Comments on: Is it an eyesore or a necessity?

By: Elaine Reese

Elaine Reese — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:24:18 +0000

Randy, I think what your neighbor did by placing the shed out of THEIR line of site, is the problem many folks have with them and the swing sets. If the owners of those structures truly thought they were OK to view, I think they would be willing to place them where they are viewed from their OWN deck or patio.

The very fact that deed restrictions have become the norm in newer neighborhoods speaks to the issue that people find these structures offensive – hence the implementation of the restrictions.

One of the local neighborhoods has even implemented restrictions on the brand, size, and tent color of the gyms that are allowed – much like the common mailboxes many developments use.

Perhaps, if people were more courteous to their neighbors, as you mention, deed restrictions would never have come into being so popular.

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:30:08 +0000

“…Again, parents tend to place them to the back of the lot – rather than up close to the home. Why is that?…”

Elaine, I think you make a good point here- I practice courtesy where it comes to keeping my own property. I treat my neighbors the way I would like them to treat me- it works out very well, but I have been in situations before where a neighbor erected a shed right next to my property, because (I believe) it was in a position that was convenient for them not to have it in their line of sight. No deed restrictions, the neighbor was unwilling to move the shed, so no remedy.
A little courtesy would have gone a long way in that situation.

By: Elaine Reese

Elaine Reese — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:06:37 +0000

Mike, I don’t have any stats, just buyer’s observations when we look at homes. When we stand on the deck or the patio, and view everyone’s backyard, it can not be a pleasant view if there’s a variety of fence styles and a bunch of pre-built wood or metal sheds in the back corner of many of the lots. I have had buyers decide against homes they otherwise liked, simply because of the back view of sheds.

Not sure where you live, but here in central Ohio, generally the new subdivisions have deed restrictions that govern fencing and sheds – or not.

Like you mentioned, I think the more restrictive restrictions are in upscale communities where they want to protect their values. However, they also exist in the price range you mention. It just depends on how the HOA enforces the deed restrictions.

Rather than being a “poor vs rich” issue, I think it’s more to do with the size of the garage. Builders have been shrinking the garage size over the years, making it more difficult to put the bikes, lawn mower, big SUV and the monster trash bins that cities use, in the garage. Upscale homes tend to have larger garages making storage easier.

I understand the strong feelings residents have on sheds. My neighborhood is the same way. So far, our HOA has held firm. I’m that opinionated resident you mention.

By: Mike Davis

Mike Davis — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:26:24 +0000

Elaine,
I was searching for something that gives actual stats on property values being affected by sheds. I am the association president, and one of the big items people complain about is that we cannot have sheds (yet the builder let 4 of the 77 homes have one). On the flip, one neighbor is extremely strong opinioned again (reason is home values). Do you have anything you could email or a site to go to with this type of data. Do you see trends in the more expensive the home, prices drop due to sheds and that the lesser expensive homes, that it is not affected? (ie, the poorer man needs to store his stuff, because he has to do his own work?) I am particularly interested in the $180,000 to $250,000 area. If you could help, it would be greatly appreciated.

By: Elaine Reese

Elaine Reese — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:43:20 +0000

Tom, thanks for your thoughts. You support what I see from buyers, in that many prefer to buy in a neighborhood that has deed restrictions so they know that certain things can or cannot be done.

Some developments even control the brand and style of play gyms that are allowed.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:59:38 +0000

unless there is a deed restriction, I don’t see the harm in putting up structures like this anywhere a homeowner sees fit in their lot;

wondering if you are affecting the value of all of the homes around you with the way you landscape/ design your own home is a bit ridiculous; public nuisances (trash, excessive animals, etc.) are one thing; eyesores are in the eye of the beholder; if it is a big concern to buyers, they should focus their search on properties where this would not be a potential problem.