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GeraldT4

Posts:932

01/25/2008 6:09 AM
MicheleD - My community is gated, single-family and townhouses. Our articles of incorporation state no signs of any kind are permitted on the common property, believe it or not. I wouldn't say the restriction infringes on my ability to sell my home because, after all, who am I really advertising to if I place a for sale sign in front of my home. My concern is being able to have a way to quickly direct prospective buyers to my home once they are through the gates. A way around that is to have balloons on the outside of my home, and clear directions in my, or my realtor's marketing materials. As for your question "Wouldn't an HOA WANT as fast a turnover as possible?", I wonder the same thing. Sometimes it seems as if HOA Boards don't realize the impact that one home has on the whole

PaulM
(Pennsylvania)

Posts:1347

01/25/2008 9:17 AM
GeraldT4: Though you may not be able to permit a sale sign directly at the front of your home, are you able to place a sign outside the existing gate to the community? This alerts the 'public' to a unit for sale within the community. I have posted before of a community in our area which posts a small sign (about 15"x15")red & white (Home for Sale) on a post standing about 12" off the ground. It sits outside the community entrance, is unobtrusive, but easily seen by all. It is in good taste and does not boast of any realtor handling the sale.

GeraldT4

Posts:932

01/25/2008 7:07 PM
PaulM - The common property extends apprx. 30 feet beyond the gate itself to the county road. Some owners and realtors have posted open house signs pointing to our community on the property opposite the front entrance. The Board seems to be permitting those that even post open house signs on the front entrance common property. I say "seems to be permitting" because I've not researched to see if they've written letters of objection to those that post a sign in these common property areas. The Articles of Inc. clearly state no signs of any kind. So, technically what's going on is a no no. What needs to officially occur, to change things, is that the Articles need to be amended by a 2/3rd's vote with some amendment that will permit something other than what the Articles permit (which is no posting at this time).

DonnaS
(Tennessee)

Posts:2841

01/26/2008 6:43 AM
Gerald, We like every other HOA is hurting for owners to sell and we have begun to permit For Sale signs to be posted an a small area outside of the gates. They are required to be a certain size and must be removed by dark on Sunday nights. They go up on Friday after 3 pm. All agents seem to be complying as they too are part of the people that must adhere to the rules of the association and covenants which say "NO SIGNS" of any type or kind. It seems like your association and mine have many similar restrictions. The only allowance that we have is that agents and owners may hang an approved clear acrylic 8.1/2 x 11 box off of the mail box added horizontal pole, with the for sale flyers inside. They are very inobtrusive and everyone in these parts know what is inside of them, therefore it is clear that this property is for sale.

GeraldT4

Posts:932

01/26/2008 8:23 AM
DonnaS, Until our articles are amended by the residents, anything not in compliance is obviously a violation. Don't get me wrong, I'm for an "open house sign", or "home(s) for sale" sign. However, the sign alone, especially in a gated community, will not sell a house. A strong marketing program, a willing and realistic buyer and seller, a good broker and agent are the key factors in selling a home. Emphasis on willing and realistic buyer and seller. There are a myriad of things an HOA can do to promote their community, like creating a slick website that features homes, floor plans, pictures, amenities, local attractions, etc. A lot of these materials should have been provided to the original buyers from the developer/builder.

DonnaS
(Tennessee)

Posts:2841

01/26/2008 8:37 AM
Gerald, You are right. It took us almost 2 years to get our developement up and running in a more efficient manner from when the Developer left it. That included a very nice web site with all that you mentioned plus many more items. Now days, the first place people head to do any reserch or inquiring is the web. We think that ours is as good as it gets for now but will get better every day. Our "For Sale" pages have been quite effective. I know that is how I found one of my properties, actually, 2 of them. We do not have a Blog page and I remember a poster not long ago, asking if associations use them. We found that it took away valuable time to monitor it. There's always someone who cannot follow posting rules and ruins it for the good people.

SteveC4
(Florida)

Posts:66

01/27/2008 4:10 PM
pennyn1- In my opion I think you should mind your business...thats insane to complain about for sale signs in your community...what if you wanted to list your house up for sale? It is what it is so deal with it ....why make things so harder on people...be happy and enjoy life and neighbors stop complaining.

AlexL1
(Florida)

Posts:149

01/27/2008 5:19 PM
AHHHHH! but here is a way they get around that.. they have an open house at one of the units... so the realtor has an open house on a Sunday... plasters signs all over the place and who to call? Management? they are closed on Satudays and Sundays!!!

MicheleD
(Kentucky)

Posts:1711

01/27/2008 6:55 PM
Gerald said: "However, the sign alone, especially in a gated community, will not sell a house. A strong marketing program, a willing and realistic buyer and seller, a good broker and agent are the key factors in selling a home." No one is saying otherwise.

GeraldT4

Posts:932

01/28/2008 5:22 AM
MicheleD - My statement is meant to deemphasize the importance of for sale signs, especially in a gated community. The other factors, marketing campaign, realistic buyer/seller, etc. are worth saying and emphasizing.

PaulM
(Pennsylvania)

Posts:1347

01/28/2008 5:29 AM
GeraldT4: This is an example of how documents can be worded to dictate something without the use of common sense!!! Naturally when any of us want to sell our home within a community we will want a sign posted SOMEWHERE!!! It is important to either amend the docs or create a rule which covers the Home for Sale situation. For Penny, I cannot believe that you have that many homes for sale in your community at one time, that they are everywhere and perhaps it is displeasing to you? If a time comes when your home is for sale, what would you want done?

GeraldT4

Posts:932

01/28/2008 6:00 AM
Hi PaulM - My community is about 4 years old, I'm a first owner. It's my strong suspicion that the restriction on signs was written into the docs. by the developer for the developer to attempt to prevent for sale signs and therefore competition as the developer was building and closing homes. Currently we have 7 townhouses and 3 single-family homes for sale. Dotting the community with for sale signs in a private gated community on a daily basis will IMHO look ridiculous, and not really functional. Be that as it may, the docs are written and I firmly believe a well established amendment needs to occur as follows: one "homes for sale sign" at the front entrance near the road, one "open house sign", and one "inquire at gatehouse" sign, one sign inside one front window, and a portable "open house" sign in front of the unit during the time of the open house. There's no restriction on putting up balloons on the outside as a further indication to buyers.

CharlesW1
(Georgia)

Posts:818

01/28/2008 7:07 AM
I agree with GeraldT4 as well as, his previous posts. I too feel that, in a gated community, for sale signs throughout the association are certainly unnecessary as well as being very displeasing / unattractive to potential buyers/future neighbors. NOT TO MENTION, A VIOLATION OF THE CONVENANTS. This in turn WILL affect MY property values! With a good realtor (selling/buying agent) there wouldn’t be a need to “plaster” for sale signs all over the community as described in the original thread. However, I can certainly relate to this particular thread being I too (like others) would like to do everything possible to successfully sell my home. I like the balloon idea, very unique! I would also suggestion address the BOD as too when/where for sales signs would/could be display “If” the HO feels displaying them will help in the sale of the home. Just my two (2) cents Chuck W.

Charles E. Wafer Jr.

HaroldS
(Arizona)

Posts:904

01/28/2008 1:11 PM
We fuss about state legislatures chipping away at our "rules", but it is unreasonable rules such as this that we insist on enforcing that bring it to their attention. It is ludicrous that Arizona or any state has to implement a law to allow a seller to post a for sale sign on his property. With the infamous "not withstanding" they have indeed eliminated any Arizona HOA's denial of a for sale sign, and if you notice, did not exempt gated communities either. I think it is generally agreed this restriction was placed by the developer to avoid competition or make a prospective buyer wonder why there were homes for sale. A reasonable HOA should have eliminated this rule by now, and if not, they can expect the state to do it for them. ©2007 Arizona State Legislature "Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the indoor or outdoor display of a for sale sign and a sign rider by an association member on that member's property, including a sign that indicates the member is offering the property for sale by owner. The size of a sign offering a property for sale shall be in conformance with the industry standard size sign, which shall not exceed eighteen by twenty-four inches, and the industry standard size sign rider, which shall not exceed six by twenty-four inches." .

EdieL
(Virginia)

Posts:72

01/30/2008 4:56 AM
In Virginia, the covenants rule, unless the covenants have a provision that is in opposition to State Property Rights Law. ie: You can not prevent an owner putting a for sale sign, displaying the American Flag etc. The covenants can state, however, what rules a sign has to conform to or how the flag is displayed. Edie

SharonM3
(Virginia)

Posts:23

02/06/2008 3:32 PM
AnnieS1, Our bylaws also state that any signs to be displayed must have the prior written authorization of the board. Consider taking down the sign and submitting your request in writing. Our board enforces this, and we have had people take down signs in their windows (condo assn). From the board's perspective, homeowners who don't like a violation (everyone has their pet peeves)often call sb on the board. If a HO were to submit in writing a request to display the signs, say, between 12pm and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday for open houses, this seems to be a reasonable request. What we are trying to avoid is twofold: 1) signs in the windows for months and months until a unit sells; and 2) HOs approaching the offenders. If the "offender" has the written authorization from the board and is following the terms, then the HOs can address the board's decision and can stop hassling the "offender."

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