LANDSCAPING
One of the most obvious aspects of creating an attractive community is landscaping. While landscaping can typically be a significant expense for many associations, it’s also a major factor in curb appeal. Many boards consider it a long- term investment in the community. Consider the value of landscaping to residential associations:
• Landscaping saves money. Replacing turf for perennial or drought-tolerant ground cover reduces maintenance and water use.
• Landscaping can screen unsightly utility boxes or antennae, reduce noise and provide privacy.
• A well-planned landscaping scheme will provide color throughout the year.
• Properly placed landscaping directs common-area pedestrian traffic.
• Landscaping can correct or stabilize steep slopes, wetlands and other challenging areas.
• Landscaping provides visual interest, especially when it incorporates elements such as fountains, arbors or decorative walls or fences.
PAINT & WOOD REPLACEMENT
Exterior paint is a quick and easy way to keep an association’s property looking fresh, new and clean. Sometimes a new color scheme can provide a modern refresh to an outdated palette. It will also protect against corrosion, weathering and insects.
Building exteriors, trims, chimneys and decks should be evaluated regularly for wood rot and other wear-and-tear or damage. Wood rot can lead to damage from storms, birds or insects in addition to looking unsightly.
ROOFING, GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS
Roofs should be inspected regularly for shingle or material replacement, leaks, or other wear-and-tear. A properly cleaned and maintained roof not only looks nice but can lengthen a roof’s lifespan and avoid or mitigate leaks and other problems. Keeping tabs on the condition of the roof can help an association better plan and save for replacement when the roof starts approaching the end of its useful life.
Gutters and downspouts should also be cleaned and inspected regularly. No one likes to see gutters and downspouts overflowing with leaves, dirt and other debris. Not only are they unappealing, but when they are full, they are not effective and can lead to flooding and other problems. Remember to make sure all gutters and downspouts are correctly and properly attached so they both look neat and function the way they are meant to.
10 | COMMON INTEREST®
TUCK-POINTING AND SIDING
A building’s exterior is usually one of the first things a person notices about a potential home. Does the masonry need tuck-pointing? Does the siding have obvious visual damage, cracks or holes? These too should be regularly inspected and any problems remedied promptly. When the outside of a building gives the impression that it does not look appealing, it can tend to also give the impression that it is not well cared for or maintained. In addition, never underestimate the benefits of a good power-washing to the exterior walls to make an older building appear newer and make a good “first impression.”
SIDEWALKS & DRIVES
Cracks, pitted or flaking surfaces and other concrete problems are not only unattractive to the eye but they can be damaging to pedestrians and vehicles. Roadways and driveways should be inspected for cracks, potholes or other damage, and repaired as soon as possible. A small crack or pothole can quickly become a serious problem – especially in the Chicagoland area where the winters can be rough and unforgiving.
Inspect sidewalks for cracks, uneven concrete and other ugly hazards. Remove weeds from sidewalk joints and debris from driveways and sidewalks. Discourage homeowners and residents from using driveways for storage or auto repairs.
Depending on the nature of an association, many people and potential buyers see and utilize the roadways, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks before they set foot into a unit or home. No matter how beautiful the inside of a condominium unit or home may be, the person who just drove over the pothole in the parking lot or tripped on the cracked and uneven sidewalk will be holding that against their opinion of the home overall.
AQUATICS
One story of the goddess Aphrodite’s birth has her rising as a full-grown female from the sea, being formed from sea foam and some divine manipulation. Many people have seen at one point or another the painting “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli, which depicts Venus (the Roman name for Aphrodite) as a fair and long-haired voluptuous woman riding a giant clam shell out of the sea, about to step onto dry land.
This connection of Aphrodite to a body of water calls to mind another option of curb appeal to some associations: water. Whether it takes the form of a swimming pool, small pond, larger-scale lake with a marina, or simply a fountain in a courtyard, water can be another aesthetically pleasing way to draw the eye – and the potential buyer – to an association. A swimming pool can be a fun and exciting amenity for an association to offer its residents. Who doesn’t enjoy a cool refreshing dip on a hot Chicago summer day? Ponds or lakes could provide the homeowner with fishing
• Spring 2022 • A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter
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