Security signs and Neighborhood Watch

[pili]

Anyone has a security system (ADT,Brink, etc) and put the sign by bushes (being unobtrusive but to deter burglars)? After the rash of burglaries earlier this year we decided to spend the money and get a security system. While I understand no signs are allowed south of 466 we put the sign by bushes so it would deter someone from breaking in yet not be a cause for anyone to be upset. I feel a homeowner's security is more important and we were not placing pink flamingoes, statues, or anything that will deter from beauty of home. We have spent over $50,000 to beautify our home and are very proud of it. I came home last week to Neighborhood Watch writing me up because of sign. According to this gentleman "I was advertising for ADT". I explained it was for security purposes and he replied it had to go inside the window. Now, if I place it inside the window you really can see it and is ugly. He said if I didn't take it down "we would go through legal process and they would put a lien on our house". Needless to say I was astounded and angry that a small sign on the lawn to prevent burglaries was a cause to put a lien on my house. I wrote to the supervisor and Mark Morse because I believe something needs to be change. Needless to say, no one has have the courtesy to respond to me. I guess having a small sign hiding in bushes is more important than keeping our homes safe from burglars.

[SUNNYMARYANN]

Have someone look over the covenants for you and look for specific wording regarding signage and specific types of display. An alarm system sign is not an advertising sign (I think that was the Neighborhood Watch persons own personal opinion) it is in fact a warning sign. Pursue this for everyone's benefit. Wonder if there are any retired attorneys living in the Villages who could go over the Covenants with you for the benefit of the community.

[rshoffer]

amazing example of giving someone a little power and then they go overboard with it.

you can appeal such a foolish statement by the watchperson.

[KathieI]

Agree with all the posters. Pili, how come they allow the pest control people and landscapers to put their signs on the lawns right in the front of our houses? That is definitely advertising and they are very unaesthetic.

Good question to ask.

[Mallory]

Decals inside your windows and near doors could be a better alternative and meet the covenants and rules.

My understanding is landscaper and pest control signs are allowed for a maximum of 3 days.

[spk7951]

ADT can give you the decal stickers for the windows. We received six of them. One of our neighbors put her sign at the back of her house, which I suppose is a good idea since about all of the recent break-ins have been through the back of the houses.

When we landscaped last year the info we received regarding landscaper sign or yard maint signs is 24 hours after work is done they must be removed. I do not remember the particular dept in TV that told us that but I am sure it would not be hard to get the answer again.

[JeanneBeannie]

I absolutely agree with the posters too! After spending so much investing in a home, updating and furnishings, not to mentions all the other added fees i.e. property taxes etc. Are we not allowed to protect our home? I have ADT in my home and a little blue sign in my opinion does not affect the look of my landscaping. As stated in was put in a inconspicuous place, its not like it was placed a few inches from the road. To me, that is absolutely ridiculous and it wouldnt sit well with me either if I was harassed by a lawsuit. :cus:. I do respect the rules they have in place to keep it a beautiful place for everyone and to keep it that way, but a threat of a lawsuit for protecting our home is absolutely a power trip!
I better stop lol...my blood pressure is going up lol :cus:.
Makes no sense to me :shrug:.

[Bogie Shooter]

Wow, $50,000.

[downeaster]

Agree with all the posters. Pili, how come they allow the pest control people and landscapers to put their signs on the lawns right in the front of our houses? That is definitely advertising and they are very unaesthetic.

Good question to ask.




Pest control people are required by law to post signs warning of recent treatment. Yes, it does serve to advertise as well.
I believe landscapers are permitted to display a sign while they are performing the work. I don't know the rationale but it is definitely advertising.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, as the case may be, we bought into a deed restricted community and agreed to all of its terms at closing. sometimes those terms raise their ugly head and bite us. ( I wanted to remove a tree that offended me but was turned down. So be it. )

Bottom line for me? Having lived in a deed restricted community where compliance was ignored I can only appreciate the strict compliance here.
Would I object if the powers that be made an exception for alarm signs? Not at all.

[rshoffer]

Pest control people are required by law to post signs warning of recent treatment. Yes, it does serve to advertise as well.
I believe landscapers are permitted to display a sign while they are performing the work. I don't know the rationale but it is definitely advertising.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, as the case may be, we bought into a deed restricted community and agreed to all of its terms at closing. sometimes those terms raise their ugly head and bite us. ( I wanted to remove a tree that offended me but was turned down. So be it. )

Bottom line for me? Having lived in a deed restricted community where compliance was ignored I can only appreciate the strict compliance here.
Would I object if the powers that be made an exception for alarm signs? Not at all.
It's not all that strict.... I live in Duval. Around the corner is a large bird bath in the front yard of a home with a nymph spouting water in the center of it. It is tastefully done but clearly against the rules so.... whazzzzzup?:shrug:

[Army Guy]

I am also interested in the outcome of this. Having just bought in Bonita, I read the rules and was really confused about ADT signs and stickers. My reading of it was the sign was not allowed, but really unsure if we could put the 2 in X 4 in sticker in our windows.

Thanks, Army Guy

[villages07]

rshoffer,

As long as the nymph is spewing water from an electrified source then she is a fountain and not a birdbath. Fountains are permitted out front, birdbaths are not (standing water/mosquito hazard). That said, I have seen some fountains that are gaudy by my standards but meet requirements.

The ADT sign is a touchy issue. It is common practice in this country to put those signs in the yard to ward off burglars but this clearly violates a 'no sign' covenant. I agree that the CW person was way too harsh in dealing with this new homeowner. Pili, I would suggest you call the deed compliance office directly and ask to speak with a manager and get a clear reading on the sign, options, and report to them the behavior of the CW person.

[texasfal]

Pili, we have had a small security sign for about 3 years. We put it next to the garage door, but under the eaves of the house. Community Watch told us they couldn't say anything about something under the eaves of the house. Still visible but where they won't bother it, I guess.

[Bryan]

Rules are rules so if it says "No Signs in your yard" in your deed restrictions, you probably are stuck with that. The window decals sounds like a good solution to me.

As far as pesticide signs go, Florida law requires them after application of chemicals to your yard. Not sure of the time they need to say in place though but it is relatively short, like maybe 24 hours.

The input (actually "threat") from a Community Watch employee was a little out of bounds. They should be much more helpful and tactful. I doubt he is licensed to practice law so threatening to place a lien on your home was way out of bounds. That requires court filings, lawyers, probably a trial and a judgement, and then a lien might be placed on the house some years down the road. I would definitely take his attitude and remarks up with the CW management. There are already other threads running in TOTV concerning CW staff members abusing their non-existant authority and threatening residents. CW management can't fix problem they are not made aware of so do report it.

[downeaster]

It's not all that strict.... I live in Duval. Around the corner is a large bird bath in the front yard of a home with a nymph spouting water in the center of it. It is tastefully done but clearly against the rules so.... whazzzzzup?:shrug:

rshoffer, let me clarify "Strict". Let me go on record as saying the rules themselves are not strict. In fact, I think they are very easy to live with.
However, I think enforcement is strict and that is as it should be. Once enforcement becomes lenient things can go down hill fast based on my personal experience.

By the way, did I not read somewhere fountains are allowed?

[pili]

Thank you for all the replies and support in many ways. The signs from pest control have to be removed after a day or two. I believe the company removes them because my Massey sign is gone after a day. I have not have time to go over all the covenants. I know the wording is tricky sometimes. Again, while I'm all for having restrictions (ugly statues, fountains, etc) on the lawn, I stay firm that a security sign is for protection. I guess the thing that I find really disturbing is that Nick Xenos, who's the Deed Compliance Supervisor didn't have the courtesy to reply to my complaint.

And yes, we do have the stickers provided by ADT and they are on the windows. However, they are small and to me they are not a deterrant as the sign was.

We had the sign on the lawn (again between bushes....not totally in front) for four months. I guess they now have a new Neighborhood Watch who has nothing better to do than go around snooping at lawns and writing up people. He told me he was going down the street to check on others. Yes, we have three more families who installed security systems and they were also written up. Some Neighborhood Watch members protect and others used up their time keeping others from having their homes safe. I read the posting from Talk Host about the nasty Neighborhood Watch person he encountered at one of the gates. Thank you all for the support.

[graciegirl]

You can ask Mother May I and get permission for things they deem appropriate.

We have our security signs in our window by the front door and in the back master bedroom window. We have a Camellia.

[rshoffer]

rshoffer, let me clarify "Strict". Let me go on record as saying the rules themselves are not strict. In fact, I think they are very easy to live with.
However, I think enforcement is strict and that is as it should be. Once enforcement becomes lenient things can go down hill fast based on my personal experience.

By the way, did I not read somewhere fountains are allowed?yep, according to the above you can spew away......

[rshoffer]

I wonder if the neighborhood watchers have to go thru the same screening as golf ambassadors... those people run a long gauntlet to become ambassadors.

[MikeH]

Why don't you all call Compliance Office and get a list of what's prohibited and what isn't. That would seem more sensible than relying on others who don't know anymore than you do.

[Bogie Shooter]

Why don't you all call Compliance Office and get a list of what's prohibited and what isn't. That would seem more sensible than relying on others who don't know anymore than you do.
It could not have been said any better!

[Don H]

Getting just a little bit off the original subject...what is the monthly charge for alarm services like ADT?

[Bogie Shooter]

Getting just a little bit off the original subject...what is the monthly charge for alarm services like ADT?

ADT 888-271-1823 $99 special

[Keedy]

Hi guys and gals...just testing for my first post.

Keedy:2excited:

[JeanneBeannie]

Welcome to TOTV Keedy!!
:beer3::pepper2::beer3:

[SUNNYMARYANN]

Does this mean that at Halloween i cant have my flying with hit the tree thingie?

[SUNNYMARYANN]

that was supposed to read 'flying witch'