HOA Management Blog
When you think of staying safe in your neighborhood, what comes to mind? You probably lock your doors at night, keep a porch light on, communicate with neighbors if something or someone seems suspicious, maybe even have a guard dog to alert you of anything out of the ordinary. Generally, safety in a neighborhood means lighted streets, low crime, kids at play signs, a neighborhood watch, or even a security patrol. Safety in a homeowners association neighborhood isn’t all that different, but with recent budget cuts to public safety departments and less enforcement, proactive safety is crucial.
It’s the responsibility of the HOA board to protect the homeowner’s association community. When it comes to keeping the community safe, a Board is responsible for safety issues, general well-being of the members of the Association, and prevention.
Like almost every community in the country, did your homeowners association feel the pinch in the housing market? We’d like to dispel a few common misconceptions about what contributes to the rise and fall of property values.
There is nothing as serene as a warm, crackling fire on a cold, winter night. There is also nothing more dangerous if your chimney is damaged. When is the last time that you have checked on your chimney safety in the homeowners association?
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.
Cold and wet conditions cannot only make an Association miserable, but they can also create damage to the homes and buildings within the community. Some winterizing can wait, but some cannot! An HOA board can help residents out by making a list of what needs to be done, and tackle the time-sensitive tasks first. Here is a simple checklist for your homeowners association to stay on top of the winter season.
If you have renters in your community, they are an important part of your homeowners association, and welcoming tenants could create a more positive environment. Having HOA board members take time to meet renters at community events, meetings, and social gatherings might be something for your Board to think about.
Homeowners associations offer one of the best opportunities for Americans to own their own homes. They are for the 21stcentury what land grants were in the 19thcentury, and what the New Deal and GI Bill were in the 20th. Why?
The last time that you attended the HOA board meeting for your homeowners association the current board asked you and everyone present to consider volunteering for the board. These are the thoughts that went through your mind:
Does your homeowners association have a neighborhood watch in effect? A common concern in any neighborhood is safety. Association members in general tend to look out for each other and there are things you should pay attention to as an HOA board member that signal it’s time to take action. If crime is up in your homeowners association, you’ve noticed more incidences of graffiti, received more requests from members to install a home security system, or have received complaints from members that they don’t feel safe, it may be time to do something about it. It’s time for your community to take it to the next level and implement a neighborhood watch program. The following article explains how to get started.
