The Idyllic New Community

What if you just moved into a new community or homeowners association? And when I say new, I mean really new. Picture a dirt patch out in an otherwise undeveloped area with some roads carved into it and a little sales trailer with some attention flags. Maybe there have been a few sales and some construction has begun.

As a new resident, this may sound refreshingly pioneer-ish, but before you know it, you have a small town all around you.. Whether you have lived in and/or been active in a community association before, you probably know there are issues that can surface because your community is a new target for outsiders to take advantage of. The following are some examples that I have encountered as a manager, most of which center around undesirable and even unlawful activities. But you can play an active role early in the life of your community and, with your manager, try to conquer those threats to your idyllic life from the outset and prevent recurrences.

These types of issues can plague everyone - the residents, builders and the association itself. Whether these problems are a result of other new residents within the community or people from ”outside” who see an opportunity for a quick profit, they are unwelcome and disconcerting to everyone. It usually starts with construction materials being stolen and then progresses to the same happening to your or other early “settlers’” outdoor equipment or decorations, since the population is so small and sparse and provides the ideal venue for concealment. Then the graffiti appears since there are so many large expanses of newly painted walls beckoning erstwhile artists.

And if your community has public streets and access, it will not take long before the solicitors arrive, streaming through the streets, going door to door looking for new business. Or they may take the more subtle approach by putting their business cards in a plastic bag with a rock and littering everyone’s driveway with them.

Then, unfortunately, your new community can become the target for more serious issues such as people scouting out potential target households with robbery in mind. They do this by posing as police officers and coming by when the younger or simply too-trusting members of the house are home alone, gaining access to “reconnoiter” the home and later return to steal valuables.

As a new homeowner, there are things that you and your manager can do for your community and your neighbors to prevent the above activities and prolong the idyllic period:

Get to know your local police department or substation staff. Meet the chief and the officers assigned to your area. Ask your manager to introduce them to the sales agents and construction supervisors.
As more residents move in, help organize a meeting with the local authorities to talk about a Neighborhood Watch Program, fingerprint the children and help the parents learn about after-school safety precautions and procedures.
When vandalism or graffiti occurs, encourage neighbors to take pictures and file police reports, even for the small instances. This information can help the local authorities piece together a possible pattern and reinforce the seriousness of an issue. (Haven’t all those crime scene investigation TV shows taught us anything yet?). Graffiti may be the first indication of gang activity, so it’s essential that it be addressed – and removed – immediately.
Encourage your manager to offer advertising in your community’s newsletter and alert solicitors about the opportunities available for their businesses instead of littering the area with pamphlets, flyers and business cards, .

It is these types of issues that can quickly tarnish the idyllic nature of a new community, affect the sales for your homebuilder and undermine the spirit of its residents. While not preventable, your actions as a new resident, in conjunction with your manager, can help your community association stay “fresh” for a little while longer.

Kim M. DiStefano
CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
Director of Operations
Community Archives
Tucson, Arizona