HOA Management Blog

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.

As we close out 2014 we start to see top 10 lists, year in review videos, and resolutions being considered. As an HOA board member it’s the perfect time of year for you to sit back and reflect on what’s worked in your Association and what hasn’t. It’s also a good time to look ahead and start thinking about what you want to accomplish in 2015. We’ve made our own top 10 list based on what you and other HOA board members have been reading about in 2014. Take a look back at the most popular topics and give the posts a read if you missed them.

There is some basic information about homeowners associations that anyone considering buying a home should know about. How much do you know about homeowners associations? If you’re considering buying a home and you learn its part of a homeowners association, you’ll want to make sure you know what to expect when being part of an HOA community. Each Association community is unique, but they all have similarities such as requiring membership dues, following the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), and a board of directors that governs the Association. You can get answers from some common questions you may have – and that should you know – about homeowners associations in the article excerpt below.

Purchasing a home is a big deal, so when you do, you want to make sure it’s somewhere you can actually live. Just like in any neighborhood, living in a homeowners association has its pros and cons, but the positive outweighs the negative. That being said, it’s good to consider both.

How often do you communicate with your residents? Does your homeowners association have a website or newsletter? Let’s assume you do! (If you don’t, you should make a resolution to start one this January). As another year begins HOA board members should consider offering some thoughts about how the Association can make the community an even better place to live in the New Year and beyond.

Moving into a homeowners association can present some surprises if you aren’t informed beforehand. It’s up to you to ask the right questions before making the big purchase of buying any home. There are some specific things to consider when purchasing a home that’s a part of an Association. First read Part 1: Questions to Ask Before Moving into a Homeowners Association then continue reading below to learn how you can tell if one particular Association is right for your lifestyle.

If you’re in the process of house hunting you may have come across your dream home in a homeowners association community. But before you make a major purchase, are you informed about living in an HOA? If you aren’t familiar with how it works, there are some important questions to ask and a few actions to take before purchasing your new home.

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?

You live in a homeowners association and one of your favorite features in your home is the enclosed patio. It’s where you go every morning to sit and enjoy your cup of coffee before beginning the day. As you take a sip, today you notice the peeling paint, cracked concrete, and dying plants. The patio really could use an update. You decide to submit your maintenance request for some new paint, a trellis, small irrigation system, and definitely new concrete at the next HOA board meeting.

A hot topic among homeowners association members is knowing who is responsible for certain maintenance items in the community, the homeowner or the Association? There are often assumptions on both sides, and when an issue arises and it’s not the outcome anticipated, disputes follow.

It has been a problem that man has battled since the dawn of time—controlling mold. It lurks in the corners and can cause major damage and nasty health issues. It doesn’t matter where you live - as long as moisture and oxygen are present, mold can grow indoors or outdoors on virtually any organic substance, including wood, paper, carpet, insulation and food.

You’ve heard the phrase, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But sometimes, it’s important to not underestimate the power of first impressions. Take the signage in your homeowners association for instance.