If you live in a North Carolina or South Carolina neighborhood with a homeowners’ association, you probably made a conscious decision to choose a property within an HOA community. Homeowners’ associations offer a number of benefits, such as neighborhood safety and security patrols that are designed to provide residents with peace of mind.
HOAs, however, also typically have a number of rules and regulations their members are required to abide by in regard to the appearance of their homes and the remodeling process overall. This can make renovations more challenging than they might be in a neighborhood not governed by a homeowners’ association.
As long as you learn your association’s policies before construction starts, though, you should not run into any major problems. In this guide, we’ll go over the top three issues that HOA property owners tend to run into during remodeling jobs. Remember, not all of these will necessarily apply to your specific homeowners’ association bylaws, so keep your personal situation in mind as you read.
1. Excessive noise – It is very common for HOAs to have “construction noise” rules. This doesn’t just apply to professional contractors, but also to residents who may be doing projects like building their own decks or refinishing their driveways. Typically, homeowners’ associations’ quiet hours are 7 PM – 7 AM on weekdays and 9 PM – 9 AM on weekends.
2. Presence of construction goods, dumpsters, etc. – While HOAs are generally understanding of the fact that construction materials, including dumpsters and vehicles, are necessary to ultimately improve the appearance of a house, they often have rules about how long these renovation necessities can be present. It is important to know what your association’s rules about this issue are before you get started. This way, you can let your contractor know what the expectations are ahead of time.
3. Poor communication with contractors – While it is important for all Carolina homeowners to maintain good communication with their contractors throughout a project, it is extra important for homeowners who reside in HOA communities to let their general contractors know exactly what rules and regulations exist. This way, the home services professional and his or her team won’t unknowingly break the rules, ultimately causing a problem.
Carolina contractors do a lot of work on a lot of homes. Therefore, they cannot be held responsible for not knowing exactly what each neighborhood’s HOA requires of them.
Remember, as a homeowner, you are ultimately responsible for understanding your HOA’s requirements and making sure they are adhered to.
In some cases, for example, homeowner’s associations ask that residents present at their monthly board meetings before remodeling projects begin. In other situations, there are written contracts that need to be signed. Knowing what you have to do to keep your HOA happy upfront will make your entire renovation simpler.
Even if you get frustrated at some point during the remodeling process, remember that the point is to make your Carolina residence more beautiful and functional in the long run. Keeping this in mind will help you get through any construction rough patches!