Preventing Paint Problems in an HOA Community

In all HOAs, the primary point of concern has to do with painting, especially in regards to exterior painting. Paint color, finish, type, and even provider are all taken into consideration. If you make the wrong calculation, you may run into trouble with your neighbors and/or the HOA board itself, often in the form of fines. So, it’s mutually beneficial for you and your HOA to avoid painting conflicts to the best of your abilities. Here are some ways to prevent paint problems in an HOA community.

How to Avoid Paint Problems in Your HOA?

Read Your HOA’s Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)...All of Them

All HOAs come with documentation known as the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) which, as their name implies, outlines the HOAs particular rules. More specifically, your HOA’s CC&Rs will likely go over what your responsibilities are as a homeowner vs. the HOA’s responsibilities (i.e. who maintains what parts of the property), the process for submitting and receiving approvals for various renovations (including painting), restrictions against certain types of renovations and their specifics (i.e. paint colors), recommendations for hiring residential painting services, etc.

Carefully reading and understanding these CC&Rs is a crucial first step in preventing paint problems in your Norhtern California HOA community. Failing to do so will leave you in the dark regarding these matters, which means you may get penalized without even knowing why. There’s no doubt that CC&Rs can be lengthy and tedious to get through, but it’s worth doing so to cover your bases and avoid accidental breaches of contract.

The Importance of Maintenance Painting for HOAs

After reading your Northern California HOA’s CC&Rs you should have an understanding of, among other things, your maintenance responsibilities. Do not take these duties lightly. While your HOA may handle things like lawn care, communal-space maintenance (i.e. pools and athletic centers), etc., you still have to take care of your own home inside and out. If you fall behind on home maintenance, it can bring down the image and value of the entire community. As a result, you may be required to make certain repairs and/or paint your home or else suffer increasing fines on a regular basis. Rather than get to this point, simply take care of your home’s paint job and overall condition, just as you would if you lived outside of an HOA.

Pay Attention to Your NeighborsIn some cases, painting problems in HOAs have to do with neighboring homes and their too-similar or too-difference color palettes. If you want to avoid a painting dispute with your neighbor and/or your HOA board, take some time to observe your neighborhood’s overall aesthetic and speak with your neighbors regarding their color choices and past experiences with HOA painting. These observations and conversations can clue you into how to go about (and how not to go about) painting your home with minimal friction.

Make Sure to Have HOA Approved Paint Jobs

Some say that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to receive permission, but forgiveness isn’t really part of the equation when it comes to HOA regulations -- fines and penalties, on the other hand, are. And most people would rather play it safe than get slapped with hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in fines. So, if you’re not sure whether the condo painting services you’re about to hire will fly with your HOA, or if your paint colors of choice are acceptable, talk to those in charge of your Northern California HOA. Even if you are pretty sure you’re in the clear, seek approval anyway. You probably have to, for one thing, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

What if You’re in Charge of an HOA?

So far we’ve been discussing the member side of preventing HOA painting problems, but those in charge of HOAs play a role in mitigating these issues as well. In fact, HOA developers, presidents, and board members have the most power to reduce conflicts regarding paint and renovations. If you’re in such a position, consider taking these steps:

• Make rules and regulations in your CC&R clear and easy to understand to minimize confusion and frustration
• Regularly communicate with all HOA members to keep them in the loop regarding painting cycles, events, meetings, changes in rules, etc.
• Simplify approval processes to encourage members to seek permission before acting
• Recommend and partner with great house painting services to help members find reliable contractors and maintain HOA consistency and quality

Painting is enough of a pain in its own right -- don’t let your HOA make matters worse. Sure, HOAs come with some extra red tape, but these rules and restrictions should serve to mitigate problems with painting and renovations, not exacerbate them. At Endure Painting, we know a thing or two about the unique challenges of HOA painting, and we’re equipped to help homeowners comply with even the strictest policies while delivering the best results.

For more information regarding our skills and services, call us at (510) 458-2120 or send us an email at hello@endurepainting.com.