Chances are, if you want to do something to your home, you’re going to need approval from your HOA (homeowner’s association). That’s because one in every two Orange County residents lives in a home covered by an HOA. Orange County has the third largest number of HOAs in the state of California. HOAs have a reputation for being difficult. But if you are prepared, working with your HOA can be easy. Just follow the tips from this Orange County deck contractor.
Find Out First
The time to find out if your HOA must approve a change in your driveway coating is before the work is done. You don’t want to spend the money and time on resurfacing your driveway and walkway to emulate brick only to find out that it’s not allowed.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with the rules before any work is done.
Reach out to the HOA. See if there is a list of approved materials, colors, and finishes for the work you want done.
When you are getting estimates, make sure your deck contractor can meet the requirements.
Ask About Insurance
You don’t want to hire an Orange County deck contractor that’s uninsured. That’s true whether you live in an HOA or not. If an employee is injured on your property, you could be responsible for their medical bills.
Your HOA has minimum liability requirements. They may ask for a certificate of insurance that lists the HOA as an additional insured.
This isn’t a problem for established deck contractors like Crank Waterproofing. No matter who you think of hiring, be sure to ask about insurance at the time of the estimate.
Follow the Rules
When it comes to dealing with an HOA, it’s not the time to ask forgiveness later instead of permission first. Any problems can easily be resolved when you follow the proper procedure.
For example, if the HOA has a list of approved materials for waterproofing your deck, make sure your contractor applies one of those materials.
HOA rules are meant to cause problems, even though sometimes they feel like a burden. These rules exist to protect property values for all homeowners, not just you.
If the material you want isn’t approved, don’t just proceed. Work with your deck contractor to get on the agenda for a HOA Board meeting. Ask the contractor to make a presentation on the merits of the material. For example, your contractor may know about a low VOC product that is new to the market but hasn’t been approved by the Board. Taking the time to make the presentation may get your product and project approved and benefit the neighbors as well.
