HOA Management Blog

When you’re taking out the trash in your homeowners association, remembering what you actually threw away is probably the least of what is going through your mind. Most, but not all, identity theft now occurs electronically. But your identity can still be easily scored by thieves who make use of what you toss in your waste basket.

Can’t we all just get along? Most of the time, residents in the homeowners association respect the community they live in and abide by the rules. But there’s always “that guy” who for whatever reason doesn’t want to comply with an HOA rule. The good news is, there is a process in place to help an HOA board respectfully deal with a homeowner that won’t comply. Consider the scenario below.

It’s inevitable – someday you’re going to be faced with a project in your homeowners association that has to get done with the funds that just aren’t there. Since money doesn't grow on trees, what’s an HOA board member to do? It can be a tough spot to be in, but depending on what the project is and how much money you need, you do have options. Remember, it’s the board’s responsibility to protect, maintain and enhance the Association.

So your house is on the market and you’re ready to make a dynamic first impression on potential buyers looking at houses in your homeowners association. Besides ensuring that your house looks and feels inviting, making sure it smells pleasant can help generate interest during showings.

Water conservation is an important issue for homeowners associations, not just because you want to be environmentally responsible but also because keeping assessments as low as possible can help owners be successful in keeping up with payments.

Understanding the law is no easy endeavor, especially if you’re an HOA board member busy volunteering to help the Association function properly. If we’re really being honest, who has the desire or time to spend trying to learn and interpret the law, especially when it comes to important issues in your homeowners association. That’s where a manager can help, but it is also important for board members to be educated and informed about the basics – important issues that often require knowing the law and why they should have resources available to consult.

“What is a reserve study and how do we do one?” This is an important question that board members should be asking in your homeowners association. If you don’t know the last time a reserve study was done in your association or why you should even do one, then you’re in the right place to learn the answers to frequently asked questions about reserve studies.

Some homeowners associations experience a high volume of graffiti within their neighborhoods. The association should be monitoring these incidents and should immediately remove graffiti from common areas when the happen. We encourage you to do the same with your property, as well as taking steps to deter vandals in your neighborhood.

School’s out for summer! What will your children do this summer? How will you make sure that they are safe in your homeowners association?

A home is typically the most expensive purchase a person will ever make. Because of this, as much as you may like that property you recently found, it’s critical to get it inspected before finalizing the deal, even in a homeowners association.

The Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) explain what the homeowners association is responsible for and what the homeowner is responsible for. They also outline how the Association lives together and operates. The CC&Rs are the highest level of documents in the Association, only overruled by the law; not to be confused with the Bylaws, which dictate how the HOA operates as an organization, or the HOA rules which the board has the authority to change.

A house is one of the biggest purchases a person will ever make, and most want to keep their homes looking beautiful not only for themselves, but also to entice future buyers. It’s also a regulation in most homeowners associations. From time to time, it’s a good idea for an HOA board to encourage residents to invest in some home remodeling to add to its appeal. Of course, before making any major changes to the home, residents need to go through the proper channels such as the association architectural committee for approval and the city for the necessary permits to make sure they don’t run into any legal issues.