Home Improvement Project? Follow our ARB Checklist!
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Spring is right around the corner, which means many Waterstone residents will be starting new home improvement projects. If your home is getting an upgrade, you may be wondering what you should do to keep your architectural and landscaping changes within homeowner’s association standards.
As a reminder, all exterior architectural and landscaping projects must be reviewed by the Waterstone HOA Architectural Review Board per our covenants.
How the ARB Process Works
The Waterstone covenants establish a three-person Architectural Review Board (ARB), whose members are appointed to 1-year renewable terms by the HOA Board of Directors. The members of the ARB work hard to ensure our neighborhood continues to look great year after year. To this end, the ARB regulates the exterior appearance of all homes and their improvements. This includes exterior design and exterior landscaping changes.
Additionally, the ARB plays an important role in regulating homes’ exterior maintenance, approving exterior use (e.g., generators and solar panels), and reviewing the exterior location of a home’s features.
Consequently, the ARB must review and approve any proposed architectural or landscaping change that impacts the exterior of a home. Most submitted projects are approved by the ARB as planned or with minor modifications.
To help you guarantee a successful home improvement project, we encourage you to follow our simple, five-step Architectural Change Checklist.
Architectural Change Checklist
Visit the Architectural Forms & Docs page—On the Architectural Forms & Docs page of the HOA website, homeowners will find a number of important items related to home improvements. We encourage all homeowners to familiarize themselves with the HOA’s architectural standards and related procedures before getting started a project.
Reach out to the ARB with questions—If you are unsure whether your project falls within accepted standards, or if you have general questions, you may reach out to a member of the ARB. Contact information may be found on the Board page in the Committees section.
Complete the “ARB Form”—At the bottom of the Architectural Forms & Docs page, you will find the Architectural Change Form (aka “ARB Form”). Complete and submit the form, and it will be automatically sent to KMC for processing and to members of the ARB committee for review.
Connect with the ARB—Once your ARB Form is processed and reviewed, a member of the ARB will reach out to you via email or phone with next steps. The ARB will approve your project or work with you on needed changes. If you haven’t received follow-up from the ARB within two weeks, be sure to reach out to KMC or a member of the ARB directly.
Begin your project—Once your project is approved, begin your project and enjoy your upgraded home!
We thank everyone for their help in keeping our neighborhood looking its best. Compliance with the architectural change process is extremely important, and prevents costly problems for you and the HOA down the road. If you have further questions, be sure to reach out to your Waterstone HOA Board of Directors representative.
Happy upgrading, everyone!
