Architectural requests

How a request arrives

A homeowner opens Architecture Requests, picks a category, describes what they want to do and attaches their plans, drawings or photos. Requests are numbered and attached to the property.

You can require a file on a category — sensible for fences and additions, where a drawing is the whole point.

The statuses

• Submitted — waiting for the committee. Shows to admins as "Needs Review".
• In review — someone has picked it up. Worth setting promptly; it is the difference between a homeowner waiting patiently and emailing the board president.
• Approved — they may proceed.
• Ready for review — the homeowner has finished the work and wants it signed off.
• Closed — finished and inspected.
• Denied — not approved as submitted.

Comments do the work

A denial with no explanation produces an angry email; a denial that cites the relevant section of the guidelines and offers to review a revised drawing usually produces a revised drawing. Comments are visible to the homeowner, so write them as though they will be read out at a meeting — because they might be.

Bring your existing process

If your ARC already has a paper form, attach it to the category. Homeowners see it when they apply, and you keep intake, tracking and the decision record in one place.