HOA Management Blog

Natural disasters affect thousands of people every year, and with the increased risk of severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornadoes these days, it’s a good idea to think about having an emergency plan in place. Consider preparing an emergency plan now before it’s needed.

Here are a few tips to help you work with your family, friends and homeowners association neighbors for the best options possible:

Buying a home is a big milestone in life. It’s probably one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. It can also be one of the most exciting and nerve-racking! You can avoid anxiety and buyer’s remorse by making sure you’re informed about certain factors that are part of home buying – whether you’re buying a home in a homeowners association or elsewhere. When you’re in the house hunting process, be sure to ask about the following to avoid any surprises to your budget.

There are many small changes you can make to your outdoor and indoor surroundings to adopt environmentally conscious habits that could reduce your carbon footprint. Luckily, making careful choices can be easy with the right tools and information. Check out the following advice for taking a few small steps to a more sustainable living space. Remember to check the homeowners association CC&Rs for guidelines and possible restrictions prior to beginning any projects.

Is your homeowners association located in an area that wildlife frequent? More specifically, is your Association located in such a location that deer regularly visit your community? While deer are beautiful creatures to admire, the HOA board may want to caution owners from interacting too closely with these animals.

Whether you’re attacked while working in the garden, enjoying a picnic in the park or lounging by the pool, bug bites and stings are an inevitable summer annoyance in any homeowners association. At best, bites and stings can be uncomfortable for a few days; at worst, they can be a serious, life-threatening hazard.

This is the third post in a three-post series. Read the first post Real Questions from Members with Answers from an HOA Manager and the second post Questions Your HOA Board May Relate to Now or Later.

Your homeowners association probably has its share of complaints or concerns from members. It may be parking, barking dogs, or a defiant neighbor – the possibilities are actually endless. Below is a real question submitted by a member of a homeowners association relating to a rule about garbage cans. Learn how an HOA manager might handle the issue and think about how your HOA board would handle it for your community.

The homeowners association is a home and community. When you chose to be a member, you agreed to some unique obligations to the community and to other residents within it.

Deer browsing in the back yard is charming. Birds are beautiful, graceful and melodic.  Seeing coyote in the distance and hearing them calling to one another at night gives a sense of being close to nature and adds to the feel of your community. But too much of any one thing is never good, and the feeding and encouraging of wildlife in the homeowners association is not in their best interests, yours and especially the association’s.

Every homeowner’s association community always seems to have a lot going on, and that can sometimes include, among other things, a range of upcoming social events in addition to several important ongoing projects. Updating the website, writing an article for the association newsletter, and committee involvement on the budget, landscaping, road maintenance, election oversight or other committees, are all ways to volunteer. What are some of the things going on in your community?

Does your homeowner’s association allow pets? Many associations do and it goes without saying how much owners love their pets, so keeping them safe in the warmer months is most likely a top priority for those owners. See below for some friendly reminders to pass along to owners in your association - ways to help keep pets happy, healthy, and out of harm’s way…even on the warmest of days.