Does Your Homeowners Association Have a Clear Policy for Renters?
June 9, 2015 / by HOA Manager
Do any owners in your homeowners association rent out their homes? What are the Association’s obligations to those renters? What are their rights in the Association? Can you control how many units in the HOA can be rented?
The clubhouse/recreation center is the “crown jewel” of your homeowners association, offering a common area where members can get to know one another, socialize, and entertain their guests. In order to make the clubhouse safe and enjoyable for all who use it, you need a clear access policy—and that means homeowner’s must have their association ID to access the facility.
10 FAQs About Parking in Your Homeowners Association
May 22, 2015 / by HOA Manager
It's sometimes challenging to discuss and answer questions about parking within your homeowners association. While the rules regarding parking in each association are different here are some tips on how to answer common questions.
[News] A Homeowners Association Decides to Grant a Little Girl's Wish
March 27, 2015 / by HOA Manager
It seems like the majority of news stories involving homeowners associations these days are negative. You often read about disputes between neighbors, lawsuits, refusal to pay fees, or rules not being followed as outlined in the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) and Bylaws. While the governing documents serve the purpose of keeping the Association running smoothly – and are legally binding rules and regulations that each homeowner agrees to when they purchase a home in the Association – are their times when the rules can be bent? In the case of 6 year-old Ella Schultz the answer is yes!
Homeowners Association Etiquette: Fencing Tips to Avoid Disputes
February 28, 2015 / by HOA Manager
Can’t we all just get along? In a perfect world, yes, but in a homeowners association or any neighborhood for that matter, people are going to do things that either drive you crazy or are just outright rude. But you don’t have to be that neighbor. Instead, make it a point to be a good neighbor when a maintenance or repair issue comes up. There are two sides to this. One is having an open mind when a neighbor comes to you. The second is knowing some proper etiquette when you have to approach a neighbor. One common issue that can lead to disputes is fencing.
Refresh Your Memory of the Rules in Your Homeowners Association
January 3, 2015 / by HOA Manager
Are you abiding by the rules in your homeowners association? When you move into a homeowners association you become part of a neighborhood that is governed by a board of directors who enforce the rules of the Association. When you sign the Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&Rs) of the Association, you are entering into an agreement that you will abide by the rules of the Association community. This often means you’re limited to the improvements you can make to your property (like paint color of your home, landscaping, or decorative components), whether or not you can have pets, noise restrictions, etc.
How Would You Encourage Someone Complaining About HOA Rules?
November 17, 2014 / by HOA Manager
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?
What Your Homeowners Association Needs to Know About the California Drought Regulation
August 6, 2014 / by HOA Manager
As you may or may not know the State of California has recently adopted an emergency regulation that took effect on August 1, 2014, and is intended to cause a reduction in urban water usage during the current drought. The operative language of the regulation is included at the end of this blog, but here’s what you need to know (in layman’s terms) as a resident in a homeowners association.
Tips from an HOA Board: Reducing Noise Sounds Like a Good Idea
July 18, 2014 / by HOA Manager
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.
How an HOA Board Can Respectfully Deal with an Owner That Won’t Comply
July 2, 2014 / by HOA Manager
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.