The Holly Jolly HOA

Remedy: Show you know how have a good time by encouraging — even planning — homeowner gatherings. How about a chili cook-off or street party for Halloween? The rules may not allow bloody zombies crawling out of flower beds, but that doesn’t mean you can’t scare up a little fun.

Remedy: Serving others has a way of bringing out the best in everyone. As far as your HOA is concerned, organizing service opportunities might help residents see the organization in a more human light. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are ample opportunities to serve meals at homeless shelters, organize food drives, or help out local families through a sub-for-Santa program. You’ll give people a reason to socialize, feel good, and best of all, do some good in your local area.

Remedy: Your HOA probably does have rules about excessive holiday displays. You might not even allow them at all. But that doesn’t mean you can’t let residents show off their decorating abilities.

If you do allow porch or front door decorations, try sponsoring a contest. See who can come up with the best decorations that fit within the rules. If your HOA doesn’t allow these displays at all, why not put on an event where people have a certain time limit to decorate ginger bread houses? You could even form a committee to make the common area or club-house decorations really special.

With the holiday season upon us, look for ways to add some spirit to your community. If you play your cards right, enforcing the rules won’t have to fly in the face of having a little fun. With a little bit of effort and smart PR, your HOA can be by-the-book without becoming “bah-humbug.”