3 ms·

Anyone know of any workarounds/suggestions for an HoA (Homeowner's Association)? They require insured & licensed solar installers, but if I did DIY it would be

Anyone know of any workarounds/suggestions for an HoA (Homeowner's Association)? They require insured & licensed solar installers, but if I did DIY it would be 1/4 or 1/3 of the price in my area (FL).

nsxwolf 4y ago
A lawyer to challenge that bylaw is all I can think of. HOAs have incredible power with their ability to attach liens. I wonder what their concerns are specifically, besides making sure the end result looks good. Do they also have an approved list of installers? That's a red flag for corruption. I once lived in a condo where you had to install a certain replacement window type (fine, sure, it should match) but you had to get it from one of 3 approved installers. My neighbors and I realized that 2 of them would give the same quote, and the 3rd would give a slightly lower quote. The installer that would give the lower quote would be round-robined, and it was always exactly the same "discount".
- bick_nyers 4y ago
  I don't believe they have a list of approved installers but we regularly get sales people at our door from the same companies so I'm thinking there's some kind of deal there. All external work (not just solar) requires licensed & insured from my HoA. Well, technically in the bylaws it requires the board to vote to approve the modification, but for the board to decide to vote yes requires licensed & insured. As I understand the only thing I am "allowed" to do myself is basic landscaping... as long as I provide a written plan to the HoA for them to vote on of course. My next house won't be in an HoA-neighborhood, definitely sucks the joy out of being a first-time home buyer.
hedora 4y ago
A common technique is to tell them you're spending the money on the solar, or on the most onerous thing possible that's still allowed by HOA rules. (Don't tell them you are intentionally being onerous, just present the alternative.) For instance, thanks to court rulings that allow the FCC or overrule HOAs, you could put a giant hot pink DIY installed satellite dish on your roof. Give them an olive branch, so they can pretend they won. For instance, make it clear you will exceed installation guidelines for the mounts, get the work inspected, and that your homeowners insurance covers the install.
- bick_nyers 4y ago
  They require a full plan of action, bill of materials, sample pictures of what it would look like, etc., so I can't get it through by being vague. I've been thinking about a "death by documentation" approach, where I give them a very intricate and detailed plan of action that includes things such as getting inspections done. I am trying to steer away from anything aggressive like the hot pink satellite dish as I don't want them breathing down my neck for the next 5 or so years, but might need to resort to guerrilla tactics to get it done.
  - hedora 4y ago
    Send them the manufacturers installation specifications and a reference to the local building code. For BOM, price the system, and send them the quote. Include screws, flashing and caulk if you're feeling motivated. As for pictures, there are free landscape design (and other) tools that will Photoshop in panels from a street view picture or 3d box diagram of your house. This shouldn't take more than an hour or two. Plan of action: - obtain permits - install mounts, then panels, then wiring (per above code) - inspection - energize system You should be more subtle than the satellite dish. For instance, do the bylaws say anything about front lawn mounted solar panels, or freestanding solar carports? Maybe you've decided to go forward with a completely misguided repainting of the front of the house in homage to Mondrian (subject to HOA color palletes, of course), or to put in some "classical" (tasteful nudity) stained glass front entrance windows you made yourself. Are these ideas malicious or stupid? Who's to say? Make it clear your budget is limited. :-)
programmarchy 4y ago
You might want to check your state laws, too. DIY for mounting the panels is one thing, but tying into the grid is another, because you need to set up backfeed correctly otherwise you're putting linemen at risk. If you already know how to do all of this correctly, then maybe you could just get your electrician license ;-)
- bick_nyers 4y ago
  I could make the connections myself but I am still going to hire that part out. Run the wiring myself but let them do a final check over and connect to grid. In FL I believe you need to spend 4 years working to get an electricians license. If it was just a written test I would do it!

nsxwolf 4y ago

A lawyer to challenge that bylaw is all I can think of. HOAs have incredible power with their ability to attach liens. I wonder what their concerns are specifically, besides making sure the end result looks good. Do they also have an approved list of installers? That's a red flag for corruption. I once lived in a condo where you had to install a certain replacement window type (fine, sure, it should match) but you had to get it from one of 3 approved installers. My neighbors and I realized that 2 of them would give the same quote, and the 3rd would give a slightly lower quote. The installer that would give the lower quote would be round-robined, and it was always exactly the same "discount".

bick_nyers 4y ago
I don't believe they have a list of approved installers but we regularly get sales people at our door from the same companies so I'm thinking there's some kind of deal there. All external work (not just solar) requires licensed & insured from my HoA. Well, technically in the bylaws it requires the board to vote to approve the modification, but for the board to decide to vote yes requires licensed & insured. As I understand the only thing I am "allowed" to do myself is basic landscaping... as long as I provide a written plan to the HoA for them to vote on of course. My next house won't be in an HoA-neighborhood, definitely sucks the joy out of being a first-time home buyer.

hedora 4y ago

A common technique is to tell them you're spending the money on the solar, or on the most onerous thing possible that's still allowed by HOA rules. (Don't tell them you are intentionally being onerous, just present the alternative.) For instance, thanks to court rulings that allow the FCC or overrule HOAs, you could put a giant hot pink DIY installed satellite dish on your roof. Give them an olive branch, so they can pretend they won. For instance, make it clear you will exceed installation guidelines for the mounts, get the work inspected, and that your homeowners insurance covers the install.

bick_nyers 4y ago
They require a full plan of action, bill of materials, sample pictures of what it would look like, etc., so I can't get it through by being vague. I've been thinking about a "death by documentation" approach, where I give them a very intricate and detailed plan of action that includes things such as getting inspections done. I am trying to steer away from anything aggressive like the hot pink satellite dish as I don't want them breathing down my neck for the next 5 or so years, but might need to resort to guerrilla tactics to get it done.
- hedora 4y ago
  Send them the manufacturers installation specifications and a reference to the local building code. For BOM, price the system, and send them the quote. Include screws, flashing and caulk if you're feeling motivated. As for pictures, there are free landscape design (and other) tools that will Photoshop in panels from a street view picture or 3d box diagram of your house. This shouldn't take more than an hour or two. Plan of action: - obtain permits - install mounts, then panels, then wiring (per above code) - inspection - energize system You should be more subtle than the satellite dish. For instance, do the bylaws say anything about front lawn mounted solar panels, or freestanding solar carports? Maybe you've decided to go forward with a completely misguided repainting of the front of the house in homage to Mondrian (subject to HOA color palletes, of course), or to put in some "classical" (tasteful nudity) stained glass front entrance windows you made yourself. Are these ideas malicious or stupid? Who's to say? Make it clear your budget is limited. :-)

programmarchy 4y ago

You might want to check your state laws, too. DIY for mounting the panels is one thing, but tying into the grid is another, because you need to set up backfeed correctly otherwise you're putting linemen at risk. If you already know how to do all of this correctly, then maybe you could just get your electrician license ;-)

bick_nyers 4y ago
I could make the connections myself but I am still going to hire that part out. Run the wiring myself but let them do a final check over and connect to grid. In FL I believe you need to spend 4 years working to get an electricians license. If it was just a written test I would do it!