Need a 928 friendly lawyer - HOA wants to fine me $300 a day - Update- beat them!!
10-19-2010, 01:19 AM
#31
Burning Brakes
By moving in to your house you agreed to abide by HOA rules. Get the car running and uncovered, or move it out of site. If you ignore the fines guess who's gonna get paid when you sell your house... Resistance is futile....
'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black
HOA board member not in your neighborhood
'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black
HOA board member not in your neighborhood
10-19-2010, 02:31 AM
#33
Nordschleife Master
Jim,
That sucks... Tell your adult son to grow up and take care of his stuff and pay to store it and then you can actually put your cool 928 in the garage where it belongs anyway! The storage place is less than a mile from you and very reasonable...I used them in my drug rep days...all sizes of units and climate controlled too!
That sucks... Tell your adult son to grow up and take care of his stuff and pay to store it and then you can actually put your cool 928 in the garage where it belongs anyway! The storage place is less than a mile from you and very reasonable...I used them in my drug rep days...all sizes of units and climate controlled too!
10-19-2010, 08:09 AM
#34
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thanks all for the counsel.
I plan to personally engage the board member responsible for compliance of that covenant to determine exactly what they have deemed to be unsightly. It can't be the fact that I have the car in my driveway as folks on both sides of me with three cars in the driveway in violation of the covenant.
The covenants as they stand now were put in place by the developer in 1994. The neighborhood has long since been built out and the board is all fellow homeowners. Perhaps now is the time to become an activist and take our neighborhood back.
I plan to personally engage the board member responsible for compliance of that covenant to determine exactly what they have deemed to be unsightly. It can't be the fact that I have the car in my driveway as folks on both sides of me with three cars in the driveway in violation of the covenant.
The covenants as they stand now were put in place by the developer in 1994. The neighborhood has long since been built out and the board is all fellow homeowners. Perhaps now is the time to become an activist and take our neighborhood back.
Last edited by jwillman; 10-19-2010 at 09:38 AM.
10-19-2010, 08:21 AM
#35
Rennlist Member
I just cancelled a contract on a house here in Sugarland (Houston area) because of the ridiculous HOA laws.. I hate HOAs for this same reason.
My take...for $1200-$1500 buy one of these these designed for the conventional 2 car garage (like yours)..you permanently get your car out of the weather (a biggie for the hot TX months) AND you solve the HOA problem..plus you can still store stuff on the floor below the car when the car is in the air.
Good luck!
My take...for $1200-$1500 buy one of these these designed for the conventional 2 car garage (like yours)..you permanently get your car out of the weather (a biggie for the hot TX months) AND you solve the HOA problem..plus you can still store stuff on the floor below the car when the car is in the air.
Good luck!
10-19-2010, 08:51 AM
#36
Craic Head
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Jim,
The condo commandos are gunnin' for ya. There's no recourse but to appease them for now. Instead of going in guns 'ablazin' and hoping to beat them down, try to figure out how to feed their egos and get what you want.
It seems like the issue they're going to hang their hat on is the car cover. Other people have cars in their driveways, others have more than 2 cars. The issue seems to be the cover.
A lot of times what they don't want is to set a precedent that will allow the elephant's nose under the blanket. Yes your car is a Porsche, but if they allow that, the next one will be a half assembled '71 Beetle or a '78 Ford Bronco with a 40" lift kit and half the fenders rotted away. That's their logic and while an exotic car under a cover isn't going to lower anyone's property values, the others mentioned would and they can't very well start defining acceptable manufacturers or price points.
So maybe you strike a deal where you remove the cover and get permission to leave it on there for no more than a few days at a time when the weather is expected to be bad. This will protect your car and stroke their egos.
Tell them you understand and agree with the idea behind the rules, but see if there's a way that they can work with you.
The condo commandos are gunnin' for ya. There's no recourse but to appease them for now. Instead of going in guns 'ablazin' and hoping to beat them down, try to figure out how to feed their egos and get what you want.
It seems like the issue they're going to hang their hat on is the car cover. Other people have cars in their driveways, others have more than 2 cars. The issue seems to be the cover.
A lot of times what they don't want is to set a precedent that will allow the elephant's nose under the blanket. Yes your car is a Porsche, but if they allow that, the next one will be a half assembled '71 Beetle or a '78 Ford Bronco with a 40" lift kit and half the fenders rotted away. That's their logic and while an exotic car under a cover isn't going to lower anyone's property values, the others mentioned would and they can't very well start defining acceptable manufacturers or price points.
So maybe you strike a deal where you remove the cover and get permission to leave it on there for no more than a few days at a time when the weather is expected to be bad. This will protect your car and stroke their egos.
Tell them you understand and agree with the idea behind the rules, but see if there's a way that they can work with you.
10-19-2010, 09:04 AM
#37
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Jim,
The condo commandos are gunnin' for ya. There's no recourse but to appease them for now. Instead of going in guns 'ablazin' and hoping to beat them down, try to figure out how to feed their egos and get what you want.
It seems like the issue they're going to hang their hat on is the car cover. Other people have cars in their driveways, others have more than 2 cars. The issue seems to be the cover.
A lot of times what they don't want is to set a precedent that will allow the elephant's nose under the blanket. Yes your car is a Porsche, but if they allow that, the next one will be a half assembled '71 Beetle or a '78 Ford Bronco with a 40" lift kit and half the fenders rotted away. That's their logic and while an exotic car under a cover isn't going to lower anyone's property values, the others mentioned would and they can't very well start defining acceptable manufacturers or price points.
So maybe you strike a deal where you remove the cover and get permission to leave it on there for no more than a few days at a time when the weather is expected to be bad. This will protect your car and stroke their egos.
Tell them you understand and agree with the idea behind the rules, but see if there's a way that they can work with you.
The condo commandos are gunnin' for ya. There's no recourse but to appease them for now. Instead of going in guns 'ablazin' and hoping to beat them down, try to figure out how to feed their egos and get what you want.
It seems like the issue they're going to hang their hat on is the car cover. Other people have cars in their driveways, others have more than 2 cars. The issue seems to be the cover.
A lot of times what they don't want is to set a precedent that will allow the elephant's nose under the blanket. Yes your car is a Porsche, but if they allow that, the next one will be a half assembled '71 Beetle or a '78 Ford Bronco with a 40" lift kit and half the fenders rotted away. That's their logic and while an exotic car under a cover isn't going to lower anyone's property values, the others mentioned would and they can't very well start defining acceptable manufacturers or price points.
So maybe you strike a deal where you remove the cover and get permission to leave it on there for no more than a few days at a time when the weather is expected to be bad. This will protect your car and stroke their egos.
Tell them you understand and agree with the idea behind the rules, but see if there's a way that they can work with you.
10-19-2010, 09:35 AM
#38
HOA's.... BAH. Find out who is complaining, find out why, and what is in there bylaws. I can get the Car Cover jobby, but safety inspection and reg? tell them is a Off road Race car, or that they need to hire a detailer to wax and care for it if you cant keep it covered. I live on a Air Force base, and they are not that strict!
10-19-2010, 09:44 AM
#39
Pro
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Magnolia TX, just north of Houston, Red 1984 S
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Texas HOA's have more power and are substantially more ugly than some other states. WIthin the last 12 months one of the local Houston TV stations had a "special" regarding a 75 year old impaired widow who had been evicted over an unpaid HOA fee of $107. By the time they piled on all their reoccuring penalties she owed the HOA (fines, attorney's fees, penalties, etc) over $50,000. I am not certain what ever happened to her as it was a "done deal" as far as the HOA and the legal system was concerned. there was no concern on their part as to what might be fair, or what might be reasonable, or what special circumstances in her case might suggest to be the "right answer".
Most recently my HOA has decided to charge a $500 application fee for any building modifications, any additions, any additional structures etc. So, to build my $1000 tool shed it will cost me an extra $500. To paint my house an extra $500. To enlarge my patio an extra $500. And if they decide not to approve the application, they keep the fee anyhow.....and no, these fees were not part of the agreement we signed, but it was voted on and approved by the board this year....
Anyhow, enough of my grumbles, Jim W's problem is real in the fine state of Texas. As others have suggested he should not ignore it. Requesting a meeting with the appropriate parties might well buy a couple of weeks while he gets the clutch problem resolved and the vehicle on the road. Requesting a bit of time to get it resolved and showing a willingness to work with them and requesting their asistance/understanding is likely to be more productive than trying to prove others are doing it too...even though they are....
I would highly recommend avoiding any appearance of an adversarial response. They will be more than happy to take you to court as you will pay their attorney, your attorney, all the fees and fines, and still not have a solution.
Most recently my HOA has decided to charge a $500 application fee for any building modifications, any additions, any additional structures etc. So, to build my $1000 tool shed it will cost me an extra $500. To paint my house an extra $500. To enlarge my patio an extra $500. And if they decide not to approve the application, they keep the fee anyhow.....and no, these fees were not part of the agreement we signed, but it was voted on and approved by the board this year....
Anyhow, enough of my grumbles, Jim W's problem is real in the fine state of Texas. As others have suggested he should not ignore it. Requesting a meeting with the appropriate parties might well buy a couple of weeks while he gets the clutch problem resolved and the vehicle on the road. Requesting a bit of time to get it resolved and showing a willingness to work with them and requesting their asistance/understanding is likely to be more productive than trying to prove others are doing it too...even though they are....
I would highly recommend avoiding any appearance of an adversarial response. They will be more than happy to take you to court as you will pay their attorney, your attorney, all the fees and fines, and still not have a solution.
10-19-2010, 09:57 AM
#40
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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I have a very strick HOA, however they do allow cars to parked covered in the driveways. What they won't alllow is pickup trucks, RVs, boats etc to parked outside of your garage. Talk to them and see if they would make an exception. I would always choose to live in an HOA development - would hate having to wake up to a pink house with pink pelicans across the street every morning.
Oh, don't ignore it, they could end up putting a lien on your property.
Oh, don't ignore it, they could end up putting a lien on your property.
10-19-2010, 10:07 AM
#41
These HOA sound like hell. At least here is only the government that can change the law randomly at a moments notice without telling anyone due to one individual's whim, the individual being the Sheik
10-19-2010, 10:29 AM
#42
Rennlist Member
I hate HOAs too, but I hate it even more when somebody moves in next door and drops a ratty trailer on the property, and starts breeding pit bulls. Choose your poison. At least with an HOA, you know going in what the rules are. If you don't like them, then don't move there. If they are ambiguous, don't move there. If there is the occassional gray area, get involved and protect your interest - this is the most democratic process we have in this country, in spite of the bad rap they get.
Or, if all else fails, move out to the edge of the perimeter, in Montana, like me
Or, if all else fails, move out to the edge of the perimeter, in Montana, like me
10-19-2010, 10:44 AM
#43
Three Wheelin'
In my city you can not have an un-registered vehicle in your driveway.........unless it's pointed face out and has a FOR SALE SIGN on it. That might apply in your covenants also. Ditch the cover and show that your'e making an effort to conform. +928 times on getting rid of the kid's stuff in the garage. He moved out so now tell him to pack his chit and move that too!
10-19-2010, 11:52 AM
#44
Rennlist Member
Didn't you mention a 72 hour limit on parking a vehicle outside. Usually there is a small grace period so that homeowners with RV's, boats, etc, have time to load/unload but not store in their driveways. This also allows for homeowners to leave their vehicle outside of the garage overnight which is usually not an issue. The rub starts when someone leaves a project car outside and everyone else gets to look at it for months on end in the same spot. My neighborhood has an HOA that is very active and has attorneys on the board. Choose your steps wisely or it could cost you much more then its worth. Also, talk to your 23 year old about alternative storage options. Good luck.