Ever use your tractor for revenge?

[JOELENAHAN]

I have audited numerous Homeowners' Associations ranging from approx. 100 to 4,000 homes over the past 16 years. The most important thing that I have learned is that I will NEVER own a property located in one, even if it was given to me. Although most of their by-laws are written to preserve the quality of living there, It seems that there is always a few board members that think they own the place. They try to micro-manage the place and do anything to get their way. I admit that not all places are run like this, there are several well run Associations that I deal with, but the majority are run by in-fighting amoung the Board Members. The best run Associations are the ones where the Directors worry about the big picture rather than their pet projects.

To get back to the question, If the HOA hires you to clear the driveway entrances, I would think that you are legally obligated to do so for all properties located there, but if you are hired to clear the roads, You should not have to clear the driveways that were plowed in. I would get a contract where you were paid hourly to plow the roads only. Keep track of the times you start to plow and finish and include them on the invoice submitted for payment. If you feel that you want to gratiously clear a few chosen driveways, do it after you have completed plowing the snow on the roads. Remember to only bill the HOA for the time that you spent clearing the roads. That way the "unchosen" driveway owners do not have any recourse against you. If you are clearing snow from driveways after the times submitted on your invoice, The "unchosen" don't have a leg to stand on. Happy shoveling to them.

 

[Ozark Hollow]

i like to think i get revenge every time i hook up the brush hog and attack the multifloral rose and brush.

I second this, evil multiflora has bloodied me more times than I like to think about. I take positive delight in mowing it down.

Whoever thought it was great idea to import this vegetable concertina wire into this country was an idiot.

 

[Onthesauk]

My experience with HOA here in the NW is that they provide developers a cheap way to develop property. They can get by without bringing roads up to city or county codes and leave the maintenance resposibility with the HOA.

Our last home had a HOA. 7 homes on 10 acres with a 1 acre pasture and barn owned in common. It took us several years to sort out how it was all going to work but eventually it did work. Always someone who drags on paying dues, others who want to use the common property different then anyone else but over time it all worked out.

Condo associations might be the worst, and no offense, but condos full of retired military might be the very worst. Too much time on their hands and too many years of being in charge. Have heard some nightmare stories over the years.

 

[Zephrant]

Luckily our county required that our roads meet county standards- they are very nicely done. Even to placing rip-rap in the ditches every 20feet or so to slow down the water flow. But they would not take ownership of them- too cheap to want to plow/maintain them.

Of course last year I smoothed out the ditch in front of my property so I could mow it easier- pushed about a foot of dirt in to it. Now I can mow with my little mower and not get stuck, or when I get a deck for my tractor I can use it without tipping over.

 

[zzvyb6]

I would take a different approach. Rather than revenge, you should go out of your way to pull him into your circle of friends. You have a rare opportunity to show everybody who the better man is. I would bet that pretty soon, your "problem" homeowner will come over to your side. Then when you are on more friendly terms, you will be able to discuss the previous problem situation. Perhaps there is more to the story than you thought. That discussion will never happen if you fence them in with snow. It may also cause some of your other neighbors to change sides. Your neighbors will also see who the better man is. Don't waste time and energy on tractor revenge. You sure wouldn't want him to take even further revenge on you.

 

[jnjpream]

Yeah I know I shouldn't do it.. But I SOOOooo want to tell this guy to go @#$! himself until it hurts. He's accusing me of trying to run the HOA for my personal benefit in a letter he sent to the entire neighborhood.

Every now and then I feel the desperate need to tell the nice guy in me to take a seat and let the big angry man drive.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Yeah I know I shouldn't do it.. But I SOOOooo want to tell this guy to go @#$! himself until it hurts. He's accusing me of trying to run the HOA for my personal benefit in a letter he sent to the entire neighborhood.

Every now and then I feel the desperate need to tell the nice guy in me to take a seat and let the big angry man drive.

I'm an EMT, and we have a few unwritten rules that we only half joke about. The one that comes to mind right now is, "If it felt good saying it, it was probably the wrong thing to say." I propose that could be extended to if it felt gratifying to do, it was likely the wrong thing to do.

Another EMT experience: I usually get to see the effects of when a big angry man drives. It's not usually pretty. I'm sure we'd all love to follow the saga as you stick it to this guy for his misdeeds, but that's because we wouldn't have to live with the fallout if it doesn't turn out just how you planned.

It's a tough call. I don't envy you for the position someone else has put you in. You have the unfortunate choice between two bad decisions.

 

[mjncad]

Yeah I know I shouldn't do it.. But I SOOOooo want to tell this guy to go @#$! himself until it hurts. He's accusing me of trying to run the HOA for my personal benefit in a letter he sent to the entire neighborhood.

Every now and then I feel the desperate need to tell the nice guy in me to take a seat and let the big angry man drive.

You could always do the schmuck's house last and still fulfill your contract. What are the chances of getting the county to take possession of your private road and then try to dissolve the HOASS?

 

[Soundguy]

Yeah I know I shouldn't do it.. But I SOOOooo want to tell this guy to go @#$! himself until it hurts. He's accusing me of trying to run the HOA for my personal benefit in a letter he sent to the entire neighborhood.

Every now and then I feel the desperate need to tell the nice guy in me to take a seat and let the big angry man drive.

I've heard this saying.. and it appears to fit.

"Stress: That feeling caused when the brain overides the basic instint to choke the living uh.. do-do out of some individual that desperetly deserves it."

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I have a friend that works in an ER.. they have some unwritten rules. The big and loud people that come in and are unruly.. well.. they usually get the large size catheters

soundguy

I'm an EMT, and we have a few unwritten rules that we only half joke about. The one that comes to mind right now is, "If it felt good saying it, it was probably the wrong thing to say." I propose that could be extended to if it felt gratifying to do, it was likely the wrong thing to do.

Another EMT experience: I usually get to see the effects of when a big angry man drives. It's not usually pretty. I'm sure we'd all love to follow the saga as you stick it to this guy for his misdeeds, but that's because we wouldn't have to live with the fallout if it doesn't turn out just how you planned.

It's a tough call. I don't envy you for the position someone else has put you in. You have the unfortunate choice between two bad decisions.