HOA Management Blog

You don’t want to be that guy (or gal) do you? You know the one – unreliable, uninformed, and unmotivated. It seems like every Association or organization has this type of person that everyone just puts up with or secretly doesn’t like at all. Do yourself a favor: look at the following list and be honest with yourself. If you do any of these things, maybe it’s time to change or step down. If you can think of a fellow HOA board member who does this, maybe you could help them!

In homeowner’s associations, you and every board member are considered a fiduciary and are duty bound to act in the best interests of all residents, not your own best interests.

The HOA board is thrilled to announce it is lowering assessments by implementing an exciting new program that will actually cut the association’s expenses in half! Here’s how it works.

Are you reviewing and updating your homeowner’s association’s strategic plan?

A strategic plan outlines priorities and projects for the immediate future and for years to come. It can accommodate revisions as changing circumstances dictate—without conflicting with the vision behind its creation. It also helps determine what the year’s budget will include and suggests what future ones might feature.

Whether you’re out of town or out of commission, you can still attend the homeowners association board meetings by tuning in online. This is not to be confused with a meeting via email, this is not allowed.

If you’re part of a homeowners association, you’ll find the following commonalities to be true just about anywhere you live in the country. It’s important to understand these ahead of time before becoming a resident in an association. While some people might find them controlling, they actually give members the opportunity to have a voice in their living community.

Do you keep your water running when doing the dishes? Do you wash half loads of laundry? Do you enjoy extra-long, hot showers to start your day? In the midst of the California drought, residents are learning to cultivate new habits to conserve water as a result of the Governor’s statewide declaration requiring Californians to save water in every way possible.

In the midst of the state-wide drought, residents of California have been mandated to follow water restrictions. Reducing water use means making significant changes in your everyday habits and routine, but it can also mean substantial savings on water, sewage and energy bills for homeowners association residents.

The most important thing a Board needs to know is that it cannot give away the authority to make decisions. The manager is an integral part of a homeowners association, but there are some things the HOA board is ultimately responsible for and can’t delegate to a manager.

The California Drought is bringing more than just water woes. Some members of homeowners associations are having a harder time conserving water than would be expected, especially in the area of watering landscapes.

One new idea is drought-tolerant landscaping, which usually consists of visually appealing cement, rock, sand, dirt, and plants that need minimal to no water. However, this option doesn’t always align with the policies and procedures of the homeowners association. Below is an excerpt from an article that provides a good example:

You don’t want to be bored with numbers, spreadsheets, dollars and cents. You already know that’s what a budget is made up of. Instead, what actions are the most important for you to actually do to ensure financial success in your homeowners association? There are a lot of pieces and parts that come into play, but following this advice will help you get started in the right direction of financial health for your community.

Many homeowners associations operate on the fiscal year (July through June). If your Association is one of them then hopefully you have your new and improved budget ready to go because July is just around the corner.

As an HOA board member you probably know the basics of HOA accounting, and that the process is reversed from the typical American’s household budget. In an HOA, first expenses are estimated and then the source of revenue is determined, mostly in the form of HOA fees. Check out the article below to make sure that your budget contains all of the basic components to keep your homeowners running smoothly.