How come Smith Douglas has a 4.7 rating on thier website and a 1.0 rating here?…read more
I have lived in my Smith Douglas home for two years, and what began as disappointment with the landscaping has grown into serious buyer's remorse. I have already spent about $6,000 trying to correct the yard and landscaping, and I am still only partway toward having the kind of property I expected when I purchased the home. It started as disappointment and has grown now into deep regret.
The larger issue is not just landscaping. Our declarations included no meaningful cap on rentals, and today roughly 33% of the homes in Laurel Park are rentals. That level of investor ownership has changed the character of the neighborhood. While some may argue that rentals do not significantly affect property values or community standards, our experience says otherwise. In our neighborhood, the rental homes appear to account for a disproportionate share of HOA violations, including neglected yards, trash, beer cans in the street, speeding, loud profanity, and other disturbances. Law enforcement has also been called to the neighborhood multiple times, and as far as I am aware, those incidents have been tied to rental properties.
This is not something that should surprise anyone. A neighborhood with a high percentage of rentals is simply different from a neighborhood primarily made up of owner-occupied homes. People who plan to work 30 years to pay for a home should know exactly what they are getting before signing a contract.
My advice to buyers is simple: before purchasing from any builder, obtain and carefully study a certified copy of the Articles of Declaration and HOA documents. Pay special attention to rental restrictions, investor ownership limits, enforcement authority, and architectural standards. What is missing from those documents may matter just as much as what is included.
If you want to stroll around here and see what I am talking about feel free to contact me. We are on the fence about moving, if we move now, we lose around 70K, if we move later - who knows. Buying a home should not be a crap shoot, watch for the details.
Pro tip: If the agent tells you no rentals or limited to 10 % get a copy of the declarations and bylaws, have the agent sign beside the language that shows you are protected. It could save you 100K in the short term.