HOA Management Blog
Now is a good time to set a date for your annual HOA board meeting if you haven’t already done so. Annual meetings are a common best practice to keep members informed and get them involved. You may be thinking that it’s going to be a waste of time because the majority of members don’t come to any meetings. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most challenging parts of planning the meeting, but there are ways to encourage members to attend.
You ran for the board on the platform of remodeling the clubhouse that has become outdated. What you haven’t shared with the members of the association is that your daughter is getting married next year and the clubhouse would be the perfect place for a reception.
The association has never charged for members to use the clubhouse for gatherings and you know that this will be a great way to save some money on the reception, but the brown plaid furniture will never go with your daughter’s theme for her reception.
Every HOA's number one priority is the legal fiduciary responsibility to enhance and maintain their property. The only way to do that is by collecting HOA fees. That's why a clear collection policy is a must-have for your HOA board.
Sounds like fun, right? Maybe not. But the new year is a great time to communicate a detailed collection plan for HOA fees. By managing owners’ expectations about HOA fees and the need for timely payment, you can help your board (and especially your treasurer) meet their goals and reduce the need for costly HOA fees collection.
It’s important for an HOA board to work on ending the year well. It doesn’t matter if your homeowners association plans around the fiscal or calendar year, the questions below apply to both. It’s not too late to ask yourself some of these questions and make a resolution to do these things in the New Year to come.
Many HOA boards think they have it all together and can easily manage the homeowners association on their own. But can they really? While there are various factors involved when it comes to whether or not a homeowners association can successfully be self-managed – such as how involved the board members are, the size of the Association, etc. – ultimately an HOA puts itself at risk if it tries to self-manage all the components that are part of the Association. Instead of rolling the dice on hoping for the best for your Association, learn what seven of those risks are and then consider where your Association stands.
From time to time it’s a good idea for the HOA board to evaluate the homeowners association by giving it a check-up so to speak. Consider using the performance measures below to be filled out among board members. Take it a step further and send it out to the membership, requesting their anonymous participation. It may give your Board some great insight!
One common subject that often causes confusion in a homeowners association is grasping the difference between the maintenance responsibilities of an association and the items that are covered by the association’s insurance policy. Often owners and even HOA board members may not understand the differences between these two subjects.
There are many small changes you can make to your outdoor and indoor surroundings to adopt environmentally conscious habits that could reduce your carbon footprint. Luckily, making careful choices can be easy with the right tools and information. Check out the following advice for taking a few small steps to a more sustainable living space. Remember to check the homeowners association CC&Rs for guidelines and possible restrictions prior to beginning any projects.
HOA board members and Association homeowners regularly recycle soda cans and water bottles, but did you know that many other food and beverage containers and household items also are recyclable? Take a look at the list below for some guidelines for what you can put into your Association community-provided recycling bin and what should be handled by a waste management professional.
All members of the HOA board are responsible for the Association’s overall financial health; but the treasurer has specific duties to protect the Association’s assets. These duties—and the authority to exercise them—are found in the homeowners association’s governing documents and also in state laws. It’s a big responsibility, but fortunately an HOA manager can help with many of the details.
Associations have rules to preserve the appearance of the community, protect the value of the common property and individual homes, and make the neighborhood more harmonious for all. What you may not know is that in some rare instances, the homeowners association will waive some rules and regulations.
Your community within your homeowner's association is more than just a neighborhood. In many ways, it’s a lot like a business. Collectively, the regular assessments that each homeowner pays amounts to tens of thousands of dollars that need to be budgeted carefully and spent wisely.
