Is your property in compliance with standards?

Posted May 11, 2012 at 4:32 PM, Filed Under: BCA News, Front Page, Village Mill

By Julann Talty
Director of Standards

Our office staff members are often asked by residents, “Why don’t you do something about the house at 123 Brandermill Street —the whole driveway is full of weeds!” Or, “The house at 246 Swift Creek Road has garbage piled up at the back of the house and the yard is a mess—please notify these people.”

We always respond to resident complaints and cite the owner when warranted.  Pride of ownership, however, is the real issue. The trash cans, unkempt yards, rusty mailboxes, and a host of other maintenance issues are signs of something deeper. How can we encourage residents to care about their property and take pride in their community?

Brandermill is a unique place in which to live. We are situated on a gorgeous 1,700-acre lake suitable for fishing, sailing, kayaking or eagle-watching. We boast 15 miles of walking/biking trails that wind through wooded areas, and along the reservoir and golf course. Our entrances have lovely flower beds and other plants. We have schools located within our neighborhoods as well as shopping centers and restaurants in and near the community. Visitors are often amazed at the beauty of the surroundings that we take for granted.

Why then, are so many homes in our community not up to par? We all need to step back and take a realistic look at our homes from the street and from the neighbors’ point of view. We should clean the leaves and debris out of the ditch at the edge of the street; remove dead plants and weeds from the yard; trim bushes and overgrown plants; remove grass, weeds and debris from the driveway and add new gravel if needed; check the mailbox for rust, rotted wood and fading paint; and keep the grass cut on a regular basis.

We should check to see if mold has developed on the siding and trim and if a thorough cleaning is in order. Does the siding or trim need to be painted? Are there carpentry repairs that need to be done—a railing that has rotted or perhaps broken lattice under the deck?  Kids love their toys, but nobody likes to look at playthings strewn all over the front yard and driveway and left there for days or even weeks.

Most of these projects don’t require much, if any, cash. Sweat equity is often the only payment needed. Let’s get out there and take care of our homes—they are our biggest investment. Three or four hours a week spent on our yards and homes will reap huge rewards.

Pride of ownership, that’s what responsible homeowners have in common. We have so much to be proud of in our community, and we should all be able to look at our homes and say, “This is my home, I take care of it and I am proud of the way it looks.”