Screened Porch on Townhouse Deck

I think many of these restrictions are excessive. I understand the need to keep the neighborhood attractive but fail to see the harm of a screened porch on a townhouse. Unfortunatly, the ability to buy a home in a good school district without being ruled by an association is darn near impossible without substantial wealth. The American of true home ownership is dead to most.

lyo

 

Well, what you think is attractive or for that matter what I think is attractive, may not be attractive to someone else, such as our next door neighbors. Or, maybe you don't see anything wrong in rebuilding your or your buddy's car engine in your driveway for a month or so. No one forced us to live in an HOA community, but when we do, we have rules to follow, rules that we should have been aware of before moving in.

 

With that kind of feeling, I think Sterling Park might be a good option to consider. No HOA and my understanding is that Park View HS is well ranked.

 

And, much of the area looks pretty rank with no HOA...

 

Really? Thanks for your advice, I guess if I want to decide how tall the fence should be in my own yard I should try Sterling Park.

lyo

 

Having to choose the lesser of two evils, I definitely opt to live in an HOA community. I may have to ask permission (and be denied) to renovate MY house, but at least there is a slim to no chance of me living next to "the Junksters." [)] However, I still think that the Broadlands is too restrictive when it comes to home modification.

Sterling Park? Never. [V]

 

Actually, we're on a par (if not more liberal) than Ashburn Farm in many areas.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Whenever they seem too restrictive, I just think of that electric blue house with the hot pink shutters and purple trim on Muncaster Mill Rd near where I used to live in Montgomery county. restrictions can be a pain, but when you put this many people from such diverse backgrounds and cultures in this close a proximity, a set of rules can REALLY help keep the peace. We can all complain about the HOA together, instead of fighting our neighbors.

 

I'll toast to that: complain about HOA instead of fighting the neighbors! "Electric blue house with hot pink shutters?" Oh, my! [:0]

 

Yes, I agree...restrictions against garish colors are reasonable. That is not the only type restrictions we have. We have numerous pety restrictions that cause our neighborhood to lack character.Yes I know that other neighborhoods have the same over reaching associations and I know I can move to Sterling park if I want freedom. I agreed to move here and I willingly submit to the CCR's but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

lyo

 

If you could explain by what you mean as 'lacking character' ??



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Probably means "cooker cutter" since alot of the houses look alike and also have similar landscapping. Southern Walk certainly fits this description.

 

Well ... since they're mostly Van Metre that's probably why. However, it may be because many buyers would rather buy a clone of the model house, including exterior trim, than go with an elevation they can only visualize from drawings.

That said, there are many other ways to make a house be distinctive: landscaping and/or deck treatments. I have to say that my house is one of Van Metre's Parkside models, a Winterset. We didn't do much with the exterior, in fact, we went with the vinyl. However, we live in the interior of the home, and that's where we did some things different.

Two years ago, we were ready to do a backyard treatment, again, we did something that is pleasing to us, but does give the house some distinctive touches.

We have a deck, with a screen room underneath the deck. The room has a regular roof, so all we need to do is add glass to the openings, and we have a three season porch. It has a separate entrance directly into the house that replaced a window that opened into the basement.

Then we added a new stone patio, walk, and stacked stnoe wall to replace a very steep slope. We added a water feature and lights. The backyard in summer looks gorgeous ... and its something you won't see from the front.




Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

I can definitely say that although I have been inside models which are the same as mine, while they may resemble one another from the outside, all of us (at least the ones I've been in) have done such unique and distinctive decorating and customizing that I've never felt like I'm in a "clone" of my home! Additionally I think with all the landscape options you can pretty much change the exterior as well when you think about it...patios versus decks...small ponds or fountain in the back..gazebo...etc... (okay...soapbox mode off!)

 

I guess for single family homes that is true, unfortunatly with townhomes your choices for customization are very limited (on the exterior). Since this thread was started about a townhome customization, my guess is the frustrations are more about them then the singles.

 

My frustration comes from a strong libertarian streak. The idea that I need to ask permission to put a trampoline or flag pole in my own yard just rubs me the wrong way. Sorry that's just me.

lyo

 

To ride on that thought .. you didn't ask anyone's permission to buy in the Broadlands. However, once you did, you signed up to abide by the rules of the HOA ... ergo, you did it to yourself.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

True ... but townhouses can easily be affected (both visually, and in value) by someone not following the rules, as the offender would stick out like the proverbial sore thumb.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Which is what I said in an earlier post.

lyo