Sometimes it's not the big things that we do that can make the biggest difference in the long run; it's the little ones that we do on a regular basis that can be the most meaningful. If you are the recent purchaser of a newly constructed home in a new home community, or are about to embark on that journey, you'll need to know what good habits to form early on to preserve the newness, attractiveness and perceived value of your new home neighborhood. In the best of all worlds, homeowners can do this by becoming the forward thinking type of neighbor they would like to have living next to them, leading by example.

The meaning of the old phrase "Keeping up with the Jones'" doesn't have to translate into to how many cars your have in the driveway nor how large a swimming pool you install; it can be about who cares the most about the future of their neighborhood. There are some things many homeowners don't know about their responsibility in this arena, so I have taken a few little known facts from Tom Hrin's salt of the earth, common sense book, "Buying Your Home; The Complete Guide for the Upcoming Walk-Through, Homeowner Maintenance and More!" to guide you.

Water Duty:

Congress passed the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, better known as the "Clean Water Act" in its final form in 1990. It was implemented to protect waterways that have an impact on our drinking water. An amendment to this act deals with the regulation of water from building activities and storms while homes are being built, called the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. This requires builders to set bales of straw around street drain intakes and/or install filters on top of these grates to prevent impurities from entering creeks, drains, and rivers, Failure to comply could mean a hefty fine could be levied against the builder by the appropriate local inspecting agency.

It stands to reason that if builders are held to such strict standards, then you as a consumer have a responsibility to keep water clean on or coming from your own property as well. Why? Because in newer developments, water run-off is no longer regularly drained into water treatment plants as it has been in the past. Increased populations in suburban areas made more water treatment plant construction too costly, thus creating the need for this law. Many homeowners unfortunately believe that it is only business and industrial entities that are responsible for maintaining clean water run off.

You can do your part by making sure that the driver of the mixer truck who just installed your new patio does not wash the truck's chutes out in the street, by not changing antifreeze or motor oil in the street, and by keeping grass clippings contained. Conserve water as well, by not leaving hoses spewing forth when not in use, fixing broken sprinkler heads when necessary, and adjusting your sprinkler times to modest levels when the weather cools.

NIMBY Trash

Have we all heard the term, "Not in My Backyard"? Perhaps there should be a new one created, "NOCSE". (Not on Construction Sites Either) I am referring to the costly lengths builders must go to in removing trash from empty and partially built-out construction sites within a not-yet-complete neighborhood. Hrin cites "Removing the boxes, paper and old furniture can cost the contractor literally thousands of dollars a year." Along the same vein, put all your regular trash into closeable trash bags before stuffing them into the curbside pick-up can. Your neighbors will appreciate not waking up to your take-out food container on their front lawn on a windy day.

Excavation Etiquette

An addition to your house that may require excavation means that you'll need to know where all the utilities are located on your property before stating to dig. Failure to identify these conduits ahead of time could mean cutting or breaking a service line, an especially tough spot to be in if you are a weekend warrior. According to Hrin, there are companies set up to offer you "utility locator" services, making it possible for you or your contractor to make just one phone call to notify all these utility companies that you are about to go deep. 48 hours' notification to these entities is generally required before you begin; if too difficult to find one in your Yellow Pages, then ask any local builder for a referral.

Know and Observe your Neighborhood Regulations

Called Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (C.C. & Rs) throughout much of the U.S., there is usually a set of rules by which to abide in your new neighborhood. You should have reviewed them carefully before even considering the purchase of your home, and have been resigned to observing them before making the purchase final. These are rules designed for everyone to observe, not just a few. If the C.C. & Rs state that you must move your kids' basketball goal into the garage every night, do it. You may grumble about the rule, but in the long run, any potential buyers who may drive through the neighborhood may consider paying a higher price for the home down the street just because of the pride of ownership being observed by simple acts such as this. Higher values can help you someday when you refinance, desire an equity loan, or sell when you least expect it. Other rules may prohibit things like outbuildings in back yards, satellite dishes, painting your house purple, or leaving your garage door open too frequently. Whatever the C.C. & Rs are, they were established to protect you, not to upset you. And since you were in the driver's seat when buying your new home, you are ultimately responsible for observing them.

Many say that when new home neighborhoods begin to "cycle" (change ownership several times), less care is taken by subsequent owners to keep up with important rules such as these. Original owners somehow seem to have the biggest stake in maintaining the pristine condition of a new home area, just as some cars are best bought from original owners. That is why it is a good idea to communicate your history of good habits to the next owner of your once-new home. Emphasize to them that it may have taken some planning and work to observe what was best and necessary for neighborhood upkeep, but the results probably have led to the reasons they may be buying your home. Leaving that legacy can only benefit you, your neighbors, and the future of the community.