jar546
Forum Coordinator
I believe that most of us live in areas that have zoning and property maintenance laws. Maybe some of you in unincorporated areas such as rural areas of the country have very lax to non-existent laws. Regardless, of whether or not you have the laws in place, whether or not they are actually enforced is the real difference.
I am a believer that strong, yet fair and equal enforcement of property maintenance codes (along with zoning laws) is one of the key ingredients to keeping property values up, crime down and instilling a sense of pride in a community which makes it more likely to attract small businesses and maintain a better quality of life.
It is unfortunate that some people attempt to live beyond their means and I have witnessed in the past new homeowners that barely afforded to purchase property. OK, don't get me wrong, I am not against home-ownership for people but affordable home ownership with the ability to maintain your property. I think many of us have stories of how we lost a neighbor that kept a meticulous property and it was sold to someone who turned it into an eyesore. When properties are not maintained, it affects the value of the nearby properties and if widespread, can affect the prices of entire communities. The value of properties, however is just one part of the puzzle.
A clean, well maintained neighborhood brings pride and encourages interaction between neighbors, which in turn, adds a small element of peer pressure. No one likes to stand out in a negative way. Now, if you are the kind that likes to live far away from society where there are little to no rules, this really does not apply to you. I don't want to live next to someone who always has a vehicle up on jacks in the driveway and an RV and boat parked alongside the house. That is my choice. I like clean, well kept properties. Your mileage may vary.
So the question I pose to each and everyone of you is this. How do you think property maintenance affects the look and feel of a community?
I am a believer that strong, yet fair and equal enforcement of property maintenance codes (along with zoning laws) is one of the key ingredients to keeping property values up, crime down and instilling a sense of pride in a community which makes it more likely to attract small businesses and maintain a better quality of life.
It is unfortunate that some people attempt to live beyond their means and I have witnessed in the past new homeowners that barely afforded to purchase property. OK, don't get me wrong, I am not against home-ownership for people but affordable home ownership with the ability to maintain your property. I think many of us have stories of how we lost a neighbor that kept a meticulous property and it was sold to someone who turned it into an eyesore. When properties are not maintained, it affects the value of the nearby properties and if widespread, can affect the prices of entire communities. The value of properties, however is just one part of the puzzle.
A clean, well maintained neighborhood brings pride and encourages interaction between neighbors, which in turn, adds a small element of peer pressure. No one likes to stand out in a negative way. Now, if you are the kind that likes to live far away from society where there are little to no rules, this really does not apply to you. I don't want to live next to someone who always has a vehicle up on jacks in the driveway and an RV and boat parked alongside the house. That is my choice. I like clean, well kept properties. Your mileage may vary.
So the question I pose to each and everyone of you is this. How do you think property maintenance affects the look and feel of a community?