Irrigation Upgrades: Modernization and Technology Upgrades (CO)

With the worsening drought, tightening water supplies, and increasing water demand, we are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to water and unfortunately, it does not look like this situation will get better any time soon.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Concrete Maintenance and Coatings for Associations (CO)

It is everywhere you look. We all use concrete in our daily travels and it is often where you live and where you work. One of the most attractive benefits of concrete is its low initial cost and diverse usability. When you think of concrete, you might reason it is bulletproof and in need of […]

Avoid this common Homeowners Association dispute

An interesting Homeowners Association dispute that comes up time and time again is one involving landscaping. The reason for this is because while an HOA may have rules stating that a landscape needs to be well-kept or clean in appearance, there is a lot of gray area there.  What one person believes looks good may […]

Spring is On the Way! Is Your Community’s Landscaping Ready?

As the gray light of winter lifts into the clear, crisp mornings of Spring, people and plants alike feel revitalized by the promise of warm days ahead. For an HOA community, this means preparing for springtime landscaping with summer blooms not far behind. Cultivating a beautiful neighborhood is all about understanding the seasons and staying […]

Responsibility for Tree Branches and Roots (FL)

Who is responsible for a tree branch that perilously hangs over a neighbor’s house or yard? Who is responsible for tree roots that are damaging a sidewalk or driveway?  Read the article…………………………………..

Snow and Ice Removal in HOAs and Condos (NC)

HOA and condo associations are generally obligated to reasonably maintain the common areas within the association. This often includes any private roads within the community, as well as parking lots, walkways, and sidewalks. In townhome communities, the common areas may also include driveways. In condominiums, the common area will include almost everything outside of the […]

HOA Homefront: Are my views protected or not? (CA)

Q: My HOA requires trees be situated so “normal enjoyment of view by other lot owners shall be required.” It also says the HOA controls tree trimming that “is necessary to prevent the obstruction of the view of lot owners.” Is this standard language or has it been prohibited by statute in any way?    Read […]

Does Your HOA Need a Snow Removal Policy?

In 2016, more than 3 million older Americans were injured due to a fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and falls alone led to more than $50 billion in medical costs in 2015. With common causes of falls being snow and ice, more associations should evaluate their snow removal policy to […]

HOA Snow Removal Contracts: What You Need to Know

Does your HOA have a snow removal contract? If you’re a board member, it is vital to ensure your HOA has a good contract with a reliable snow removal vendor before the snowstorm hits.  There are three types of snow removal contracts that an HOA can sign with a snow removal vendor. These contracts determine […]

Preparing Your HOA Community to Handle Winter Emergencies

Winterizing your community is likely something you’ve already discussed and begun the planning stages. Those in the southern states may just now be considering those plans. Beyond the steps we can take for winterization though, you can also be aware and ready for any winter emergencies in your community. Read the article………………………………

Landscaping Lessons ?How landscape maintenance can enhance your HOA community

If you live in a Homeowner’s Association community, you know the value it can provide for your property. Along with access to amenities, compliance standards, and a stronger community engagement, HOA memberships often include landscape maintenance, which many find as a compelling reason to join. Selecting a qualified and experienced company that understands CC&Rs and […]

Dead Tree Lawsuit Against HOA Arborist Dismissed

Contemporary land development policies would not work well without trees. Lot owners use trees for shade, ornamentation, and to screening. Subdivisions, especially cluster developments, often include common areas where trees or shrubs provide dense visual screening of the development. Vegetation can be more attractive and taller than fences. When a tree dies, it transforms from […]

Advice on HOA Tree Removal Policies

Homeowners love trees as they offer privacy and other benefits. Trees are an easy, natural way to enhance the landscape of your community. Yet, sometimes trees need to be taken down for a variety of reasons, leaving some homeowners and community members disappointed.    Read the article………………………………….

Neighborhood starts Operation Goat Chomp to control kudzu (NC)

Lisa Kenerait has lived in the Windsong Village development in Hickory for 17 years and has seen the kudzu creeping ever closer to the roads and homes.  “It has gotten worse year after year,” she says.  Kudzu can grow 18 inches a day and cover trees and anything that gets in its way. The HOA […]

Fall Landscaping HOA Needs – Lawn Care Tips

As summer ends, we all know that soon the cool crisp fall weather will be here soon if it hasn’t already chilled your area. Believe it or not, but fall is the best time to start working on your lawn to ensure luscious green grass come next spring. If you’re part of an HOA, and […]

Everything You Should Know About Artificial Grass and Your HOA

Having a lush green lawn is every homeowner’s dream- but it isn’t always achievable. The climate may be too dry and water too scarce to keep your lawn watered enough so it stays green, or you might not want to use harsh pesticides to keep your lawn weed-free because of pets or young kids. Many […]

Environmentally Friendly and Adorable: Landscaping with Goats

Gardening is fun and relaxing until your green spaces get overrun with invasive plants. Anyone who has fought with an invasive plant species knows the headache – you think you have it under control until it comes back with a vengeance, seemingly overnight. Relying on harmful herbicides or chemicals can be a danger to the […]

Properly Addressing Speeding in your Community

Speeding is not just a nuisance but a danger to your community’s homeowners and their residents. It is a difficult issue to address and enforce effectively but it can be done and it should be addressed immediately to protect your community. As the HOA there are several steps you can take to minimize the frequency […]

How to Get Traffic Calming on Your HOA Roads

Private and gated communities attract people seeking increased safety and security. But speeding vehicles can threaten that safety and endanger the lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and young children. Here is a guide to help you work with your community to create safer, more livable streets.       Read the article………………………

Effective Landscaping for Your HOA

The arrival of spring means summer is just around the corner, and an ideal time for homeowner associations (HOAs) to start planning community landscaping projects. One of the challenges that HOA boards face is finding a reputable company that falls within their budget. Since many communities have significant landscaping needs, it is suggested that they […]

Tips for Picking the Right Landscaping Vendor for Your HOA

Many homeowners choose to live in a community with a homeowners’ association (HOA) because of the clean and attractive aesthetics. Well-maintained communities offer an inviting landscape that buyers can actually see themselves in; however, it can take a lot of digging to find the right landscaping vendor.   Read the article…………………………

HOAs Slow to Accept Native Plant Landscaping (TX)

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has long offered incentives to homeowners to replace non-native grass lawns with drought-resistant native plants. But the city’s many homeowner associations (HOAs) continue to favor water-thirsty, non-native turf grasses and resist residents who want native plant landscaping.   Read the article………………………

Windermere subdivision using goats to destroy invasive plants (FL)

People who live in a Windermere subdivision said invasive plants is destroying the neighborhood’s beautiful landscape, but they’ve got an interesting way of dealing with it.  Channel 9?s Q McCray found out the problem is so bad, the neighborhood decided a run-of-the-mill landscaper wouldn’t do, so it hired goats to do the job instead.   Read […]

Silver Woods HOA turns to goatscaping (FL)

The south entrance to the Silver Woods community was looking unkempt, with about eight different invasive species threatening to take over the area’s ground cover and the trees.  The neighborhood is located west of Apopka-Vineland Road and near the chain of lakes, so the homeowners’ association was against spraying chemicals to kill the weeds. Bringing […]

How to Remove Troublesome Trees (FL)

A great many streets in Florida’s residential communities are lined with oak trees. While they can look so appealing as a canopy, many of these trees can raise sidewalks and driveways. Their massive roots can grow into plumbing lines, cause various trip hazards and kill the grass, too.   Read the article……………………………

Sustainability: Going Green in Your HOA

Green communities translate into lower operating costs while providing beneficial lower environmental impact for the community as a whole. Read on to see how your HOA can become more efficient, save energy and valuable resources, and better yet, save money!   Read the article…………………………

Slip and Fall On Condominium Premises (MI)

Over the last four years, there have been numerous Michigan Court of Appeals decisions addressing slip and falls on the Condominium Premises. Given that Michigan’s weather is turning colder by the day, the risk of significant personal harm on slippery snow and ice only increases. As a continuation in this series regarding slips and falls […]

Snow Removal in Your Association (IL)

Frigid temperatures. Ice scrapers. Salt bags. Snow plows. These are some of the words that come to mind when you think of “Old Man Winter”. According to the 2020 Farmer’s Almanac, Chicago is anticipating an above-normal perception in the form of snow and rain. And with winter weather comes the task of finding the right […]

Important Tips for Managing Trees in Your Community Association

Trees can serve as a great visual asset for your community association. Not only do trees add to the overall landscape but they also create oxygen and protect us from the elements. Regulating and encouraging proper tree management is essential for several reasons. A tree may develop a disease, have dangerous limbs, or a homeowner […]

Private roadway in Lorain could turn public, with engineering study moving to full council (OH)

The city is looking at engineering needs to take over a private roadway and assess condominiums for the necessary repairs.  Council’s Streets and Utilities committee met Monday evening to discuss if the engineering department should investigate construction costs and property assessments to rehab a private drive turned public if nearby property owners agree.   Read the article…………………………

Malta seeks to take over snowy roads in development (NY)

Shoddy snow removal at the top of Travers Meadows development over the past two winters is prompting the town to try to take over the roads so residents don’t have to face a third snowy season of difficult driving and walking.   Read the article……………………….

Bastrop County leaders discuss private road signage policy (TX)

Bastrop County leaders had a discussion Monday that focused on a policy regarding street name signage on private roads.  A “private road” is defined as a road not maintained by the county. According to Bastrop County Engineer Carolyn Dill, this could include roads maintained by a road district, homeowner’s association or a property owner’s association.  […]

HOA Tips for Handling Snow Removal

Our association wants to reduce snow removal costs. We’re looking at everything from landscaping companies to a neighbor with a plow on his truck. What liability issues should we be considering?   Read the Q&A……………………….

Can board close walking path through winter? (IL)

Q: We live in a townhouse condominium in the suburbs. There is a walking path around the development. It is a significant amenity that is used by most of the residents. There are many dog owners and walkers that use that path several times a day, all year-round. The association does not remove snow from […]

HOA Problems That Happen in Winter and How Careful HOA Planning Can Help

Summer may be the most exciting time of year in your community, and it’s certainly the homeowners association’s chance to show off a little bit, reminding residents of all the amenities that make your neighborhood or condo so great. A sparkling pool, newly surfaced tennis courts, colorful flower beds, and full playground speak for themselves, […]

Landscape Budget Planning

Budgeting season is here, and while it might not be the most enjoyable time of year for property managers, your landscaping provider can be a valuable partner when it comes time to take on your biggest yearly expenses. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind when budgeting for landscape expenses this coming […]

Street Sweeping in HOAs

Most people think parking lot sweeping in homeowners associations or condos is for aesthetic reasons only. In the retail world, empty bottles, paper bags, cigarette butts, and overflowing trash bins can drive the decision of a consumer. The same holds true for a potential homebuyer as they pull into a community parking lot.  Read the article………………………..

Sacramento homeowners demand HOA stop using Roundup (CA)

Some Sacramento residents want their homeowner’s association to stop using a controversial weed killer on the grounds surrounding their homes because they fear it could make them sick.  Read the article………………………….

Tips for Fixing Aging Fences

Fences provide privacy, boost safety and security, and can add just the right aesthetic touch to the landscape. But they also require maintenance, repair, and replacement. Fencing can be an ongoing problem for all associations, especially as communities age.    Read the article………………………….

Snow is a Four-Letter Word (CO)

Looks like snow is coming this Thursday. Yet I am still running around in shorts and sandals, and I definitely have not checked my tires yet!!  With winter conditions right around the corner, it’s time for associations to review their snow removal contracts. So what should be included in these contracts? Below is a checklist […]

Tree Removal Policies in an HOA Community

Planting trees is a natural, easy way to beautify the landscape of any community. Shared common areas and privately-owned properties within an HOA are often dotted with trees of varying shapes and sizes, and the effect is, for the most part, appreciated by all who live there. However, it’s not uncommon that, for one reason […]

Don’t Just Trim the Trees — Managing Your HOA’s Urban Forest

Whether you’re the manager of a four-plex with 2 trees, or the on-site manager of a master planned community with 10,000 of them (yes, we have those in SoCal), you my friend are responsible for managing an urban forest (add that to your business card!).    Read the article………………………

Golf carts could be legal on main roads in a local neighborhood (LA)

Driving a golf cart seems like it would be an easy thing. Get in the cart, drive it like normal, and go on about your daily life.  However, right now, driving golf carts on the main road within the Frenchman’s Bend community is illegal.    Read the article……………………….

Johnson County looks to replace concrete neighborhood roads with asphalt (IN)

Johnson County officials are looking for ways to solve an aging eyesore in several Center Grove area subdivisions — crumbling concrete roads.  Residents in the Willow Lakes subdivision recently brought photos and samples of the broken roads before the Johnson County Commissioners. Several neighbors in the development have been complaining for years about the deteriorating […]

When to Start Your Community Association Paving Project

Before starting on a community association paving project, it is important to understand what the various asphalt services are, as well as when and why you should apply them. Understanding this will save you money and ensure that your homeowners are happy and the curb value of your community remains high.  Read the article……………………….

Feeding the Wildlife. Why It Is A Problem?

It may seem arbitrary, but many community associations institute a policy against bird feeders, or any outdoor animal feeding, but there reasoning is sound. There are many reasons why feeding the stray animals in your neighborhood could be a bad move, not only for your community but for the animals as well.     Read the […]