Community Maintenance: Physical Infrastructure

In any community, apartment complex, neighborhood, etc., how physical infrastructure looks and works immediately determines if a potential buyer believes the value you're offering matches the quality the are paying for.

Things to watch out for that clients WILL notice:

Crumbling or unpaved roads with potholes that go unrepaired for years
Inadequate or broken stormwater drainage leading to chronic flooding
Community clubhouses or laundry facilities with rotting floors and mold
Carports with rusted supports and sagging roofs
Fencing around the perimeter that is broken and provides no security
Standing water that persists for days after rain, breeding mosquitoes
No curbs or gutters, causing road edges to erode into yards
Retaining walls that are leaning, cracked, or partially collapsed

Physical infrastructure that clients may not see but can cause issues in the future:

Water lines running too shallow, causing freezing in winter
No individual water shutoffs per home, requiring full system shutdowns for any repair
Open drainage ditches carrying sewage through common areas
Hydrants present but not connected to adequate water supply
Skirting gaps that allow animals, moisture, and cold air under homes
Lot pads that have settled unevenly, causing homes to rack or shift
No concrete pads under homes, just bare earth or deteriorating wood blocking

For your community to receive and keep a positive, quality reputation, keeping infrastructure regularly maintained and in-check is necessary.

Discussion:

What are some other physical infrastructure factors you can think of?

When have you seen infrastructure go unmaintained, and what issues has that caused?

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