting myself. I hadnt thought about it until now LOL

I missed this thread the first time through. I would have recommended that you issue your flyer under the aegis of the homeowner's association. Most folks will dismiss recommendations made by another neighbor -- even if it is solid sdvice offered with the best of intentions. Assuming your HOA has the authority to fine or otherwise make trouble for those that fail to meet the community's regulations, the same jerk that picks up the flyer and gets irriatated at you for being presumptuous at least has to read the flyer if it comes from the HOA, fearing that not being aware of the information might come at some cost to him/her.

It won't be 100% effective, but it raises the bar some from the compliance you got.

It also may have helped if you got the HOA President to write a couple of lines to open it to make it appear as if the HOA had asked you to provide advice based on your expertise rather than you volunteering the suggestions as the neighborhood crank. Then, rather than someone giving you a dirty look, you can simply shrig your shoulders and point them at the HOA.

You might even want to take another shot at this next year, but passing the same information through the HOA this time.

[spleen1015]

The President of our HOA had a scathing letter in our last newsletter about the upkeep of some of the yards around the neighborhood. Pretty much telling everyone that shitty yards were driving down the value of the other houses.

There is a house across the street from me and one 2 doors down that have the worst yards I have ever seen. They aren't mowed regularly and there are more weeds than grass.

Guess who owns these to houses as rentals?

[chesapeake]

Sorry, but if you were dumb enough to play in the street where I grew up (and that's a town so small that it wasn't even a "town" officially) you stood a pretty good chance of getting your ass run over. Happily most kids were smart enough to know that.

Streets are for cars, they are neither private nor public playgrounds. And kids have as much business playing in them as I have driving on the sidewalk.

Where I grew up on the Puget Sound, the street was one of the few places that 1) didn't have huge trees in the middle of it; and, 2) was mostly flat enough that you could play a game. The golden age of outdoor sports play in my neighborhood was a period when the lot next door was cleared of trees and brush for a house and then the contractor went belly-up. We had almost 2 years of a nice lot to play on.

[Flasch186]

a few things of note:

We have a very diversifed neighborhood and sometimes I have found that cultural differences play a part in yard and street and home expectations.

Speed bumps would probably the only way to get people to show up at the HOA meetings, so they can rail against them.

One of the reasons in Florida for street parking is people use their garages as storage units so they cant park their cars in them. Then you put two on the driveway eventhough they afford 4 on them. After that add in just one more car and a bit of laziness or anticipated inconvenience from having to do the car shuffle (like we do at my house) and you get a neighborhood where you have to look way down at the end sometimes to see if there is a car coming towards you through what is essentially left of the road (1 lane in between rows of cars) and you dart through. Sometimes you have to communicate via hand signal to see who is going to go. I have seen a few more cars with minor damage to mirrors and stuff and wonder if it was due to being 'clipped'. All that being said, there are some homes that park zero cars in the drive and use the road for the most parking they can get.

This is a very family occupied neighborhood so the kids are everywhere.

-------------------

It's a tough situation. I had good intentions but didnt realize until pointed out on here (which is why I love you guys [most of you]) that the actual people who need to change wont care or read the letter. I hadnt thought about that. Whether the HOA stamps it or not those that dont care (there is one home that parks ZERO cars in the driveway and 4 on the road in front of the neighbor's yards) just aren't going to change. That was an eye opening revelation.

[lordscarlet]

Where I grew up on the Puget Sound, the street was one of the few places that 1) didn't have huge trees in the middle of it; and, 2) was mostly flat enough that you could play a game. The golden age of outdoor sports play in my neighborhood was a period when the lot next door was cleared of trees and brush for a house and then the contractor went belly-up. We had almost 2 years of a nice lot to play on.

Exactly. It's not like we're talking about highways here. A little politeness and common sense goes a long way. There is no way a child should be in danger of being hit by a car going 25mph in a residential neighborhood, even if they are playing in the street. If you feel the need to go in severe excess of 25mph, of course it will be dangerous for children, but 25mph is very slow.

[Anthony]

in my neighborhood suburbs we have a 30 mph limit. that's really slow.

where i grew up, the more urban Astoria in Queens NYC, we all knew the cars had the right of way and that we were in "their turf". playing in the street was something to do when there were no cars coming, we didn't feel as if we had a right to be in the street. it can get rather disruptive to have all these human roadblocks on the street. in my town everyone has ample backyard space, i know i have one of the larger backyards in town. for those that don't (due to extending their house, thereby decreasing the amoung of yard space) they have themselves to blame and i shouldn't have to suffer because someone's kid is forced onto the street cuz their dad wanted a bigger den. there is common respect in my neighborhood, so disruptions are minimal and there's a small baseball field/park closeby that is utilized more than the streets are. when i drive i don't look straight ahead so much as i scan from left to right continually, always on the lookout for a stupid kid/dog chasing a ball onto the street.

[NobodyHere]

Flasch,

Please stop causing trouble

Elderly Couple Gets Angry Letter Criticizing Home's Curb Appeal (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/elderly-couple-gets-angry-letter-criticizing-homes-curb-appeal-n99146)

[Toddzilla]

This is the MOTHER of all callbacks.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Lathum]

man, just reread this thread, Flash sure did take a beating...

[molson]

I'm really glad that I never want to live in a neighborhood nice enough to where people are obsessed with this stuff. I really like my grungy, friendly neighborhood. It's nice not to aspire to have more.

[DaddyTorgo]

What was the eventual resolution to this? Did things change in that neighborhood at all over the past few years?

[cartman]

What was the eventual resolution to this? Did things change in that neighborhood at all?

After the Great Yard and Street Parking Schism of 2009, it took months to get even basic services back to the area. The only recognizable features were overgrown flower beds, mailboxes covered in concertina wire, and defaced movie posters for "The Punisher". No one was really sure what set the conflagration off. Rumors persisted of a note left on mailboxes, others pointed to vehicles unable to turnaround in a cul-de-sac. The truth may never be known.

[stevew]

Was watching Flip or Flop the other day and some house they bought had an HOA of $590/month. That's like more than my house payment. Crazy.

[Lathum]

Was watching Flip or Flop the other day and some house they bought had an HOA of $590/month. That's like more than my house payment. Crazy.

our association fees in our condo in Seattle was about that much.

[Marc Vaughan]

Was watching Flip or Flop the other day and some house they bought had an HOA of $590/month. That's like more than my house payment. Crazy.

How much was the house? - I'm figuring its either 'free' and the HOA are like the monthly fees in a similar system to when you get a new phone from AT&T ... or its a multi-million pound neighborhood where if you have to ask you can't afford it ..

[Blackadar]

I'm glad the home I'm moving into in FL doesn't have a HOA...

[Desnudo]

Was watching Flip or Flop the other day and some house they bought had an HOA of $590/month. That's like more than my house payment. Crazy.

I think my parent in-laws is something like that. On the plus side they can't build a 2 foot white picket fence in their front yard because it's against HOA policy.

[CraigSca]

We were looking at a house in a VERY well-to-do community when we were moving to Florida. The community itself was way beyond our price range, but the house we were looking at was doable money-wise (the property was about half its value from a few years ago as it was an investment property, but the market was seriously deflated). We ultimately decided not to make an offer for two reasons:

- We didn't want to be the only people in the neighborhood without the requisite BMWs and private school for the kids.
- Oh, and the $1100 a month HOA fee we heard about halfway through the tour of the house. Good grief.

[Blackadar]

We were looking at a house in a VERY well-to-do community when we were moving to Florida. The community itself was way beyond our price range, but the house we were looking at was doable money-wise (the property was about half its value from a few years ago as it was an investment property, but the market was seriously deflated). We ultimately decided not to make an offer for two reasons:

- We didn't want to be the only people in the neighborhood without the requisite BMWs and private school for the kids.
- Oh, and the $1100 a month HOA fee we heard about halfway through the tour of the house. Good grief.

I looked at a few of those communities a couple of weeks ago. Nice, but I don't want to deal with the bullshit. I bought a home on a 1/2 acre lot on a corner with a greenway in my back yard. So I have to deal with exactly one direct neighbor. That's it.

[Butter]

$1100 a month??? Jesus Christ.

[DanGarion]

Fucking reporter can't even get the name of the company of the agent they spoke with right. It isn't Berkshire-Hathaway there is no fucking dash moron.

[digamma]

Wow--that dash has you pretty frosted.

Pretty sure you should crush the editor rather than the moron cake eater of a reporter though.

[panerd]

$1100 a month??? Jesus Christ.

I would expect the HOA to come wipe my ass for that kind of money. Our mortgage is almost half of the HOA!

[stevew]

How much was the house? - I'm figuring its either 'free' and the HOA are like the monthly fees in a similar system to when you get a new phone from AT&T ... or its a multi-million pound neighborhood where if you have to ask you can't afford it ..

I think they were selling for like 650-750


This is the show with the blonde chick that looks almost exactly like Tyra from Friday Night Lights.

[JonInMiddleGA]

At $1,100/month HOA fee, I have to figure it's either intentionally high to keep the riff raff out OR it includes things like lawn care & such.

[DaddyTorgo]

At $1,100/month HOA fee, I have to figure it's either intentionally high to keep the riff raff out OR it includes things like lawn care & such.

At $1,100 a month it better include a hot coed of my choosing to come over and give me a weekly BJ.

[CraigSca]

Nothing about lawncare, but it was a community with a very nice, country club like atmosphere - golf course and tennis courts embedded in the community. However, I don't think their usage was included in the free.

It may have been a rifraff thing, but the majority of the houses were in the high six figures (this one was nowhere near). You have to be high-end riffraff if you could afford to live here :D

[BishopMVP]

This is the show with the blonde chick that looks almost exactly like Tyra from Friday Night Lights.Well now you've got me interested.

[stevew]

Well now you've got me interested.

http://images.tvrage.com/people/134/401947.jpg

[DanGarion]

Wow--that dash has you pretty frosted.

Pretty sure you should crush the editor rather than the moron cake eater of a reporter though.

Eh... I work for the Franchisor. I just think it's stupid when paid professionals can't get simple facts straight.

[kcchief19]

Nothing about lawncare, but it was a community with a very nice, country club like atmosphere - golf course and tennis courts embedded in the community. However, I don't think their usage was included in the free.

It may have been a rifraff thing, but the majority of the houses were in the high six figures (this one was nowhere near). You have to be high-end riffraff if you could afford to live here :D
If it's a closed-membership country club where you have to live there to be a member, that makes sense. The HOA subsidizes the country club but you still have to play for golf, dinner, etc. No special privileges, you're just paying to have "green space."

Around KC here, $400 a month HOA will get you lawn care, snow removal and sometimes even exterior maintenance such as painting every 10-15 years.

[DaddyTorgo]

If it's a closed-membership country club where you have to live there to be a member, that makes sense. The HOA subsidizes the country club but you still have to play for golf, dinner, etc. No special privileges, you're just paying to have "green space."

Around KC here, $400 a month HOA will get you lawn care, snow removal and sometimes even exterior maintenance such as painting every 10-15 years.

Snow removal? :confused: