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'Tis the season

Here we go, it's the holidays! And you can bet there will be headline news about excessive, over-the-top holiday decor on HOA homes. Because news media do what they do.

There will be news about huge displays of lights, elves, reindeer and Santas on someone's home. Stories about 'evil' HOAs penalizing homeowners for going overboard. On TV, in newspapers and online, offended and offending homeowners will be talking about unfair homeowner associations. And of course, someone will bring up god-given rights.

This is fodder for news media. Like hogs at the trough, they gorge on controversies. Volunteers on HOA boards will be thrust into the public eye, under pressure from reporters demanding to know what's going on. Are HOAs victimizing homeowners who simply want to celebrate the season?

When reporters are at the door, sometimes the less said the better. Less is more. Especially if you need time to sort things out. Maybe you need to touch base with your property manager or your HOA's legal counsel. But reporters usually are on deadline. Why would they give you the luxury of time to think about something to say? So here's the kind of thing someone in PR might say to buy some time. A few words in At Least Some PR to perhaps keep the wolves at bay: "We hope to be able to address this situation through discussions involving the homeowner, the homeowners association and concerned neighbors."

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