There is one aspect of building a home that can make things more challenging in terms of customizing the design, especially the outdoor area, and that is a homeowner’s association. For those of you building on a private plot, this is not an issue. However, if you are moving into an established community that has an HOA, you will need to ensure your plans and outdoor designs are approved before construction.
What Is a Homeowner’s Association (HOA)?
These are generally communities where there are amenities available to all homeowners in the area, as well as certain services being provided, such as trash pickup and possibly even some landscaping. Some of the amenities may be a community pool, clubhouse, gym, and possibly even a golf course. But there is a price to pay for these amenities.
There is a monthly fee that must be paid in order to remain in good standing with the HOA, and there is a small committee of local residents that will make up the board of the HOA. The committee oversees budgeting for the services provided as well as rule enforcement for community standards.
The committee will generally hold a monthly or quarterly meeting, which all members of the HOA can attend.
How Does an HOA Impact Homeowners?
In terms of the inside of the home, you are usually still free to do whatever you want. However, when it comes to the outside of the home, the HOA will have a say, from the type of home that can be put up to a pool install to what can be hanging from the outside of the home as well as the landscaping.
AirBNB is a great way for homeowners that travel to make some money on their homes while away, but some of these communities may not permit such rentals, so if that is your goal, be sure to read over the local HOA guidelines.
In addition to having standards regarding the aesthetics of the home, any additions, such as a pool, would have to be approved by the HOA before permitting. There may be guidelines as to how big the pool can be, where it can be placed, as well as any safety measures that must be put in place to ensure community safety.
Unfortunately, even if you are having a custom home built, the HOA will have a significant say in what you can and cannot do, especially for the outside of the home. For that reason, if you are building in an HOA community, we highly recommend you go over the guidelines set for the community, then work with your residential construction project manager, builder, and designer to see if you can work those restrictions into your build without it taking away from your preferred design.