Advice Needed: Meeting with HOA about Renovation

[Anonymous]

I just bought a house where I'm doing a complete gut renovation. The house is definitely the eyesore of the neighborhood since it's been abandoned and uncared for a number of years while the family of the deceased owner litigated over an estate. I'm meeting with the HOA next Thursday to discuss two items. The first is the site plan and elevations, schedule, dumpster locations etc.(everything I'm doing is in line with the rest of the neighborhood, no oversized house here) and the second is the rodent infestation that is a result of the house being abandoned so long. I've been working with a very good exterminator/wildlife trapper for the past month or so who is making lots of porgress, but when the demolition starts in a few weeks some critters will be out in the cold and potentially looking for new homes (i am paying for the whole alley and immediate neighbors to have traps on their property).

I just got the packet from the architect and contractor to print out copies for the meeting and noticed they included the interior blueprints too. I don't feel like I need to share those with my neighbors, but my mother says I should leave it in so the nosy neighbors can concentrate on that and not create any other issues. FWIW, I know there are a few busy bodies -- two who called the HOA because they felt my realtor left the sold sign up too long. (it was up for one week after I closed.) Would you share the interior plans too? While I'm willing to hear and consider feedback on the exterior, I'm not so keen on anyone weighing in on the inside of my home.

[Anonymous]

I do not like the sound of your neighbors
I would tell as little as possible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would you share the interior plans too? While I'm willing to hear and consider feedback on the exterior, I'm not so keen on anyone weighing in on the inside of my home.

You sound conscientious (especially the part of getting rodent traps for the whole alley, etc). I would never include my inside floor plans as I feel that is a security risk that might allow someone to "case" my home. Frankly, it is not the HOA's business other than if you install anything that may not be zoned properly for residential use. If they want to see the inside, maybe they should walk over and bring you a housewarming gift when or after you move in. That's the neighborly way to "snoop". You can choose to invite them in or not.