Buying Advice Hidden costs of Kubota BX 25D

[628pm]

I dont need a HOA squad to tell me what to do, I have my wife.

 

[KTucke]

That is why I bought my place out in the country. I can build anything I want, including my house without asking anyone's permission. I hated living in a restricted community where I couldn't even park my boat in the driveway to wash it down and let it dry without getting a summons in the mail. And our monthly fees paid for the idiots to patrol the area and look for "violations". I once needed to replace my fence after hurricane blew down some sections, called and asked about the specs, all I got was that it was in the deed restrictions which I found online.
I built the fence exactly by the spec, WOOD< 6 ft high+6" rot board at bottom. After I got it built, I got a notice that I hadn't applied for a permit. I told them to kiss my $$$ and I would see them in court if they sent any more notices. I quickly got an apology and said no need to go to court, the fence is fine. Dam stupid %^&* idiot $$%%^ not worth the hassle.
Another time, I repainted my old garage door, nice blue to match the house with white squares. A few months later the panels shrunk a bit and left about a 1/8" line around the perimeter that was unpainted. Got a letter that I needed to replace my "rotting" garage door. All the while the neighbor down the street had their garage door falling off the tracts and just hanging in pieces and they never fixed it. I did replace my 25 year old wooden door with a new aluminum door to make it easier to open but not because they HOA said I had too. It was becoming an upkeep problem being wood and so old.
I still hate those HOA guys who make rules to suit a few of the residents with no idea about what is sufficient, like your 10x12 shed. What the heck is that, a lawnmower shed or a 12x21 SHOP with a 6 foot door, what's up with the door size. What the heck can you do in a 12 foot wide shop. Mine is 30x30 enclosed with 12 foot open shed wings on each side and barely large enough. Our farm neighbors are all pretty well kept and most are so far off the road that you rarely can see their houses except in winter. NO WAY WOULD I LIVE IN YOUR TOWN and pay their higher tax rate for the honor as well.

I keep threatening to find 10 acres somewhere (probably nothing to most of you but a lot in CT) build a 2000 square foot garage and my wife can build whatever will fit on top but can only add one story. Don't get me started on taxes. My property taxes are $9400 per year and taxed on 2000 square feet (finished basement doesn't count) and 1 1/2 acres. State income tax of 6.5%. State sales tx of 6.5%. And these stupid *** politicions can't figure out why we are losing business's. Sorry to get political but I hate democrats!! Oh and property taxes on three not very expensive cars $900 annually.

Not going up to find who said the the hidden cost of getting married was "divorce" but he is so right. Been there.

 

[YardBikeBob]

I really don't think that you really think these are hidden costs, but extra toys you wanted and did not budget for. Also seems that you had a pretty good learning curve as to what it is to own a tractor...

I don't want to come down hard on you, but the term hidden cost rubbed me the wrong way.

Man, you people can sure hijack a post! Pretty soon the OP is gonna think his BX Kubota can do anything! The common 'thread' as I wade through this is that the road to financial ruin begins upon tractor ownership.

In the good ol' days, many a lazy afternoon commenced with the declaration "Nope, can't get that done without a tractor."

Too many years with a tractor can tax a man's sense of humor.

Bob

 

[QuasarZ]

Not to stray too far, but I have to add I really hate HOAs too. "You have too much dog poop in your yard, you have stickers on the windows (I just moved in, factory sticker) you have a garden, your blinds need to match, you can't stain your deck that color, too many cars parked in front, you can't work on your car here" and on it went. Finally left there in August, now renting while we build out on some acreage.

I just bought a tractor and I can see how all these things can add up quick. Searching for implements now. :thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

You have to wonder who sits around and thinks up these rules in HOA's. They have a serious "weed" up their ....

 

[s219]

I hate HOAs too. Fortunately our new house isn't visible from the road, so they would have to be real nosy and trespass to get on my case.

I have gotten crap about my mailbox and driveway entrance, neither of which is specified in any covenants, and told the people flat out they were wasting everyone's time and to get lost. The mailbox is actually made out of stained and varnished rough sawn pine from a tree on the property, and a work of art compared to the standard big box store mailboxes most people have, but the "concern" was that it didn't match. Unbelievable. Maybe I should have complained that all the other mailboxes look too plain and cheap. The driveway is crusher run and meticulously maintained, but some think I should have to pave it up near the street. That will never happen -- why would I spend a few thousand dollars to pave the part of the driveway that is least important to me?

I also heard by word of mouth that a neighbor isn't happy when I park my trailer where it's visible from the street. That only ever happens when it's in use, attached to a vehicle, and we're loading/unloading materials. I'd love to see them try and enforce that.

One thing I learned in my old neighborhood, that also had an HOA, is that most new HOAs have limited funds and can't really afford to take legal action. So it's pretty easy to call their bluff if they are acting stupid.

On sensible stuff, I would respect the wishes of my neighbors and try to be a good accomodating neighbor myself. But 99% of the stuff the HOAs go after is a waste of everyone's time.

I told my new neighbors that if they elect me president of the HOA, my first action would be to motion that we disband the HOA. Maybe in 5-10 years they will start to see my logic.

 

[jlgurr]

But look at all the money you saved doing it yourself!!
That's sort of like the old joke on saving money by heating with firewood (the prices are a bit dated):.....

And that reminds me of the man who just loved the first fallen snow but after several weeks and multiple snowstorms he was furious and despised the snowplow truck coming by. Gonna have to look that one up, haven't seen it in a while.

Thanks for the humor. I really enjoyed the OP and can relate to the story.

 

[LiveRoll]

Wait until you need to build a barn for your tractor and all it's implements and accessories. And then halfway through the project you decide a bigger tractor is needed to finish the project. It never ends.....

Not only a bigger tractor, but a bigger barn,,, They are not unlike a woman's purse..never quite big enough!!

Cheers

Roger

 

[CobyRupert]

I wonder what the hidden cost of getting married is.

I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to "rent" than it is to buy. :laughing:

 

[piercedtiger]

I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to "rent" than it is to buy. :laughing:

https://keboch.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/leasing-vs-purchasing/