[EastCoastDawg]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

"May not be perfect" is a gross understatement. There's a HUGE GAPING FLAW that makes it a broken system, not merely "not perfect."

If you buy a home that was already out of compliance, and didn't know that, and there's nothing from any inspectors saying it was out of compliance (because they don't include compliance issues in their reports), and the sales agent never mentioned it, and you are new to The Villages and don't know about the online deed restrictions availability....

you could live in that house for 10 years, with no problem. And then out of the blue you get a knock on your door from Community Standards, saying your driveway is out of compliance, or your landscaping is out of compliance, or the color of your house is out of compliance. And YOU have to bear the cost and burden of changing it.

Even though it was like that when you bought it, and you lived in the house for 10 years without any complaints at all.

The majority of home purchases are presumably through sales agents working for the developer. It can't be too hard for the buyer to insist that the purchase contract includes the condition that everything is in compliance and if it is subsequently found not to be then The Villages Realty is responsible for putting things right. If they refuse to include that condition then that is a red flag.

Let us not forget that the vast majority of the 60,000+ homes in The Villages are in compliance and it is only the few that aren't that we hear about.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by EastCoastDawg

The majority of home purchases are presumably through sales agents working for the developer. It can't be too hard for the buyer to insist that the purchase contract includes the condition that everything is in compliance and if it is subsequently found not to be then The Villages Realty is responsible for putting things right. If they refuse to include that condition then that is a red flag.

Let us not forget that the vast majority of the 60,000+ homes in The Villages are in compliance and it is only the few that aren't that we hear about.

It is not hard for the buyer to insist. What is hard is getting the seller and the Villages Realty to agree to that condition. I would not agree to that if I was the seller.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

It is not hard for the buyer to insist. What is hard is getting the seller and the Villages Realty to agree to that condition. I would not agree to that if I was the seller.

I agree. And, I think the title company would consider it to be a defective deed and they would not agree to complete the closing with a condition like that.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by EastCoastDawg

Not really sure who the OP is complaining about here - is it ARC for not doing a post-inspection, contractors for putting in something that differs from what has been approved, or neighbors encroaching on your property?

It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that all permissions are received and that the work done agrees to what was approved and that it is on your property.

ARC cannot be expected to be responsible for policing the thousands of landscaping and other changes that are made each year - that would require a huge department and then we'd all be complaining about the cost of that.

The current system may not be perfect, but if the property owners take responsibility then there are likely to be far fewer problems and complaints in the future.

Have owned a home in a large PUD with an HOA up North. The HOA hired a pro management company & they do periodic audits from the from curb without getting out. That reduced the variability of enforcement & compliance but it created the number of infractions—many of which were only vaguely covered by Deed restrictions language, if at all. Their answer? Create more Deed restrictions, of course.

[fdpaq0580]

It is entirely possible and probable that a property has been purchased, sold and resold, all while out of compliance. If no one, neighbor or ARC officer has found fault with said property, and the compliance issue breaks no law, is confined to the boundaries of said property and poses no safety issues to the neighborhood, has existed for a certain period of time (at least 2 years, prhaps) without issue or complaint, it should be grandfathered in as presumed acceptable. This could be where silence equates to acceptance.
This eliminates neighbor picking on neighbor and unnecessary wasting of ARC's time.

[PurePeach]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Just be glad you don’t live up street from me . In court yard villa with one car garage they got 2 golf carts, three vehicles, and work van and can’t get NONE in garage. Parked on street and in front yard in rocks. Only thing missing is on up on Jack stands.

I live in a patio villa and have neighbors who have their garages so full of junk or a boat, they can’t park in the garage and don’t park in the driveway, so they park in their front yards. Some have rocks, others just ruin their grass. One neighbor had the front yard redone half grass and half rocks, with rocks closest to the street, specifically so a truck could park there all the time. I know ARC approved the plan, but for parking? I doubt it, but unless a neighbor complains, nothing is ever done about this. None of us in the neighborhood complain because we all want to get along, but it sure makes the neighborhood look trashy.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Fetchit

I live down the street from someone where their house looks like Sanford and sons junkyard. A little bit further down is a mint green paint job and down the road in the backyard of a house that you can see from the street is a pile of old patio furniture and, indoor fans piled up on each. This is truly an eyesore for a community that supposedly has standards. I feel that these things could be easily spotted by the community cars that come by for At least an inspection of that address.

Take photos and report all to community standards. I don't like to live near a trash heap and I'm sure you don't either.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by EastCoastDawg

Let us not forget that the vast majority of the 60,000+ homes in The Villages are in compliance and it is only the few that aren't that we hear about.

Maybe. Maybe not. Without a complete inspection of every lot, from the ground up, you can’t be 100% certain.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by PurePeach

I live in a patio villa and have neighbors who have their garages so full of junk or a boat, they can’t park in the garage and don’t park in the driveway, so they park in their front yards. Some have rocks, others just ruin their grass. One neighbor had the front yard redone half grass and half rocks, with rocks closest to the street, specifically so a truck could park there all the time. I know ARC approved the plan, but for parking? I doubt it, but unless a neighbor complains, nothing is ever done about this. None of us in the neighborhood complain because we all want to get along, but it sure makes the neighborhood look trashy.

You are certain ARC approved your neighbors "truck" parking area?

[Maker]

Originally Posted by ehonour

Respectfully suggest OP tone it down a bit.
I just went through ARC last week <<snip>> They review on the order THREE HUNDRED applications every week, and they give each one an appropriate amount of care.

300 every week is far too many.
Why not remove time wasting things from the agenda? Reduce staff hours and make the entire process more efficient. The final outcome will be exactly the same. How?? Create a "rubber stamp" policy. Automatic approval for certain routine changes. No need to submit any paperwork for things like:

Planting shrubs, flowers, etc in any existing planting bed for any/all items on an approved list.
Replacing mulch type in any existing planting bed for any/all items on an approved list.
Painting the house for using any color pallet on an approved list.
Replacing an existing tree with any tree on an approved list.

and so on...

[brianherlihy]

arc rude

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Maker

300 every week is far too many.
Why not remove time wasting things from the agenda? Reduce staff hours and make the entire process more efficient. The final outcome will be exactly the same. How?? Create a "rubber stamp" policy. Automatic approval for certain routine changes. No need to submit any paperwork for things like:

Planting shrubs, flowers, etc in any existing planting bed for any/all items on an approved list.
Replacing mulch type in any existing planting bed for any/all items on an approved list.
Painting the house for using any color pallet on an approved list.
Replacing an existing tree with any tree on an approved list.

and so on...

So....an 'honor system'?

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Apparently statute of limitations applies to HOA's, not sure why not here.

statute-of-limitations-waiver-and-covenant-enforcement | news-journalonline.com.

Because there is no “HOA” here.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Glowing Horizon

Have owned a home in a large PUD with an HOA up North. The HOA hired a pro management company & they do periodic audits from the from curb without getting out. That reduced the variability of enforcement & compliance but it created the number of infractions—many of which were only vaguely covered by Deed restrictions language, if at all. Their answer? Create more Deed restrictions, of course.

Yes, of course that would work and paying someone to do these things that the anonymous reporting is doing for no cost.......... adds more salaries to pay and that my dear is how these things get real expensive and the bottom line is that ultimately the expenses come back to all of us.

I like the procedures the way they are. I like the anonymous reporting. Not everyone can confront someone and say....Hey fellow, will you remove that plywood figure of the chubby lady bending over watering her flowers from your front yard?

[Maker]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

So....an 'honor system'?

Pre-approved lists could perhaps get that nick name for it.

I would think most adults here would be responsible enough to follow the relaxed rules. Happier too. For the ones that think they might get away with something outside of those pre-approved things, and flop on their back kicking their legs and laughing at everyone else, they are also the same ones that don't bother to get ARC approval for anything. When they are reported (just as it is presently) the consequences are still the same.