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Home on Ridgeway drive a MESS!!!

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by JERSEY-MOM, May 23, 2009.

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  1. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

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    Take a chill pill. I just walked the property, it's not that bad. I can see that yes there is a lawn mower and some yard tools, tucked away in the side yard, and there are a couple of wilting bushes, but nothing as bad as your complaining about. Attend a board meeting, bring your grievances to the attention of the board, and let them handle it. I know Wes and Maureen, they will send people out to inspect and they will do it themselves. As for Mr. Linux, we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but he does a lot of work for the HOA and the community, when was the last time you attended a meeting or volunteered?
     
  2. technosapien

    technosapien New Member

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    I'm tempted to stop by and have a talk with that homeowner myself to get their side of the story. I bet it would be very interesting.
     
  3. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    The property is extremely bad! did you notice the 2 two giant wheel barrows with 5 ft shovels and rakes in them. Well under them there is no lawn! They dug it up over a year ago and put down black landscaping paper. They never finished the project or maintained it so now there are weeds everywhere. Last fall they grew ragweed!! Look its very easy for everyone to say we should relax. But when it does impact your life its not easy to RELAX.

    As far as HOA we have taken the proper steps, we have even had the county come to our rescue. The county did all they could and said the rest was for HOA. We have called WES and Maureen and they have come to inspect themselves. But nothing has changed. You are correct We do not volunteer on the HOA because we choose not to. But for those who do then they should do their job!

    If you only saw wilting shrubs you missed alot. Their are flats of dead shrubs and flowers in the front landscaping along with empty bags of mulch. Look we don't have to defend ourselves. We live this everyday. No matter how you look at it the home needs to be maintained the proper way and it is not.
     
  4. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    Please do so you will be very shocked to hear that they don't see a problem!
     
  5. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I know people who live in these types of conditions and can tell you that the ones I know don't even SEE the stuff, let alone see it as a problem. They are so used to it being there it doesn't even register. I'm talking empty cigarette boxes, cigarette butts, weeds, slimy leaf piles, dryer lint, grime, mold, broken down cars, and more. I was shocked to see their living conditions! They don't live in an HOA community and are otherwise caring, loving, and wonderful people. I just don't get how they can live that way. And these are my in-laws!!

    So you can imagine that I appreciate your frustration! So although you are extremely frustrated with the situation I think you should take your issue, with photos to the next board meeting and officially document your complaints. Also contact the people from the county again, as well as the fire marshall if you feel the gas cans are a hazard (I don't know the rules on that). I know you feel you did all this before but if you want a solution it may be up to you to take the necessary steps. I know that sucks, but it may be a long process to have the issues resolved. Good luck!
     
  6. technosapien

    technosapien New Member

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    Jersey-mom, could part of the problem the rest of us have seeing issues with this house be because you are their neighbor and can see down into their yard from your upstairs windows, something some of us couldn't visually inspect without illegally trespassing on private property?
    Just curious....
     
  7. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    villager thanks for your understanding! It is very frustrating! As you stated they don't see a problem with their property. I actually think that they think it looks great! We are really good people and don't want to hurt anyone. All we want is for them to clean up! There are many children that live close to this home and it is a hazard. The tool left out are very temping for kids not to mention the perfect tool for a burgular to get in. Its all a danger and a health hazard. We are very concerned with the gas a paint being left outside in all types of temps. It has to be some type of danger. Very scary!! Our concern about going to the meeting is will anyone help? Is it just another dead end? We have no confidence in our HOA since we have been seeking their help for years with this issue. The hardest thing for us to swallow is that the HOA comes to look at the property and nothing changes. These are the same people who sit on the board at the meeting so what will change?
     
  8. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    You totally need to walk the property to see it all. We don't have to look down on their property to see it. It is very clear from our yard. It you walk up between our property and theirs you would be very surprized at what you would find. They never finish anything. They leave everything open-ended and have no respect for neighbors. Please come take a look- you can come on our property we don't mind. I would be curious too see your reaction!
     
  9. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Well you've tried NOT going and that didn't work - try going in person with documentation and see if that helps. HOAs are limited in what they are legally allowed to do because the property owner's rights come first. The HOA can send letter after letter and charge fine after fine but if the homeowner ignores it all there isn't a whole lot more for them to do. They've done what they are legally allowed to do and, like your interactions with your neighbors, nothing has been resolved. You can't blame the board members for that, their hands are tied as yours are.

    If you and the HOA have taken all the available legal steps, the next thing would be to see if your neighbors are violating any county rules that can be addressed by Loudoun. Probably not, but it's worth investigating. I know it isn't what you want to hear, but in the end you may just have to end up living with it until the people clean it up or move. :yuck:

    On the lighter side: we were trying to stain our deck last month so we had cleared everything off it (furniture, flower pots, grill, etc.) and put it in our side yard. With all the rain we kept having our stuff just kept sitting there until the weather was dry enough for us to finish the staining. I was concerned that our neighbors would think we were annoying for having our stuff on the grass for so long. We did have it as neat and out of sight as possible, but at least I was aware of the potential eyesore. We finally got it finished and nobody complained. Now if I would deal with the empty flower pots that need refilling with my NOT green thumb!
     
  10. tiff78

    tiff78 Broadlands Resident

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    I find this interesting. I and many of my neighbors have gotten letters saying our backyard grass is overgrown (above 6") and that we needed to correct this issue by a certain date. They included pictures of "random" grass, nothing that identified my property as having the issue... just a picture of grass. Our backyard was not out of control and I have wondered many times if they got my property mixed up with another neighbors (since several of my neighbors on the same street got the same letter).

    A few days after we got the letter the HOA sent out the lawn service that maintains the common areas to mow our backyard. Again, it didn't need to be done but we got charged a $45 lawn service fee anyway.

    How can they do that to us but not to this house in question?
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Not to inflame the situation...this is just a question. If this has been going on for four years why are bringing it up now? Or, have you been complaining to the HOA for four years?
     
  12. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like they have ADHD!
     
  13. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    we have been complaining for years! nothing gets done about it! We are not just bringing this up now we are bringing it to the forum now! We thought maybe if others came and took a look they would call HOA as well and then maybe HOA would help! We don't know what else to do!
     
  14. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    tiff78 we have gotten notices from HOA ourselves. One time about our garbage tote being along side of our garage. We were on vactaion and our neighbor pulled in from the curb for us after garbage pickup. Its funny how they act on the little things but when someone does not maintain their home and property it does not matter!
     
  15. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    Um Jersey mom- you are speaking about the house across from us on the corner. The wife doesn't often answer the phone as she has 2 young children to care for. He has been working on his landscaping for the last few weekends, and the people that help him tend to leave it behind.
    AS it stands today, they are working on it at this moment.

    His yard DOES look different from the rest of us. I told him it looked like he was going for an English garden. He said exactly, as that is where he is from. Some people like the way it looks, others don't as it doesn't segue with the other yards around it.
    AS far as I know, if you call the HOA, they may tell you it's ok or not.

    WHat I will say is that they do not tend to pull out the ploants that die over the winter. He and his freind seem to be the only ones who work on the yard, that is not his wife's duty. I respect that. His culture is like that. As far as weeds...well it is hard to stay on top of them with all the rain we've had.

    I'm sorry you've not had any answers from them. His older daughter told me they feel bad for the dog next door who is almost always caged outside, and how the family goes in and out of the house and pays no attention to him. Thats seems worse to me.

    If you feel you cannot be heard, Call the HOA - or pm momofthree (Maureen from the HOA office)
     
  16. latka

    latka Active Member

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    I also stopped by the house, and I think you are are totally over reacting. Get a grip.
     
  17. technosapien

    technosapien New Member

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    Just curious -- do we know for a fact they're actually ignoring the HOA letters? MAybe they're opting to pay the fines instead of remedy the mess? If so, then the HOA is at the end of what it's capable of doing. What would you have them do? If they sent a letter, fined the resident, and resident is paying the fine... then the HOA can't do much of anything.
    It happens all the time, for example with the bank-owned houses that have overgrown lawns and ill-kept grounds. The banks just rack up the fines instead of remedying the messes.... Just another thought....
     
  18. JERSEY-MOM

    JERSEY-MOM New Member

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    Brassy I am not sure if we are speaking of the same house. They have 3 children not two. Also there are no neighbors here who cage their dog outside. Looking from the street does show anyone what they need to see. The weeds are not due to rain. The bottom line is everyone has their own taste ans style. Everyone has the right to decorate the way in which they choose but keep it neat and maintain it. When you decide to buy a home in a community that has a HOA then you agree to follow the HOA guidelines- like it or not. As far as whether the HOA has sent them letters and has fined them we have no idea. I would assume that if they have they would say we are working on it when we call to complain. Since they do not tell us that we do not know.
     
  19. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    someone should post pictures so us lazy people can enjoy this soap opera without driving over there! ;)

    j/k
     
  20. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    I would love to see the pictures. This has kept me entertained throughout the day!
     
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