HOA Management Blog

How often do you communicate with your residents? Does your homeowners association have a website or newsletter? Let’s assume you do! (If you don’t, you should make a resolution to start one this January). As another year begins HOA board members should consider offering some thoughts about how the Association can make the community an even better place to live in the New Year and beyond.

Moving into a homeowners association can present some surprises if you aren’t informed beforehand. It’s up to you to ask the right questions before making the big purchase of buying any home. There are some specific things to consider when purchasing a home that’s a part of an Association. First read Part 1: Questions to Ask Before Moving into a Homeowners Association then continue reading below to learn how you can tell if one particular Association is right for your lifestyle.

If you’re in the process of house hunting you may have come across your dream home in a homeowners association community. But before you make a major purchase, are you informed about living in an HOA? If you aren’t familiar with how it works, there are some important questions to ask and a few actions to take before purchasing your new home.

There is no way to sugar-coat a special assessment. Receiving a notice that you owe more money to your homeowners association can not only put a damper on your day but also a dent in your wallet, both of which the board is sympathetic to. In a perfect world, there would never be a need for special assessments—or any other type of assessments for that matter—but sadly; they are sometimes a necessary evil.

As a board member in your homeowners association, you probably hear your fair share of complaints against the rules in your Association. Not only that, but you also have to be a part of enforcing them for the good of the community. Even though you know they are there for a reason, more often then not, the homeowner doesn’t realize the purpose of the rule or isn’t informed on the actions they can take to have it changed if they feel it’s unfair. So what do you do when you come face to face with a homeowner who doesn’t like the rules, and insists they are invasive, unfair and just plain silly?

For homeowners associations with a January through December budget year, the time clock is ticking to develop a budget for the upcoming year and have the budget approved in time for the association’s year-end mailing. A budget committee can be comprised of HOA board members, members of your community association or a combination of both. How does the budget committee work and who serves on it? 

If you are part of a California Homeowners Association, the time to send out your budget and disclosure package is 30 to 90 days before your new fiscal year begins. For those who have a January to December fiscal year, now is the time! Please see the following suggestions to get you over the hump.

You live in a homeowners association and one of your favorite features in your home is the enclosed patio. It’s where you go every morning to sit and enjoy your cup of coffee before beginning the day. As you take a sip, today you notice the peeling paint, cracked concrete, and dying plants. The patio really could use an update. You decide to submit your maintenance request for some new paint, a trellis, small irrigation system, and definitely new concrete at the next HOA board meeting.

You have tossed your hat into the ring to become an HOA board Member for your Association. After all the ballots are counted, you are now a new board member. What are the responsibilities of a new board member to their community? You owe a duty of good faith and fidelity to the homeowners association. Make yourself familiar with the governing documents of the Association, the Association’s Reserve Study, if applicable, and the Community Association Status Book (Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act) to assist you in making educated decisions for your community.

One of the benefits of living in a homeowners association is having access to common areas and certain maintenance responsibilities covered for you as part of the HOA fees you pay to live in the Association. Do homeowners in your Association know the maintenance items they’re responsible for and the items the Association is responsible for?

A hot topic among homeowners association members is knowing who is responsible for certain maintenance items in the community, the homeowner or the Association? There are often assumptions on both sides, and when an issue arises and it’s not the outcome anticipated, disputes follow.

It has been a problem that man has battled since the dawn of time—controlling mold. It lurks in the corners and can cause major damage and nasty health issues. It doesn’t matter where you live - as long as moisture and oxygen are present, mold can grow indoors or outdoors on virtually any organic substance, including wood, paper, carpet, insulation and food.