Pioneer Crossing West HOA

Where do we complain about the missing "P" on the entrance?

Our management company has seemed to have gone downhill in the last few years.  The new person that you have to contact always seems to say there is nothing they can do about anything, while the original person was very helpful.  In addition, why do our fees keep going up if there is nothing they can do about anything or if they are not willing to fix signs or put the P back on the waterfall? 

I spoke with one of our Board members yesterday and found out that the reason why it's taken so long to get the "P" replaced on our waterfall is because it didn't just fall off... it was stolen. So, our management company had to order a whole new "P". Once it was received, they then needed to contract out with a company to come out and mount it for us.

Please keep in mind that while our management company is responsible for managing things for our neighborhood, they still have to contract out to companies that can actually do the work. It's not like they keep mowers and handymen and such on staff at their offices. And contracting out work means they're dealing with those companies' work schedules. Just because something takes a while to get done, doesn't mean that the management company isn't doing anything about it. If you want to know what's going on about something, then give them a call. But it's not fair to just assume that they aren't doing their job.

Every time I've contacted our management company, they've handled the issue quickly and efficiently. Our current contact, Celeste Starr-Schulz, has always been friendly and helpful. If she's telling you that there's nothing she can do about something, then I'm sure she's telling you the truth. Keep in mind that the management company is only responsible for handling certain things for our neighborhood. We don't pay them to handle every possible thing, nor can they do so legally. For instance, if a neighbor is blasting their radio all night long, they can't do anything about that. That's something you have to report to the police.

Lastly, our fees are not increasing because of our management company. Our fees are increasing due to other reasons. Things like vandalism (like the stolen "P"), things breaking down (like the mailbox lights), and also just preparing our neighborhood for the future. What many people don't realize is that the builder is still subsidizing us a substantial amount. At some point in the future though, they're going to pull out and we'll be left on our own. We need to build up enough reserve to carry us on after they're gone, and right now we're nowhere near able to support ourselves.

Please forgive the length of this, but I wanted to share some of the inside information that I have and to give a different perspective on how our management company (and HOA) works. I understand the frustrations that have been mentioned, but the management folks are doing a better job than many realize.

HMMM sounds like this is maybe the management company responding!

If what is said is indeed the case would it not have helped everyone for that to be posted as an announcement saying the management company were aware of it and working on a solution. You cannot really expect every home owner to contact them and ask the same question, when an announcement on the web site would have answered any questions.

Also as an aside they came by Sunday and stained the fences on Musket Valley. Again where was the notification? I am glad I did not have my dogs outside at time as I am sure the stain came through the gaps in the fences and would have covered them if they had been on the other side.

I don't think posting notifications is too much to ask for, people can't complain if they were made aware, even if they didn't read it, but I think they have a valid complaint when someone tells them afterwards that they knew about it weeks ago and the discussions they have had in the meantime were just a lot of hot air.

As an aside, do the boxes on the web site have to be so big, you have to scroll page after page when some of the entries are just one line.

Not the management company responding; a concerned and informed resident.  Additionally, someone who has volunteered much of his time to setting up and maintaining this site.

In response to post #4, I can assure you that I do not work for the management company. I'm just a guy who owns a house in our neighborhood with some web skills. I understand the frustration that many people feel towards our management company at times. I myself have received warnings for my lawn at least twice now from them. I realize that they certainly aren't perfect, but I just don't think they're as bad as they often get made out to be.

In response to post #5, I think notifications are a great idea! I'm not sure if issuing announcements like that would be the management company's responsibility or if that's something that our Board of Directors or Committees would need to do though. I will pass the idea along when I get a chance. Or you could send it as a suggestion to the Board members. As for the boxes on the forums... I apologize for that. I made a whole bunch of changes to the website recently and hadn't even noticed the box size. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I'll fix them as soon as I get a chance.

In response to post #6 by TheBakers, thank you for the kudos. I appreciate it. :)

http://www.pioneercrossingwest.org/forums/general-discussion/402

I noticed today coming home from work that they did the grass outside the neighborhood walls, and areas of the grass on the lot and greenbelt, but still it's looking ridiculous. How long does it take grass to grow that high? Long enough that, waiting on the landscaper's schedule to free up or not, it's evident of neglegence. Be real, HOA, why hasn't it been done?

Hi,

Has anyone checked out reviews on Goodwin management?  Try it yourself and you will find all over the internet how Goodwin management creates a hostile environment in communities.  They are notorious for creating unsubstantiated fines.   In one case on reviewer hired a professional landscaper after one fine, and still is continuing to be fined to this day.  I sincerely hope the HOA board considers finding a replacement reputable management company before our community becomes a miserable place to live.  If I get fined I am opening up a class action lawsuit against Goodwin Management, if any one wants to join me let me know. 

I just want to start off by saying I've been living here for almost 6 years and if I could just pick up my house and move to another location I would because management has not been making me more and more upset. I understand they don't want our neighborhood to start looking trashy that’s why they come up with fees and all, but they are not handling the situations correctly. I was always told to present a problem with a solution or else you'll just be looked at as someone who complains too much. So I believe we really do need to change Management Company because I am not happy and it doesn't seem as if I'm the only one. 

Celeste Starr-Schulz, is not friendly and is NOT one bit helpful. She never answers her phone, you leave a voicemail and it takes her days to call you back, you email her questions and all she sends back is the shortest most general answer she can come up with. I have never met this lady personally but I really hope I don't because I am honestly disgusted by the way she treats people. I thought her job was to manage the neighborhood and be of help to our community, and I can tell you something she has not been of any help to me or my household.

I told them I had to go out of the country to deal with a family emergency, from which my Dad died, and told them my grass would not be cut and I would deal with it when I came back.

I thought I was doing the right thing by telling them, I could have just left town and done nothing, but I thought I was dealing with reasonable people so would let them know.

The replies I got indicated that it was more important to them protecting some kind of fictional property value that may be impacted by my grass being too long or my neighbors being upset by it and complaining. If you think your house cannot sell because my grass is an inch or two too long then you are not being logical.

This was the final nail for me, if a family emergency means nothing to them and somehow protecting their little domain is then they can go find some other people to annoy,

Hi All,

The fines that are being assessed are from Goodwin management.  The HOA board are not to be entirely blamed.  We all have the right to appeal each fine and we should if we are in the right.  This is allowed by Sec. 209.007 of the Property Code chapter 209 Texas state law.   By not appealing the fine if you are in the right, makes us victims of Goodwin tyranny.  Furthermore,  our HOA has an appointed lawyer whos job is to insure that the HOA is following Texas state law.    I believe that  we should appeal to Mr. Pugh at Slater and Kennon Law offices and voice our concerns.

Thank you for posting your first response (#3)!  I was getting ready to post something similar upon reading this thread.  I am in complete agreement!  

I used to work for an HOA Management Company back in '07 and am familier w/their workings.  It's important to keep in mind that this company manages SEVERAL HOA's and not just our own.  Therefore, they rely on community members to report such things as missing signs, broken lights, etc.  

I wonder are we really getting 50K worth of services out of our management company?  I find that hard to believe.  

I also find it hard to believe the neighborhood is spending nearly 5K on social events.  For Whom? 

Those are good questions to ask, here's my two cents on a couple of them (just a couple):

I support having the lifeguards because they are also responsible for making sure only residents with active/valid key cards and the allowed number of guests are coming into the pool area. When the pool opens, they bring out the pool furniture and then lock up the pool furniture at closing, they prevent vandalism, ensure people behave responsibly and follow pool rules, they make it a safe environment for residents, and of course, keep people from drowning or sustaining injuries. If we could trust people to do all those things on their own, we wouldn't need the services but historically there has been a tremendous amount of vandalism, broken glass in the pool, people climbing the fence to get in when the pool is closed, etc.

Concerning social events, I know the Pool & Rec Cmte has had movie nights at the pool (and that ain't cheap) and they paid for the massive amount of pizza and water, and some of the prizes for our National Night Out event last October. The HOA also paid for the magnetic Neighborhood Watch Patrol car signs that are almost $40 each and the neighborhood watch window clings. The committee members do all the work on a volunteer basis and we pay for a lot of items out of our own pockets, but the HOA does provide the higher-priced items.

Chinese Proverb: "There is many a good man to be found under a shabby hat."