Be proactive with your homeowners' association

The thing about condominium complexes and some other public utility developments that have homeowners' association is that everyone shares is the cost of maintaining common areas such as landscaping, the swimming pool and spa, the tennis courts, the basketball courts, the barbecue grills, and the streams, waterfalls, and water fountains.

Many homeowners don't realize, however, that along with the joys come an occasional sorrow, sorrow that oftentimes could have been prevented.

Such might be the case with the problem shown in the following picture:

Although it's been about 45 years since I was an inquisitive and curious little tyke, I still remember that these types of areas with all the neato (neato?) things in them are quite an attractant to the young -- hide and seekers or the merely curious.

If a young child gets injured or killed playing around this type of electricity equipment, the homeowners' association and its insurance company will be paying, and possibly severely if the right attorney gets involved for the family of the injured or deceased.

• As a homeowner, you should note these types of problems and bring them to the attention of your homeowners' association.
• As a Seller, even though you might be moving because you don't like the homeowners' assocation's rules, you should still work to get these problems fixed by the homeowners' association since lack of maintenance can indicate to a prospective Buyer a lack of concern or a lack of financial reserves.
• As a Buyer, especially one with some young children, is this the type of community that you want to live in, one that seems not to care about you and your family, or doesn't have the financial reserves to take care of the leaking roof over your home?

I think that too many people would just as soon ignore their own responsibility, or the opportunity to be proactive in helping to protect others, and merely sue anyone and everyone who might hold some responsibility if something happens. I also think that if we were all to work together as a community, a neighborhood, a city, a county, a country, a world, and a universe, life would be so much more pleasant and less stressful.

Be proactive! It is highly likely that it will save you money in the long run.

*****

This week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. How do you determine if repairs were done properly, or even done? - 5/22/09
2. How to lower your blood pressure naturally - 5/22/09
3. My first Foto Friday: Tree textures - 5/22/09
4. Thankful Thursday: Hydrangea - 5/21/09
5. My new digital SLR camera system - 5/20/09
6. Providing FREE HELP can be fun (if there's a rose garden involved) - 5/19/09
7. Manic Monday pop quiz: Concrete cracks - 5/18/09

Last week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): A visit from Mr. Monarch Butterfly - 5/17/09
2. Russel's Gardening Handbook: Jacaranda - 5/16/09
3. "Dear Home Inspector: Please try not to kill the deal...." - 5/16/09
4. "Dear Mrs. Realtor: No I won't...." - 5/16/09
5. Make your home dog friendly - 5/15/09
6. Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Chimneys - 5/15/09
7. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Huh? - 5/13/09
8. An Open Letter to the ActiveRain Powers That Be - 5/11/209
9. Manic Monday pop quiz: Electrical - 5/11/09
10. What's the point to ActiveRain points? - 5/11/09

Previous week's posts (they'll open in a new window)

1. SST (Speechless Sunday with Text): I have my eye on you - 5/10/09
2. Russel's Gardening Handbook: Lily of the Nile - 5/9/09
3. Americana, courtesy of Burma Shave - 5/9/09
4. It's all in how you market it - 5/9/09
5. Special closet doors for the little ones - 5/8/09
6. Frenetic Friday pop quiz: Would you give up your ActiveRain points? - 5/8/09
7. How to prevent indoor air pollution - 5/8/09
8. WWW (Wordless Wednesday with Words): Elevator and footsies - 5/7/09
9. Just exactly what is a "rain catchment basin"? - 5/6/09
10. What if I want to leave while the clothes are drying? - 5/5/09
11. Manic Monday pop quiz: Level 2 drought alert - 5/4/09

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