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5 Tips for Addressing the HOA Board at Open Meetings

May 23, 2018 / by HOA Manager

man-presenting-at-a-meetingAll meetings of the homeowners association Board of Directors are open meetings. Residents are encouraged to observe meetings and read approved minutes. Residents who wish to address the HOA board are welcome to do so during the forum conducted at the beginning of each business meeting.

Here are a few tips for participating:

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Why Your Homeowners Association Needs Election Rules

May 18, 2018 / by HOA Manager

You’ve sent out the candidate solicitations, you’ve gone through finding members who are willing to serve on your board, printed the ballots, and mailed out a professionally prepared cover letter with two envelopes (postage paid!) – just like your CC&Rs or Bylaws outline. Now you have a new HOA board, right?

Then, someone you’d least expect notifies you, as the Director, that they are disputing the election because your HOA does not have election rules!

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Why It's Crucial to Regularly Collect for Reserves at Your Homeowners Association

May 11, 2018 / by HOA Manager

past-now-futureReserve funds are not an extra expense. They are part of the ongoing expenses of the homeowners association which occur at various points in time. The plan provided by your reserve fund specialist will help you in this process. It's much more preferable that homeowners associations have a plan to set the funds aside now, on a year-by-year basis. By doing this, the Association can spread out the collection of assessments for these expenses more evenly over the coming years. 

There are other important reasons that Association monies should be put into reserves every month:

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11 Ways to Prepare Your Homeowners Association for Warmer Months

May 9, 2018 / by HOA Manager

As homes in your homeowners association begin to thaw from the cold months, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for spring and summer! The steps you take now can help avoid costly maintenance and repairs later.

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Pros and Cons of Your HOA Being on Social Media

May 2, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Social media, for good or bad, is here to stay and has changed the way we communicate.  By recognizing the pros, cons, and legal issues of using these platforms for HOA communication and professional branding,  you can make these tools work for your HOA rather than against it. 

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How Many Years Should an HOA Reserve Study Cover?

April 25, 2018 / by HOA Manager

So, your homeowners association is contemplating doing a reserve fund study.  Perhaps you are a new HOA and need to establish and start funding the reserves; or, you are an older HOA that has had a reserve for years, but it is time to update it.  How many years should your HOA reserve study cover?

Well, it depends.  HOA communities vary in size, age and the number and dollar value of the capital assets they own.  They choose different maintenance strategies for short-lived and longer-lived capital assets.  Let’s explore some of these issues.

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Food Safety During a Power Outage in Your HOA

April 18, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Power failures can be one of the most annoying and disabling occurrences in your HOA. Whether caused by summer storms, power lines crippled by winter ice, equipment failure, an overloaded regional grid or an animal disrupting a power line, electrical outages can be costly, uncomfortable, and without forethought sometimes even dangerous.

Association homeowners can face many hazards when a power failure occurs, usually without any warning, including losing refrigerated and frozen foods. Some food items can be salvaged, however, if you’re prepared.

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Have Association Buildings? Save Energy and Stay Cool at Your HOA

April 6, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Common area lighting, pools, club houses, and laundry facilities are just a few areas that a Homeowners Association can find themselves spending lots of Association dollars on quickly. No one likes it when their HOA dues increase so how do you help conserve energy and manage costs?

Energy bills, like the temperature, always rise in the summer. While there are big fixes an Association can incorporate to make common area electricity more energy-efficient, there are also many inexpensive energy solutions, as well as some simple and free steps that you can take to cut down on costs and save money.

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Why Your HOA Board Should Use a Reserve Specialist

April 4, 2018 / by HOA Manager

As an HOA board member you probably know what a reserve study is and the importance of doing one. If you don’t, take a couple of minutes to read this blog to familiarize yourself with frequently asked questions about doing a reserve study in your homeowners association.

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Has Your Vehicle Been Towed Out of Your HOA Community?

April 3, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Unclear or unenforced parking rules can wreak complete havoc in your HOA community. Many reasons contribute to this: Communities built with poor planning for parking, poor signage or lack of clarity on parking rules, owners NOT using their garage as their primary parking spot as stated in the Governing Documents, owner having more vehicles than allowed, owners storing vehicles in the community and in doing so losing a valuable parking spot.

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