Responsibilty of Board/ Request for Nonconforming Door

When our neighborhood was built, a large number of the homes were built with garages facing the street. Unfortunately, the quality and aesthetics of the garage doors used by the builders were compromised for cost. The doors are only functional and are cheaply constructed. The doors are now beginning to malfunction and necessitate repair and replacement. Because of our HOA covenants and restrictions our Architectural Committee has been reluctant to allow homeowners to upgrade the quality of the doors for fear of compromising the conformity of the neighborhood. However, a number of nonconforming doors have snuck in over the years. A request has been made to the board and it has been recommended by realtors and housing experts that neighborhood home values would be increased, as well as improved aesthetics by allowing, within parameters, garage door upgrades to the more custom-styled doors which are now available. Our community has an agent from our property management company, who basically serves as the architectural committee. He has discouraged the board to act on any request. The agent for the company is relying on language that states "...approval as to quality of workmanship and design and as to harmony of external design with existing structures, location in relation to surrounding structures.....” I do not think that the language is adequate to disallow the requests especially when considered in light of the fact that nonconforming doors already exist in the community. Case law suggest that the purposes of language to establish such control is to protect the property values of all homes in the neighborhood by ensuring that no owner install a modification that detracts from the marketability of neighboring homes. A professional statement has been provided that home values should be increased as much as $10,000 with the installation of custom styled doors. Does anyone have any information or recommendation as to the responsibility of the board?

I agree with Roger, and doubly agree that the managing company is paid to MANAGE, not make the rules. They are the enforcement branch of your little government, not the legislative. They don't get to make or interpret the rules, just enforce them as given to them.

I am  Realtor with 10 years experience . I will confirm what you have already been told by a Realtor in your community. The garage door upgrade will make a huge difference in your property values.

'Old style doors', outdated doors, doors in poor repair- all de-value and none are  good for the aesthetics. Even though the buildings themselves may be in great condition, the doors will give the property a feeling of disrepair and age them.

I don't know why any management company or Board would be ambivalent about setting a standard for replacement. With so many styles available, it would be easy to find something that will work and provide continuity.

Good luck,
Lisa

We are small HOA code requires both architectual and color uniformity, with the Association being responsible for the exteriors of the buildings. One of the owners has taken it upon himself to replace his garage door with one of same design but different in color and is adamant about changing. Any ideas on how to handle this? Barbara