Originally posted on September 4th, 2015
* BOD/HOA.
A recent e-mail to Jeff Eats.
Jeff,
My husband and I have lived in the ________________ CC for over 30 years.
Never in all that time, did we ever have trouble with our neighbors in our local subdivision.
In the past few years a number of new people have purchased homes and moved in and are now trying to change the way things have been done for over 30 years.
Out of a BOD of 7 they now hold 4 of the seats.
They have absolutely no idea as how things work and want to spend a fortune of money on all kinds of so called improvements that we don’t really need.
Since they have 4 of the 7 they have a pretty good shot of getting their way.
I know that awhile back that you did a story on BODs and HOAs and how they don’t really know what they are doing.
Could you republish that story for me?
I would also like your thoughts on how best to stop these aggressive know nothings.
Thanks,
CVR
______
CVR:
The “story” you mentioned is reprinted down below.
Jeff Eats (jeffeats.com) really isn’t the right place/source-for the advice that you are looking for.
Believe me, I know as to exactly where you are coming from. I’ve heard- your “problem” way too often, as a matter of fact, Jeff Eats has had similar issues with my own-South Florida “community”…
That said, if you really don’t like what the BOD is “cooking up”- I would suggest that you/and your like minded neighbors talk to a real sharp attorney…trust me, there are many monkey wrenches that your BOD may not want to deal with.
Best of luck,
Thanks for reading…
_________
Music/Events/Other
COUNTRY CLUBS, CONDOS, CO-OPS, NEIGHBORHOODS…BOD & HOA
Posted on September 29th, 2014 · Music/Events/Other
* COUNTRY CLUBS, CONDOS, CO-OPS, NEIGHBORHOODS…BOD & HOA.
Jeff Eats has been down here in sunny South Florida for over 22 years…you-know the land of Boards of Directors and Home Owner Associations.
Let me ask you guys something and you be honest…
Hypothetically speaking-If you needed triple heart bypass surgery would you let the Chairman of the Board of IBM who was a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School and the Wharton School of Business with a BA in accounting, JD degree and a Masters & Doctorate in Calculus perform the operation for nothing?
___________(fill in answer).
Then why the hell do you guys entrust the operation of your Country Clubs, Condos, Co-ops, Neighborhoods to some guy or gal who is- some retired NYC school teacher, retired owner of a dry cleaning chain, housewife, retired shoe salesman, president of a men’s clothing chain?
Now no offense intended to you board members…but what do most of you guys know about…construction, bank financing, booking bands, maintenance, home owner rights, contracts, hiring contractors, décor design, landscaping?
______________(fill in answer).
Quick story, in my neighborhood one of the sub-divisions was missing the letter “S” from its entrance-way sign. In the time it took the HOA to get the “S” replaced, GL Homes probably built 5,000 homes in Delray Beach from scratch.
Trust me I know the BOD and HOA game and if you ask me…it’s a real dumb game.
Once again, no insult intended to you board members, but did you ever notice that by in large- the really top-guys in your communities DON’T GET INVOLVED AND AREN’T ON YOUR BOARDS? Wanna know why?-because they don’t want to get involved (especially for no compensation) with a bunch of yentas (Google if necessary) who actually think that they can out negotiate Comcast, and build entrance ways without having formal construction or engineering backgrounds.
I know, I know, that the “rules” say someone has to do it…just ask yourself, what makes you qualified to be that SOMEONE?
Finally, all Jeff Eats knows, is that if you ain’t on a BOARD…your neighbors won’t hate your guts because- 1. you raised the dues, 2. you hired a crap comedian, 3. you fined them for speeding, 4. you fined them for flying a US Flag, 5. you got the Club/Condo/Co-op into a lawsuit, 6. you hired a crooked contractor, 7. the complimentary bagels at the gym suck, 8. you violated Federal law as it pertains to service animals, 9. you ticketed them for parking in the street over night, 10. you signed an absurd lopsided contract with some property management company…
When you lived in that 6 story apartment building on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, you paid your rent and bitched to Leo The Super to make repairs and waited every 3-years for a new paint job. Now that you’ve moved to Sunny South Florida…many of you in essence became the “landlord”-that you grew up hating your whole lives.
Okay, done with that rant…but I will close by telling you. that ANYONE WHO SITS ON A GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE IS A FOOL…and I am dead serious here!
America’s entire justice system is based on fairness to all parties- and there is no way in HELL that neighbors who KNOW each other-can judge each other fairly!…and you can take that to the bank!
As Jeff Eats’ grandmother Grandmother Jeff Eats use to say…”YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR” and “CHEAP IS CHEAP
