Who You Gonna Call? (Not Ghostbusters, though.)

[azriona]

So, we live in a housing association, and until now, I've never minded. For the last four years, since we bought the house, every summer the HOA goes through and determines if the house exterior meets the HOA's code. We've always passed without issue

Comments

[stress_kitten]

There may have been a change of who is on the HOA. New eyes mean issues that might have passed under a previous council are now noticed.

As for the "two months" thing, in our case fines can be assessed against the unit. However, in our units, as long as you let us know you're working on it and have a plan in place the two months is just the basic guideline.

As for whom to call... since it's your responsibility to fix, you get to figure out who to call most likely. There's a number of handyman services around, guttering companies, etc. Although you could ask them if they have any recommendataions of companies members have used in the past.

[azriona]

As for whom to call... since it's your responsibility to fix, you get to figure out who to call most likely.

Yeah, see, that's the part I need help with - it's not so much the recommendation, but --- if it's the sink, I call the plumber. If it's the wiring, I call an electrician. But I couldn't for the life of me figure who who does this stuff - and the prospect of not only trying to take care of Andrew and deal with individual companies in the span of two months is just making me madder. And I doubt that the HOA will think anything but, "You're home all day, you have PLENTY of time to do this." BULLSHIT, I say, if you think that's true, you come on over and try it!

We called gutter companies once, a year or so ago. They charge upwards of a thousand dollars to put in a fancy-schmancy gutter, which we don't want. The stupid thing is that we have a gutter on the back of the house, and no one can figure out why a front gutter wasn't installed at the same time!

[stress_kitten]

It sounds like most of those issues are pretty simple. You could try asking around to see if there are any handyman services in your area that people will recommend. Since you can buy basic guttering at homedepot, you can probably get the stuff yourself and then get someone to install it pretty cheaply.

We've got a company around here called Hire-a-Husband that does a bunch of basically maintenance/small reno projects. Check your local yellowpages (or whatever listings of business is common in your area) and see if they can give you an estimate and references.

[azriona]

I didn't mean to sound snippy before. I'm just tired - if it's not one thing, it's another these days, and I came home to find that Andrew hadn't napped except for a walk to McDonalds in his stroller with his grandparents in 90+ heat (after having sat outside with them while they weeded my overgrown front garden), so he was somewhat dehydrated and cranky and hot, and then to find that notice in the mailbox was really not what I wanted.

If a handyman service can take care of all this, then so much the better. I'd rather deal with one guy than three. Thanks for pointing me there.

[maypanic]

Sounds like they just got a new inspector.

All of these issues could be fixed by any handyman service. Ask around or check your local newspaper, there are tons of excellent Builders who are desperately trying to make ends meet since the housing market crash by doing handyman work. Should be in the yellow pages, and they should come give a free estimate, so you can compare a few.

[durayan]

Should not be a big deal to take care of. See handyman services above. Is yours a relatively new house? Mine's old, but in a neighborhood with lots of newer sections. We could opt in to the HOA, but for the life of me, I can't imagine why we would.

We politely respond to each notice that we keep our trashcans in the wrong place with a note asking them to please point us in the direction of the deed restriction they believe applies to our property. Somehow, they never do.

[earlgreytea68]

Ugh. The HOA might actually have recommendations as to who to call, I'd ask them.

Sorry about all this! Boo.

[fid_gin]

Please don't take this as gloating, because that sucks, but HOLY JEEBUS I'M SO GLAD WE DON'T HAVE AN HOA. It's one of the upsides to buying a 70-year-old house, I guess. :)

Painting the front step I'd say do it yourselves, it's cheaper, but I haven't a clue about the siding or spout. Should be listings in the phone book, I'd imagine. We just joined Angie's List recently and have been finding people through their good reviews.

[azriona]

Please don't take this as gloating, because that sucks, but HOLY JEEBUS I'M SO GLAD WE DON'T HAVE AN HOA.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I don't take it as gloating at all. I didn't mind the HOA when we bought, because my parents live in one and I don't remember them being particularly dictatorial. Now I'm thinking next time, we'll try to aim for a house without an HOA - not easy in this area, unfortunately.