Many of our clients at Ewen Real Estate have been asking us questions recently about the homeowners associations. Specifically, the homeowners having to paint their homes. A majority of the communities in Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Litchfield Park and Surprise are reaching the 10-year mark. Owners are finding out that if they haven’t done so already, they need to paint their homes.
I’m going to go over the positive first. A freshly painted home looks amazing and stands out above and beyond the rest on the block! Also, after 10 years of the Arizona sun beating on your home, it takes the finish off. You can usually wipe the finish off with your finger almost like ash. A fresh coat of paint helps protect the home’s surface from water damage that can seep into poorly sealed homes. It also increases your home’s value, there is a demand for freshly painted homes in the West Valley.
Now I understand no one likes to be told what to do by their Homeowners Association (HOA), especially me! But the simple truth to this matter is everyone who purchases a home in a Homeowners Association receives a copy of what’s called the CC&R’s. CC&R’s are the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, which are basically the rules that you agree to abide by living in that association. If you have purchased a home for sale in a community in Surprise, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Buckeye or Avondale in the last 15 years, the chances are pretty good that it has an HOA and you might be one of the homeowners having to paint their homes.
Homeowners Having to Paint Their Homes
A lot of people feel they should not have to paint their homes until they are good and ready. That would be fine if they purchased a home in a non-HOA community. You can generally check your CC&R’s online if you want to see what time frame the association requires you to paint your home. Most are set at 10 years for a completely new paint job. You will find that most homes that have not been painted in 10 years definitely need a new paint job and are visually unappealing.
The drawback if you want to play hardball and not comply is that if you do not comply, the HOA can usually fine you. These fines are very steep, usually starting at 500 dollars if it is not corrected in the set amount of time. You can also rack up additional fines unfortunately. These fines if unpaid, will be a lien against the home. Ultimately they will need to be paid before the home can be sold.
The best practice is to comply with your CC&R’s and make it a fun time. Painting your home can be a fun DIY project that you can be proud of for years to come. Do not forget to get your HOA’s approval on your paint colors before you start painting. Failing to do so could result in doing it twice. Please contact us today if you need more information on this subject or any other real estate need. Have a great day.
