There seems to be a tendency for common wall homeowner associations to acquire, over time, unintended owner touches like custom mailboxes, address numbers, pink flamingos, bird feeders and a variety of other questionable designer touches. What is a reasonable approach for the HOA to follow when it comes to appearance standards and while should there be standards at all?

Exterior appearance directly impacts property market value. A great curb appeal can add big value while bad curb appeal can sink values like a rock. It’s left up to the board to set reasonable standards. Often the governing documents are vague. If this is the case in your HOA, it may be time to develop an exterior appearance policy.

Some suggestions:

1. Include a statement in the policy that explains it is needed to protect property values.

2. Allow and encourage residents to place potted flowers from patios, decks and entries. Planting personal flowers in the common area should be forbidden. They rarely fit with the overall landscape design and are difficult for the landscaper to maintain.

3. Make the common area a No Man’s Land as far as personal decorations.

4. Uniform appearance of the common wall units maximizes market value. Approve standards for add-on storm doors, patio roof covers and the like which include brand, model and color. Old installations can be grandfathered with the understanding that replacements must conform to the standard.

5. Forbid personal storage sheds.

6. The HOA should be responsible for replacing mailboxes, address numbers and exterior light fixtures as needed to control the standards.

Form a committee to draft a policy and ask for member input. Without it, implementation and enforcement will be an uphill battle. When complete, deliver a written copy to all members and allow a reasonable feedback time. Next, schedule a special meeting where the policy will be discussed and revised according to input. Next, include the final draft as an agenda item for the next official Board of Directors meeting. Once approved, make sure it is clearly noted in the meeting minutes. Finally, deliver an "Approved" copy of the policy to all members.

As far as compliance is concerned, the board or compliance committee should inspect the property monthly. The sooner violators are notified, the easier it is to get compliance. The tone of the notice should be decisive but not authoritarian. Even violation notices can be an opportunity to forge a better community. Making appearances at the HOA is an appearance worth making.

For a sample Architectural Design Policy, see Regenesis.net.

Published: October 8, 2008

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Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues. Regenesis publishes The Regenesis Report, a monthly newsletter for HOA boards, developers and managers. To subscribe, go to Regenesis.net. He can be contacted by email at .