Thank you to all who are participating in providing ideas and solutions to our neighborhood improvements. We have begun the improvements on Heatherwoods Park, which we hope to complete in the next month (weather permitting). We encourage anyone who has an interest in the final look to be a part of the landscaping efforts, which are in planning right now.
During our informal conversations with over 80 of the homeowners recently, we have had some interesting improvement ideas come to the surface.
With the completion of Heatherwoods Park, we will have an amenity that can be used when a home goes up for sale. A number of our neighbors expressed an interest in developing the retention pond we share with Eagle Run into a small, stocked fishing pond. We are going to put together a committee to work with the Eagle Run HOA Board to see what it would take and present it to the membership. This would give us two amenities, and one that we could share the expense of upkeep with.
We are looking at a number of options for the front entrance sign upgrade.
Another excellent suggestion was to line the sidewalks with trees on Equinox to mirror the sidewalks on Full Moon Court. We have started looking at ways to find trees in bulk at a lower cost to perhaps do this. If you have any ideas on where we could locate any at a great price, let us know.
If there is an improvement you feel we should investigate, please email us. We are looking for ways to use our HOA dues to improve and maintain, and your input is important.
Thank you for being a good neighbor!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Find your Property Plat Online
Go to: http://gisweb.dorchestercounty.net/imap/public_search.asp
In the dropdown menu, select STREET ADDRESS
On the next line, enter your address as such: EQUINOX CIRCLE 111
click RUN SEARCH
Your plat information will be returned.
In the dropdown menu, select STREET ADDRESS
On the next line, enter your address as such: EQUINOX CIRCLE 111
click RUN SEARCH
Your plat information will be returned.
Home Values Analysis
We have requested that a local real estate agent do an assessment of our declining home values and what we can do to reverse that trend.
Susan Nicholson, with Carolina One Real Estate, will be a guest speaker at our July HOA Meeting (being planned). Susan has listed and sold more homes in Heatherwoods than anyone else in the market. She will address our reputation within the real estate selling community and it's impact on our home's resale value, and even getting our homes shown by agents. She will share ideas we can do as a community to keep home values steady through this tough economic period, and how our recent and planned improvements will impact the perception and desirability of our community. Some of what we have heard is going to be hard for us all to hear, but until we know what is said about us outside of our community, we cannot pull together to resolve them.
We know that home values are important to us all, whether we are selling or whether the next door neighbor is selling. We hope that everyone will make a special effort to join us at this meeting.
Susan Nicholson, with Carolina One Real Estate, will be a guest speaker at our July HOA Meeting (being planned). Susan has listed and sold more homes in Heatherwoods than anyone else in the market. She will address our reputation within the real estate selling community and it's impact on our home's resale value, and even getting our homes shown by agents. She will share ideas we can do as a community to keep home values steady through this tough economic period, and how our recent and planned improvements will impact the perception and desirability of our community. Some of what we have heard is going to be hard for us all to hear, but until we know what is said about us outside of our community, we cannot pull together to resolve them.
We know that home values are important to us all, whether we are selling or whether the next door neighbor is selling. We hope that everyone will make a special effort to join us at this meeting.
Past due Notices Mailed
Our Heatherwoods HOA 2009 dues notices were sent out in January. To date, most homeowners have paid their 2009 HOA dues either in full, or using the optional payments plan. 37 homeowners failed to make any attempt, or request payment options. We have sent the final notices out with the past due amounts that have accrued since the due date (March 31, 2009). We know some of these were unintentional oversights, others may be having difficulty during this tough economic time. We have requested that they make arrangement to complete their obligations by June 15th, or we will have to file liens against their homes on your behalf. (Note: local realtors advise us that our low HOA dues, $100 less per year than the next lowest local community, do have a positive impact on our resale value).
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Heatherwoods Park Improvement Project
Heatherwoods Park is the most expensive community property we maintain, exceeding the cost of our water, power, and insurance combined. Heatherwoods Park was left as an open field by the builders. Each Heatherwoods HOA Board of Directors has been decisive in stating that we need to complete what the builders left unfinished as they pulled out. However, these boards failed to implement any improvements to the common areas to warrant 135 homes paying for the upkeep.
As stated in our 2009 annual meeting, improvements were the primary focus of the Board this year. We appreciate the tremendous support of the neighborhood in these efforts that will improve our home values and the enjoyment of the commonly owned property we all pay taxes on and pay to maintain.
Phase One of the Heatherwoods Park Improvements is installing 3 natural areas with covered seating in the park corners. These will include the installation of 3 - 12'x12' shingled roof gazebos with commercial park picnic sets, the installation of 12 new trees, and the installation of natural cedar mulch.
NO SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS REQUIRED (i.e., no we are NOT going to ask anyone for more money.)
Budget:
3 Gazebos with shingled roofs: $4500 (Contracted)
12 trees (25 gallon+) $877 (purchased)
30 yards Mulch delivered $1000 (contracted)
Sodcutter Rental $275
3 picnic sets $900
Total Heatherwoods Park improvement project estimate: $7552
Phase 2 will be the installation of natural walkways on the two easements from Equinox Circle to the Heatherwoods Park on Full Moon Circle. This will define the walk-through for all the neighbors to use, rather than having residents walk through someone's yard.
Budget:
Sodcutter Rental $95
Surveyor $200
14 yards natural cedar mulch delivered $500
700' weedguard $170
Total estimate to install natural walkthroughs: $965
Decisions made for improvements are made in the best interest of all 135 shareholders of the common property. Of the nearly $12,000 we spent using a property management company from April 2008-November 2008:
- $0 was spent on property improvement.
- $0 was the revenue from fines paid.
- $0 is the property value increases realized from 2008 management company
As stated in our 2009 annual meeting, improvements were the primary focus of the Board this year. We appreciate the tremendous support of the neighborhood in these efforts that will improve our home values and the enjoyment of the commonly owned property we all pay taxes on and pay to maintain.
Phase One of the Heatherwoods Park Improvements is installing 3 natural areas with covered seating in the park corners. These will include the installation of 3 - 12'x12' shingled roof gazebos with commercial park picnic sets, the installation of 12 new trees, and the installation of natural cedar mulch.
NO SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS REQUIRED (i.e., no we are NOT going to ask anyone for more money.)
Budget:
3 Gazebos with shingled roofs: $4500 (Contracted)
12 trees (25 gallon+) $877 (purchased)
30 yards Mulch delivered $1000 (contracted)
Sodcutter Rental $275
3 picnic sets $900
Total Heatherwoods Park improvement project estimate: $7552
Phase 2 will be the installation of natural walkways on the two easements from Equinox Circle to the Heatherwoods Park on Full Moon Circle. This will define the walk-through for all the neighbors to use, rather than having residents walk through someone's yard.
Budget:
Sodcutter Rental $95
Surveyor $200
14 yards natural cedar mulch delivered $500
700' weedguard $170
Total estimate to install natural walkthroughs: $965
Decisions made for improvements are made in the best interest of all 135 shareholders of the common property. Of the nearly $12,000 we spent using a property management company from April 2008-November 2008:
- $0 was spent on property improvement.
- $0 was the revenue from fines paid.
- $0 is the property value increases realized from 2008 management company
Heatherwoods Park Improvement Project Illustrations
CLICK ON ANY PICTURE FOR A LARGER IMAGE.
CLICK ON ANY PICTURE FOR A LARGER IMAGE.
CLICK ON ANY PICTURE FOR A LARGER IMAGE.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Heatherwoods Yard of the Month Program
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Heatherwoods Yard of the Month Program!
Beginning June 1, 2009, each month a team from the board, beautification committee, and/or A.R.B. committee (dependent on availability) will review the neighborhood looking for the homes that have worked very hard at improving and maintaining their property, thereby enhancing the entire neighborhood. The three yards that are the best groomed will be written down, and the winner will be drawn from them. (2009: Program to run June-September, 2010 will run May-September).
The Yard of the Month Winner each month will be presented with a $50 Noisy Oyster gift certificate and a $50 Lowe's Gift Card! Each home is eligible for winning once per year.
Each of the runner up homes will be given a runner up gift, and will remain eligible for the Yard of the Month the following months.
The winner gifts will be presented to the occupant of the home, so that all neighbors, to include neighbors who rent their homes, can be rewarded for helping us all maintain our neighborhood and home values. We will be reviewing the neighborhood for the first winner on Monday, June 1, 2009. Good Luck!
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