The
holidays are upon us and many Homeowners are working diligently
to decorate both inside and outside their homes. Yes, it is a
joyful time. That is unless your Board believes your holiday
decorations are "excessive", "obtrusive" and
or "disruptive" to your neighbors. The Guinness Book
of World Records just announced that the "Richards
Family" in Canberra, Australia, now holds the world record
by displaying 502, 165 led lights, stretching over 31 miles on
the outside of their home. Additionally, the lights are animated
and synchronized to music.
Am
I the only one seeing the potential for massive traffic jams in
their neighborhood due to visitors wanting to view this holiday
monstrosity? Australia is not the only country to experience
this "over the top' decorating madness. In the USA, most
states will too report, similar stories of overzealous
decorators.
Last
year's Guinness record was held by the "Gay Family" of
Lagrangeville, New York. According to Forbes Magazine, the
average Homeowner will spend $151.43 on decorations. Clearly
these two families FAR exceeded this norm.
So
what happens if your Association demands that you remove your
decorations? Do they have this right? The answer is simple. The
Board can determine if they perceive your decorations to be
"excessive", "obtrusive" or "disruptive". Yes, the Board has the right to make
reasonable rules and regulations regarding what is deemed as
acceptable decorations as well as enforcing your Master Deed and
State Condominium Act. In some cases, if you fail to remove
them, they just might remove them for you.
Darlys
Walker, Founder and CEO of Condominium Concepts
Management, Inc. (CCM), is recognized for her straight
talk, subject matter expertise, and valued insights
regarding real
estate
management, leasing, and HOAs. Her company serves a diverse
portfolio of properties, from 16-units up to 600 as well as
large mixed-use developments.
From its beginnings in 2000, CCM has become a well-respected
asset manager and now works with over 100 associations with
16,000 units served by over 300 employees. Darlys and her team
deliver resources and responsiveness through six regional
offices - in
Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Charleston,
Nashville
and Atlanta.
Darlys Walker is best known for her passion and precision,
understanding that the only difference that matters in today's
demanding marketplace is service delivery ... doing what is
promised and what is right. She knows that every community
serves two masters ... the property owner/developer and the
resident/homeowner. "If we are not equally responsive to
both, we are not doing our job," she states.
Her clients say it best: "Darlys really knows her
stuff" ... "at the top of her profession and it shows
in the caliber of her clients" ... "delivers quality
resources that match up well with needs and expectations that
are really rigorous."
She is a licensed Real Estate Broker in four states, holds an
Associate's Degree in Marketing and has earned the Accredited
Real Estate Manager designation from the Georgia Institute of
Real Estate Management. Also she is one of few certified as a
Lead-Based Paint Abatement & Removal Trainer in Georgia.
