HOA Management Blog

Noise is a concern for every resident and because you live in a homeowners association community, it’s important to understand that some degree of noise is to be expected. At the same time, residents need to consider the consequences of their noisy behavior. To keep everyone happy and maintain civility among neighbors, the HOA board asks that you take a few steps to reduce or eliminate annoying noise.

You’re being sued, what do you do? You know that being faced with a lawsuit is a serious matter and absolutely should not be ignored. That being said, there are some important actions you need to take as an HOA board member to avoid setting the homeowners association up for failure and getting yourself in a mess you can’t clean up.

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.

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.

The role of an HOA board can be summed up by three different words: to protect, maintain and enhance the Association. What does it mean to protect? It’s to keep someone from harm or injury. In a homeowners association it’s the board members' responsibility to protect the homeowners and community.

It’s a Wednesday evening in spring. As you walk the few blocks from your home to your monthly HOA board meeting you find yourself smiling at what you see. The sun is setting, giving just enough light for residents to finish walking their dogs. You hear the giggles of kids playing catch in their front yard. The smell of freshly cut grass, coupled with someone barbecuing, is in the air. Amidst the mundane details of budgets, laws, rules, and maintenance waiting for you at your meeting, you are reminded that you are an HOA board member because you value your community. You care about the quality of life in your neighborhood, and making it a safe place for residents.

As a homeowners association member, it’s important to understand that committees are an integral part of the operations of your community. Committee members help keep a community vibrant; and by augmenting paid staff, they can save an association hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.

As a recognized homeowners association, your community has a board to help your HOA run smoothly. The board consists of volunteers who execute a wide variety of tasks you may not be aware of; however, their work affects every single resident.

Your homeowners association needs to hold elections for Board members every so often. While it is important to refresh the leadership of the Association every now and then it is just as vital to make sure any election is held in accordance with the rules and regulations of the individual HOA and the state. Fair elections are a staple of any democracy, on a very large or  small scale.

HOA Board meetings can sometimes get pretty heated in homeowners associations. As a Board member it is important that you work toward keeping meetings orderly and flowing smoothly. Yet, there are times when meetings get stormy. In these eventful times try to stay calm and be a voice of reason for the Board.