HOA Management Blog

You have many responsibilities as an HOA board member that require you to make decisions and take action. Some of the most important decisions the Board of a homeowners association has to make are financial decisions. It’s challenging to try and remember what funds from the operating budget covers and what funds from the reserve budget will pay for.

There is nothing as serene as a warm, crackling fire on a cold, winter night. There is also nothing more dangerous if your chimney is damaged. When is the last time that you have checked on your chimney safety in the homeowners association?

There is always work to be done, especially in a homeowners association. It’s crucial that an HOA Board plan for general, ongoing maintenance and upkeep. This is important in order to keep the Association a safe place to live and keep it an appealing place to live. Members don’t want to live in a run-down neighborhood and potential buyers won’t give an Association a second look if it’s unkempt, dirty or in disrepair.

Identity theft can happen to anyone, anywhere, and is a problem any time of the year.  The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers the following tips to help consumers protect themselves.

The success of a homeowners association is based on the members and Board working together. If the community is not taken care of, it will catch up with Association, affect property values, decrease the quality of living, and create a disharmonious environment. If there is a disconnect between the Board and homeowners it takes action by both parties to create a relationship of open communication. Is your Board guilty of one of the 5 reasons below that creates a division with homeowners?

In many areas, flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster—and it can happen in your homeowners association. Just one inch of water in a home can cost thousands of dollars in cleanup and replacement costs, including drywall, baseboards, floor coverings and furniture. You may think you are covered, but many insurance policies do not cover flooding.

Can’t we all just get along? In a perfect world, yes, but in a homeowners association or any neighborhood for that matter, people are going to do things that either drive you crazy or are just outright rude. But you don’t have to be that neighbor. Instead, make it a point to be a good neighbor when a maintenance or repair issue comes up. There are two sides to this. One is having an open mind when a neighbor comes to you. The second is knowing some proper etiquette when you have to approach a neighbor. One common issue that can lead to disputes is fencing.

The Scenario

You’ve been the treasurer of your homeowners association for 8 years, and have continually warned your fellow HOA board members that without saving for reserves they’ll be headed for real trouble - and now that day has come. You’ve been elected as Board President and face two large special assessments back to back within the next two years. There’s no way around them. The pavilion, signs, tennis courts and other assets are all shabby and outdated and on the verge of becoming hazards. These projects must be done for safety reasons. Not to mention they make the Association look like an uninviting place to live.

Cold and wet conditions cannot only make an Association miserable, but they can also create damage to the homes and buildings within the community. Some winterizing can wait, but some cannot! An HOA board can help residents out by making a list of what needs to be done, and tackle the time-sensitive tasks first. Here is a simple checklist for your homeowners association to stay on top of the winter season.

As a member of your homeowners association, when you bought a home in your community, you should have received copies of all the Association's governing documents—including the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&RS) and Rules & Regulations—prior to or at the closing of escrow. The CC&Rs explain what the homeowners association is responsible for and what the homeowner is responsible for.

The purpose and protocol for executive sessions in a homeowners association are often misunderstood by both homeowners and board members. HOA Board members may call an executive session to discuss important matters and make crucial decisions involving privileged and private information. Below are some frequently asked questions that you might have about executive sessions that will help to increase your knowledge and fulfill your duty to be informed as a member of the Board.

If you have renters in your community, they are an important part of your homeowners association, and welcoming tenants could create a more positive environment. Having HOA board members take time to meet renters at community events, meetings, and social gatherings might be something for your Board to think about.