I've never heard of white doors bringing down the property value, I'll have to look that up. I think your doors look beautiful.

Your house is amazing - just the way it is!! Brown doors would do absolutely nothing. How many others in the neighborhood have white doors? Do they have to change?

really cute!!

Stunning, beautiful house.

Leave it alone. Perfect!

Landscaping stone looks so classy.

Read your covenants and find out if they are asking or if they have the power to "tell" you. The design guidelines may dictate these colors - i like them too but i can see the design intent behind a brown door is that on first impression it looks like a natural wood door which can be considered more high end. Since we are talking about paint v paint then that is a bit silly but it may be the rule they were given to enforce. Yours are fine white but the next person might choose - aaaccck eggplant! which would also be gorgeous but then the next guy might paint his hot neon pink and the slippery slope descends . . . . . ask to read the design guidelines. If this is one persons view, keep them. If it is an express rule, paint them. Not worth fighting an HOA if they have the power =

When we decided to change to white doors, 8 houses scattered throughout the neighborhood had white entry and white garage doors so I thought we would be approved. Another 4 have just white entry doors. We have about 185 homes in our community. We received a letter saying that some white doors had been approved but ours wasn't and white doors would no longer be tolerated. We have to stick to the original colours that we had when we bought the house.

I would ask to look at the minutes and see exactly what they approved and when. If you bought them and then sought approval after the fact, they have the right to make you change it.

What a lot of people don't realize is the HOA's and land convenants in many developments and subdivisions are far more restrictive than any zoning oridinance and the board can be capricious and petty. Reread your documents, and there is probably some clause in there that states that they have the power to regulate all exterior changes and paint colors, and penalties if you don't comply. There might be an appeal process.

Probably not worth the ill-will and trouble it will cause to fight them. If the doors are fiberglass, ask if you can do a wood stain on them, or if other colors are acceptable.

Good grief! Your home is stunning and there is not one aspect that would "bring down property values". HOA's have a purpose, I suppose. Requiring a homeowner to change a perfectly acceptable aspect of THEIR home is not one of them. Stick to your guns.

This a vacant lot condo where you own the land and the house. We were the first people to move in the subdivision and have seen every house being built. Most owners have made changes to their property making this a very beautiful area. Many have changed the colours of their doors and have colours other than the original palette. We, the owners are responsible for the repairs and the cost of any renovation. We have to ask permission to the board and they have the right to refuse us but the bylaw should be reasonable and consistent with the condo act and the declaration. They have a problem with white saying it is not in the colour palette, yet some white doors were approved before our request. Our neighbors have no problem with our doors and we are always complimented on our landscaping and now on our beautiful doors. If we did paint the doors, they would no longer be maintenance free. It was very expensive and it would break my heart to have to put a paint brush to this door. I just wanted the readers opinion as to whether or not they thought the white doors should not be tolerated as the board has stated. Thank you all for your response.

The white is perfect, crisp and bright, brown is muddy and at odds with the rest of the house. Saying that white brings down property values is preposterous. I'm sure these homeowners would agree!


https://www.houzz.com/photos/1914-residence-craftsman-exterior-san-diego-phvw-vp~1343178

Perhaps you could get an independent appraiser or realtor to take a look and compare white versus brown or colored doors in your neighborhood. I bet there will be no difference! If you can refute their assertion, they might have a change of heart.

Unfortunately, depending on how the bylaws are written, I'm afraid they can do stuff like this based on no data whatsoever. It doesn't matter that you are the owner and pay for the cost of repair and maintenance. They can force you to do it in the name of protecting the neighborhood.

My father's former neighborhood made an owner switch their newly-painted house from one butter yellow to a slightly lighter shade of butter yellow, and guess who paid for that. The colors were hardly distinguishable, and the original specs for the houses were nearly 20 years old, so that particular shade of yellow isn't in production anymore--but the paint company can match it if you ask. Didn't matter they picked the closest thing they saw on display, had to change anyway, no matter how nice it looked. I thought the whole thing was utterly ridiculous.

You'd have to pay an appraiser and they would just laugh and take your money.

In my opinion, when some people get to to be directors on a board, the power goes to their head and they lose their common sense.

A maintenance free door is adding value. Your door hardware is beautiful and shows so well on the white. If you painted them brown, as a potential buyer, I would think you were trying to fake a real wood door. Oh and I'll share. I painted my vinyl white maintenance free windows to match off white trim and got mildew now to clean off. Wish I'd left it. Check your manufacturer too. Painting might void the warranty.

Your house looks fab. Ask for a waver.

Clair,

I am a board member of our HOA. If the Board wants to play this game, here's a thought: read the bylaws V.E.R.Y. carefully. I am reading that your door has never been "painted" by you. If the bylaw restrictions as to colors allowed read as "paint" or "painted", that may be your loophole.

Alternatively, you sound like a reasonable person, so make your argument about the maintenance if painted vs. maintenance-free and what that may do in long-term if dark colors are required to be used and become faded due to direction of the sun, blah,blah,blah.

Additionally, you may have more luck if you visit with the board members individually outside of a meeting. Make your case to those you know best and you may gain an ally on the board. Are the motions required to be unanimous when brought before the board or is it a majority of the vote? That may also play in your favor.

Just a little inside baseball that might help you. Sometimes we have board members who get a little carried away with control, but there are those who remain reasonable ;->

Dont do it, it is beautiful they way they are!

If there are palettes with white doors, and palettes without white doors and everyone must conform to a palette, then you probably must follow the design color combos determined by someone else. If there are general guidelines and the palettes are "suggested" then you can hold firm. If homes painted just like your color combo (color of siding, trim) have been approved with white doors, and you stand firm, they won't have a basis for denying your request (unless they are just next door or something about mixing it up)

There's another house down the street, around the corner, with the same model as ours. He painted his doors white, at least 5 years ago. They were approved after the owner refused to change to brown.
Another house, 2 houses down from us, but different model, has an approved white garage door although the palette says it should be blue.

Sounds like you've got a presedent for keeping the white, good luck!!

I'd like to thank all the viewers for taking the time to comment.
In return, I'd like to share some photos of my home with all of you. My husband and I are very proud of the work we've done.
Enjoy

You should be proud, it's lovely and very obvious that you love your home, your neighbors are lucky!

A few more for you.

Clair- your home is beautiful !!! I love the white doors. I am surprised this situation is still ongoing. I thought things were more or less resolved. I truly think it is ridiculous that they are creating an issue of this. Your home is beautiful ..... fight this decision !! As neighbors - we support you and will fight this decision along with you. Hang in there !!!!!! :-)