HOA Management Blog

Is your California Homeowners Association thinking of embarking on a maintenance or construction project that will require the services of a contractor? If the project needs association approval, the first thing before you get to the place of interviewing Contractors in California is to make sure you follow the steps of your design review process.

With summer days right around the corner, I have been thinking about swimming pools and summer sun. When I was young, every summer my friends and I would look for a pool in the local area to swim in during hot days. We would jump the fence of the local high school until someone kicked us out or we would sneak into one of many apartment complexes until we were escorted out. I know, you are completely shocked that I would number myself among those wild fencehopping, rule breaking boys of summer (or maybe not if you know me well) but now you know. Many of the pools we raided were packed with families swimming so we were able to enjoy them for quite a while before they figured out that we did not belong.

Do you find yourself annoyed by the persistence of solicitors' unwelcome knocks on your door? It seems like no matter what they are selling or promoting they always manage to show up on your porch. They come with fliers, door hangers, a rehearsed speech and the distinct ability to ignore the polite decline of the products they are peddling to every person they can reach in your homeowners association - cleaning supplies, appliances, cosmetics, magazine subscriptions, home improvement products, coupons for local businesses and other unwanted items - sometimes even making you feel trapped in your own home.

Some homeowners associations who carry property/general liability insurance extend their coverage to include residential insurance in a portion of homeowner's association fees. If you are in a situation where you have HOA insurance coverage, does that mean you as an individual homeowner don't need an additional insurance policy on your residence? The answer is a resounding NO.

You're a member of a homeowners association as a nonresident owner who leases some units to renters. How many times have you been at a community homeowners association board of directors meeting and heard, "It's the people who rent that don't follow the homeowners association rules" or "Our homeowners association fees are increasing because the people who rent don't care about our buildings and rules."

Burnout is more than just stress - it is how your mind and your body tell you a change is needed. Whether you are a homeowners association property manager, board member or a homeowner who is part of a homeowners association, the pressure to work harder to the point of exhaustion can be a reality. Do you find yourself often working mechanically or just going through the motions? Then try these ways to relieve stress before it turns into burnout.

Many people would argue that graffiti is art, but when it is defacing property within the community of your homeowners association, it's considered vandalism. A homeowners association monitors and immediately removes graffiti from common areas and encourages residents to do the same with their property. If you've had several incidents of graffiti in your neighborhood recently, or just want to be prepared if you ever do, the homeowners association recommends these steps for dealing with graffiti.

The Hignell Companies values community and what it means to a part of a homeowners association. Even though you live in a homeowners association, you might be surprised how many of your neighbors -- owners and renters alike -- do not really understand the fundamental nature of common-interest communities. The media and government officials also lack a true understanding of the community homeowners association (or condominium) concept.

A homeowners association often struggles with obtaining renter information. The Hignell Companies recommends providing a welcome letter to renters when they become a part of a homeowners association because it begins a warm relationship that will help to build trust with renters. An example of a welcome letter is outlined below:

After 16 years of being a homeowners association property manager, I have heard every type of neighbor to neighbor complaint.  For example, the dog barks all day, the smoke from my neighbors barbecue stinks, the neighbor cooks fish and reeks up the place, my neighbor smokes and it comes into my home, my neighbor plays his music all night or the TV is on all day.  Two of my favorites are "I can hear my neighbor walking at night" and "I can hear them use the bathroom!"

Have you ever driven through a homeowners association and wondered how on earth the HOA management has neglected to see that buildings are about to crumble to the ground and blow away with the wind? Well, Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" didn't see it coming either.