Article Courtesy of The Sun Sentinel

By Daniel Vasquez

Published September 10, 2008

When it comes to being a good neighbor, where would we be without rules?

Those governed by, or who participate in, condo and homeowner associations know exactly what I mean.

While the rule book is designed to prevent problems, sometimes it is where some of the biggest ones begin.

Some owners say there are too many rules. You can't paint this, plant that or decorate anything outside your home without permission. They almost find it hard to breathe without a signed note from a board president. And the rules are enforced 24/7, no matter what.

Others believe associations can't do enough to rein in renters and homeowners who want to blast music all hours of the day, pay fees late or hire unlicensed contractors who can inadvertently damage property. Ever see how fast the work of a bad plumber can flood the condo unit below? As a former homeowner in a neighborhood without an association, and a current South Florida homeowner who serves on a HOA board, I understand both sides.

When I lived without rules, I remember having to put up with a neighbor who owned an RV dealership and parked a new one in front of his home regularly. Some rivaled the size of the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars.

Not only were these mobile monstrosities eyesores, but they were unsafe. They made it hard to navigate the streets and hid children from drivers' line of sight. And by regularly parking them in front of his home, the owner made neighbors feel like he didn't care about them. And, of course, there wasn't much we could do about it.

On the other hand, my neighborhood HOA rules give me plenty of reasons for angst. They can fine me for not power-washing my roof with regularity, trimming my hedges or quickly replacing broken roof tiles. Of course these things have to be taken care of.

But it's often hard to pay for such maintenance, particularly as the costs for everything from milk to gas continue to skyrocket. And 9-to-5'ers rarely have time to handle it personally.

In both cases, I knew what I was getting into before I moved in. I simply had to learn to adjust as I went along.

I also observed that many problems surrounding rules can be solved with a dash of resolve and a pinch of common sense from both sides.

So every Wednesday in the Local section, I'm going to write, report and analyze the issues most important to you. I'll help you find answers, solve problems and come to grips with how rules affect your life.

There's a lot of ground to be covered. Rising maintenance costs. Inflexible boards. Deadbeat owners. Hurricane insurance. And there's drama worthy of any Boston Legal episode happening every day here in Florida. I'll keep you current on that.

My main job, however, is to lend you a voice. I want to hear about what is important to you, homeowners and board members alike. Together we'll tackle tough issues, find answers and have some fun along the way.

After all, when you have to live with rules, the challenge is learning to make it work for you —and your neighbors. When that happens, the sun just seems to shine a little bit brighter on your porch, and mine.

Daniel Vasquez can be reached at:

[email protected] or at 954-356-4558 (Broward) or 561-243-6686 (Palm Beach County). His condo column runs every Wednesday in the Local section and at www.sunsentinel.com/condos. You also can read his consumer column every Monday in Your Money and at www.sunsentinel.com/vasquez