Why do we have a Homeowners’ Guide? Many of us may have lived in stand-alone houses that weren’t part of an HOA before moving to Fearrington. We were used to painting our front doors any color we chose, without having to submit an architectural application; we were used to landscaping our yards with all sorts of plants and statuary, also without having to submit a landscaping application; ditto for calling the garage door company to replace the motor when we couldn’t get in our garages, for example.

Life in an HOA has many wonderful benefits. However, there are some significant differences between living in and maintaining a stand-alone home and living in and maintaining a residence in an HOA. So please read the Homeowners’ Guide, informally known as the HOG. No need to memorize it, but it can be helpful to be able to say to oneself, “Hmmm. I read something about garage door remotes in the HOG. Now where was that?” The Maintenance Responsibility Chart is especially useful.

All kinds of topics are covered in the HOG, from where your parking place is, to what to do if your garage door motor fails, to trash-and-recycling information, to which part of a water line or sewer line is the homeowner’s responsibility and which part is that of the HOA, to deck and patio guidelines, and on and on. And yes, all of us in Countryhouse belong to two homeowners’ associations (Countryhouse and Fearrington) and pay two sets of dues – and not to the same entities. That also is covered in the HOG.

Nearly everything in the Countryhouse HOG is based on our governing documents – our Declaration and By-laws. They are posted in the “Governing Documents” section of this website as well as in AppFolio should you want some additional reading.

If you have any questions about something you have read in the HOG or would like to do, please talk to Mill House Properties or a member of the Countryhouse Board. They can help you. Contact information can be found here on the website under the “Board of Directors” and “Contact” menus.