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lawn mowing

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by amye, Dec 7, 2004.

  1. veronicasmommi

    veronicasmommi New Member

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    I know that each situation is different, but as for my family, we enjoy that we don't have to mow lawn, etc. It was one of the things that made buying a house here nicer. They mow our lawn once a week, do the aeration and mulch twice a year. I for one don't mind paying the fees
     
  2. jaeris

    jaeris New Member

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    I too want to keep the lawn mowing service. I don't mind giving up the other services (mulching, edging, etc) to keep the costs down but the lawn mowing is important to me.

    jaeris
     
  3. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    So hire a service on your own to do this, and don't force the rest of the community to get locked into this contract. If you are only talking about mowing the lawn once a week, I'm sure you could hire a service to do it for less than $700 for the year. This is what we will pay in 2006, and it seems pretty high to me. And some people would prefer to save the $700 and do it themselves.

    This is no different than being forced to use OpenBand's cable/phone/internet services. I would love to get DirecTV, but not while I am already paying $150+ per month to OpenBand. As a consumer, I want as much freedom as possible to make my own choices. That means choosing the phone, TV, internet, and lawn care services that are the best for me, and not forcing those choices onto my neighbors.

    jaeris: you are complaining about OpenBand's voicemail service in another thread. These problems with OpenBand are not isolated. Wouldn't it be nice to have the choice to change service providers if you so desired? Unfortunately, we don't have that option with OpenBand. But we do have an opportunity to take back some control WRT the lawn care services.
     
  4. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    My husband is from the desert and I've been out of the region so we really are pitiful when it comes to taking care of a yard properly. Additionally, we'd rather devote our limited time to other things so under the FWIW heading, we are happy to pay for the services in the contract. Otherwise it it were left up to us, I know our yard would not look as it is and our neighbors would not be happy!
     
  5. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    I appreciate this sentiment. And believe me, unlike some others on this forum, I won't criticize how someone chooses to spend their money. If you want to pay someone to mow your lawn (or clean your house), please do.

    But, again, why should the entire community, even those that want to do their own lawn care, have to pay for these services?
     
  6. jaeris

    jaeris New Member

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    Pats Fan -
    I am not complaining about the lawn service though - not yet anyway.
    One other thing that's nice about the lawn service is that all lawns are kept up to a certain standard and all lawns are mowed at the same time. No neighbors mowing their lawns and creating unwanted noise while you're relaxing in the garden after a hard day's work.

    jaeris
     
  7. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    And that's a reasonable argument and a good reason to vote in favor of extending the contract if this is what you believe. It just seems to me that most people in this thread who like the services would rather saddle all of their neighbors with an unfair contract than hire someone to do it themselves. It seems a bit lazy to me.

    Personally, I don't mind the sound of lawnmowers on the weekends. In other communities, I have found taking care of the lawn to be a good way to meet and chat with neighbors. And, IMO, "I love the smell of [fresh-cut grass] in the morning! Smells like...VICTORY!" Unless you are at home during the week when our service comes through, you don't get to experience this.
     
  8. beahmer

    beahmer Member

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    I have to admit - I just moved to a Courtyard in the last month. So far I have not had the experience of having my lawn mowed. Personally whether the HOA mowed my lawn was not a consideration in my move. The fact that they did seemed like a good idea. However if the rates continue to increase at the projected trend I think I can do it myself for less money.

    Here's a question tough, I read and was told when I bought my house, the contract only calls for them to mow the front and side yards. I was told that since most people dont have a fence (and those that do built gates big enough to get lawn mowers in that the yard service does the back yards too.
    Now if this is true then why are they mowing the backyards? - this would obviously drive the costs up. Also, if it is true then nobody should be under the idea that they dont have to do some yard maintenance since the backyards are supposed to be done by them. Just a thought.
     
  9. jaeris

    jaeris New Member

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    I guess I just find mowing the lawn really boring. I spend my time digging flower beds, planting and weeding which I really enjoy and spend hours out there. I'm sure some people find mowing theraputic it's just that I don't. I'll have to find an enterprising neighborhood teenager to help me with the mowing - or maybe dig a few more beds so less grass to mow.

    jaeris
     
  10. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    One of the reasons I really enjoy living in Broadlands is because of all the services included within the Homeowners Due -and- the fact that we have an extremely responsive HOA.

    Yes, a good point has been raised that in fact, for those of us in Courtyard and having the lawn service, the mowing should technically --not-- include the back yards. I am so greatful that the backyard is getting mowed and like a few others, if that service were to stop, I'd need to find an enterprising teenager with a lawnmower!

    Now has anyone addressed how much the increased costs are impacted because HLS has been mowing the back yards? And if this is a factor in the increase, is there room to negotiate?

    We received our new HOA coupon book and I saw the increase. Now if this increase keeps including the full yard and other services, I personally do not mind nor object.
     
  11. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    With the typical size of the lots in Southern Walk, mowing ones lawn should not take more than 1/2 an hour. Buy a mulching mower to boot and you want have to bag. PATS is correct, if you want to pay for the service then lets do it outside of our HOA fees. I for one could easily maintain my lawn to exacting standards much lower than $700 a year!
     
  12. BelindaTH

    BelindaTH New Member

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    I know I could obtain a lawn mowing service for a lot less than $700.00/year.
     
  13. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    I don't know..it sounds like some folks are wanting to change an existing contract...a contract that one should have been aware of before opting to live in Southern Walk. And I think it is also natural that services to increase rates from year to year. I for one am not dissatisfied with what we received as part of our HOA package!
     
  14. beahmer

    beahmer Member

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    I am not avocating "changing" a contract mid stream. What I am advocating is some fiscal restraint and not just sit back and allow lawn mowing services to continue to increase by $20-30 each month every year. I'd like to know how a landscaping company underestimates by $20-30/month anyway.

    Cliff - I assume the increase was in line with their contract language. Was it up for bid? Or did they just say we need the increase - take it or leave it?

    At some point in time you have to say enough is enough and find a chaper way. For the rates they are charging maybe I'll offer to mow my street. After expenses I could probably afford a nice vacation on my neighbors.

    BTW - having them mow the back yard is a change to their contract (based on my understanding)
     
  15. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    While those are my comments to your statements, I'm still not dissatisfied but I'm only one small voice! [8D]
     
  16. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    In truth, I think our lawn maintenance should be significantly lower as we are buying "in bulk".
     
  17. Carol Al-Ajroush

    Carol Al-Ajroush New Member

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    Hopefully the HOA when negotiating these contracts and taking bids are doing comparisons to get us the most bang for the buck!

     
  18. Lisa

    Lisa New Member

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    The letter that we received noted that the increase was due to unexpected increase in costs in Southern Walk area. What I don't understand is why the Overland Park homeowners should have to pay extra due to Southern walk area having larger yards or whatever is was that caused the increase. Would it be possible to separate the two areas since they already get different services? I would expect the Overland Park area new contract would be somewhat similiar to the current one since I dont think there would have been many new homes built this year.
     
  19. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    Well I live in Southern Walk and with weedwacking it takes me about 45 minutes to cut my lawn. I like to do it myself though and I'm glad I don't have the grass cutting option. I know it takes me probably $3 in gas for my mower a year and my weed wacker is electric so not much there. I enjoy cutting the grass (I love the smell of fresh cut grass) so I won't charge my time but over a year. Therefor I'm probably saving $650 cutting it myself. I'm willing to do that for 45 minutes a week and the excersize that I so need these days lol :)
     
  20. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    do the patio homes in Southern Walk also get the OpenBand service? Just wondering what the difference is between the overland park homes and the southern walk patio homes are as far as services go.
     

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