Community Communication Corner
by Bob Gourley, MyEZCondo Founder, Member of CAI CT Board of Directors

Making a Beautiful Story for Landscaping, Beautification, and Recreation

Landscaping, Beautification, and Recreation – I can’t think of three things that tell the world more about a community or make a stronger statement about what kind of people live there. Call it curb appeal, call it first impressions, call it quality of life – many of the best communities in the country brag about the quality of their landscaping, the beauty of their grounds, and the scope of recreation possibilities available to its residents. These aren’t just selling points for prospective buyers. They are key ingredients to keeping the community full of satisfied residents and happy homeowners. Of course, there is a communication story to be told with each.

Take a good look around your community. Is it beautifully landscaped? Does the beauty of the community add to its appeal? Is there ample recreational opportunity inside or nearby for residents? If you’ve answered “no” to any of these questions, then you need to get busy. The story of Landscaping, Beautification, and Recreation isn’t just about grass and trees, flowers and shrubs, or even swimming pools and tennis courts. It is the story of vibrancy and excitement that stirs within a healthy community.

To the uninformed, landscaping appears to be one of those things that is out of sight and out of mind. For the resident who isn’t at home during the day, the green grass is naturally healthy and the manicured trees and bushes simply grow perfectly as Mother Nature had intended. It is a good idea to remind residents that there is a significant expense in landscaping and that a well-landscaped property leads to maximized value in the real estate market. Keeping the value of all of the homes in the association maximized is one of the primary duties of the Board of Directors. An excellent landscaping program is an important part of that plan. Tell that story in your newsletter and on your website.

Beautification efforts are among the most time consuming and often confusing issues that many HOA residents will face. Community bylaws often dictate strict “do’s and don’ts” with regards to individual beautification efforts that resident may wish to make. The decision to modify a common area for the sake of beautification will undoubtedly spark debate and even division among residents. Surveying residents via your community website or newsletter is a great way to gauge their sentiment and help the Board of Directors make an informed decision as to how the community would like to see itself beautified. This technique can even be used for smaller items (i.e., which type of flowers should be planted this year, the color of the new umbrellas for the pool area, etc.).

Recreation is a story that also needs telling. If you live in a community that boast a major amenity like golf, tennis, or a health club, your story is as easy to tell as announcing the next tournament, event, or program using the facilities. If you live in a community with limited or no recreational amenities, you have a different story to tell. Your residents need recreation and they are going to get it somewhere. Why not communicate with them and tell them about some of the programs offered by local municipal facilities or a nearby YMCA? You can easily provide phone numbers, website addresses, and more for proximal recreational items that remind residents that even though these opportunities lie outside their HOA, they are part of a larger community that does have programs of recreational interest for them.

Landscaping, Beautification, and Recreation are three important elements of a healthy community. Telling each of their stories well is a beautiful thing indeed. Take a look at your recent communications to your HOA members. Don’t be afraid to tell these stories. If you haven’t, your communications may need some beautification efforts of its own. If you have, then keep up the good work. I’ll bet you live in a healthy and vibrant community that anyone would be proud to call home.

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