Some days it rains, some days it pours—and some days, there’s a Category 4 hurricane. And while the latter is relatively rare, it can be a true disaster, and any condominium, co-op or homeowner’s association worth its salt should be prepared for it. Whether storm, fire, earthquake or freak accident, a board must take into […]
Neighborhood Watch: Maintain Your Community’s Safety, Safely
Everyone is right to be concerned with the safety of their communities, whether they live in an area highly susceptible to crime or a sleepy Mayberry-esque hamlet. Condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners’ associations are no exception; in fact, the communal nature of these environments may make it even more likely that residents would want to band […]
Neighbor Annoyances In Your HOA
When people live in close proximity, as with homeowner association common wall living, lifestyle clashes are more likely. Noise is the most common complaint followed closely by odors, health and sanitation issues, cigarette smoke and curb appeal. The board is challenged from time to time to sort out various nuisances that interfere with a member’s […]
Santa Claus is Back in Town and Make Sure He Pays This Time
But let’s think of Santa, not just as a bringer of gifts, but as a user of property rights. After all, he lands on your roof. Get any permission for that, Mr. Claus? What about the wear and tear to the roof? If a typical adult male reindeer weighs 350 – 400 pounds, eight adult […]
Owner Function: Comply with Documents
As an owner within an association you should read, understand and comply with your governing documents. If you do not understand the documents, ask your neighbors, your board, or your personal attorney. Failure to understand your association’s governing documents (Bylaws, CC&Rs/Declaration, Rules and Regulations, Architectural Guidelines, etc.) is not a defense and should not prevent […]
Pros and Cons of Snow Removal Contract Options
Sitting by a warm fire or having a snowball fight on a snow day can be fun for the whole family. However, when you have to get around, the snow quickly becomes a hassle. If your area frequently sees snowfall, the HOA may be considering snow removal contracts. Check out these pros and cons of […]
Short Sales and Community Associations
A short sale is a common alternative to foreclosure when a delinquent owner owes lien holders on the property more money than the property is actually worth. A short sale can occur prior to the filing of a foreclosure action, but it is still a frequently used alternative to a sheriff’s sale in a pending […]
4 Tips to Read Before You Deck the Halls in the Homeowners Association
During the holiday season many homeowners association members plan festivities with friends and loved ones. With all of the merriment that’s sure to ensue, it’s important that the HOA board reminds residents who are hosting celebrations to not only be considerate of their neighbors, but also take note of the Association’s rules. A complete listing […]
Surveillance Technology: How Much Does Your Building Really Need?
Gone are the days of windowless rooms filled with bulky recording equipment, multiple flickering screens, and file cabinets full of disks containing endless hours of footage. The state of the art in surveillance equipment today is all about pixels, thumb drives and accessing the ‘the cloud’ from your mobile device. Read the article………..
Comply with Fire Alarm Requirements! (WA)
It’s cold outside, so thoughts turn to fire. As Q13 reported last month, Snohomish County fire officials recently confirmed that fifteen local condominium and apartment buildings are not updated with legally required fire alarms. The compliance crackdown came about a year after a fire killed a person in their Everett apartment on New Year’s Eve. […]
The Importance of Democracy in Your Homeowners Association Community
Homeowners within in a homeowners association possess a right to participate in deciding what will be done about community issues that affect all residents. By casting their vote—either in person, or by proxy, or absentee ballot—they can help make important choices. Read the article………….
What Servicers Must Know About HOA/COA Super Liens
Homeowners associations (HOAs) and condo owners associations (COAs) are different breeds altogether. Many servicers incorrectly assume they can service these properties much like traditional properties, but there are far too many complexities behind HOA/COA super liens that servicers must fully grasp before placing themselves at risk. Servicers that do not keep tabs on the changing […]
What to Do With an Electric Car or Plug-In Hybrid When You Live In a Condo
While the green lifestyle is very appealing to prospective EV owners, the ever important challenge of charging a car is hard to ignore. It’s pretty easy if you have your own house with a garage, but if you live in a condo or apartment, you may be wondering how to charge your own car at […]
Board Power: Its Sources, Its Uses, Its Limits (NY)
Today’s boards owe a debt of gratitude to Ronald Levandusky and his kitchen. In 1990, a man named Ronald Levandusky wanted to remodel his kitchen at One Fifth Avenue. In the process, he changed the position of a two-inch steam pipe, which led to his neighbors objecting and the board issuing a stop-work order on […]
Traffic Calming in HOAs, Neighborhoods and Residential Areas
The Community Associations Institute estimates that over 25 million American homes are governed by Homeowner Associations (HOAs), which work to protect home values and contribute to the overall quality of life in their neighborhoods. Speeding in residential areas—the most common citizen complaint faced by HOAs, local police and city councils—creates a danger to pedestrians, bicyclists […]
Architectural Control Committees are Needed
Question: I live in a new town house development and am on the architectural control committee. Some of the homeowners do not feel the need to go through our committee for approval before they make any exterior changes. Our declaration of covenants specifies that approval is required before any such changes can be made. . […]
4 Fall Landscaping Tips
As the temperature starts to drop, your HOA needs to get on top of fall landscaping. There are many things that should be done to get your plants ready for the winter. Check out these four fall landscaping tips and make sure your association follows them. Read the article………….
Cyber Security Part Two: Board Member Tips for Keeping Your Community Association Safe
In part one of this two-part series, we discussed the importance of cyber security to your community association and the steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their association. In this article, we look at your board’s responsibility in preventing cyber attacks. Many technology solutions are available today to conduct the day-to-day business […]
Best Practices for Passing an HOA Budget
First, check your governing documents. These describe the manner in which the HOA budget is adopted each year. In most associations, the governing documents provide that the budget is adopted by the board or by vote of the owners. However, even when the documents give the board the right to adopt the budget, a vote […]
Cyber Security Part One: How Community Residents Can Protect Their Tech
Like it or not, we have become very dependent on our technology. Whether it’s a cell phone, tablet or computer, our devices enable us to stay connected, conduct business and access information anywhere, anytime. Yet as convenient as these devices may be, cyber security is simply not a priority for the majority of tech users—despite […]
Tree Trouble – Part II, Self-Help
In part one of our three-part series on Tree Trouble, my colleague David Silver wrote about Timber Trespass. In this post, I’m going to discuss self-help. Self-help is the legal term that describes “taking the law into your own hands”—literally. In this context, it would include a property owner getting out their pruning shears or […]
Do’s and Don’ts for Properly Pruned Trees
As the fall leaves drop and the winter wind starts howling, tree limbs will be left barren, making this the perfect time to prune. Pruning makes for happy, healthy trees for years to come. “The best time to prune is between fall and winter,” explains Steve Nagy, a certified arborist from The Davey Tree Expert […]
5 Apps That Makes Life Easier for Condo / HOA Managers
The tech world today is more advanced and sophisticated than ever. There’s a lot that the condo / HOA management industry can benefit from but with so many options out there, where do we even begin? That’s why we will be featuring some of the best apps and technology solutions that can benefit you as […]
Electric Cars and HOA Living
Electric cars are becoming more and more popular thanks to their environmental benefits and because electricity is so much cheaper than gas. While more and more charging stations are popping up in various public places, such as stores, most people charge their electric cars at home, which is great if you have your own home, […]
When Dealing With Illegal Pets, Time Matters
Co-op and condo boards need to move swiftly – and cautiously – when enforcing pet bans. When dealing with illegal pets in a no-pet building, time is of the essence. The state Pet Law requires the landlord to begin an action within 90 days of discovering the forbidden pet. As applied to a co-op, it […]
What are Your Property Management Priorities?
Successful community management requires juggling many challenges, large and small. If not managed correctly, issues can pile up and cause gridlock. We see many Boards struggle to make progress on necessary projects simply because they have reached an impasse about which items should take priority. To receive the most support from your community’s property management […]
Total Board Recall in Your HOA
The natives are restless. The smell of tar wafts through the night air and somewhere a chicken loses its feathers. The board prepares for impending doom. Board recalls don’t happen out of the blue. Like Mount St. Helens, they give off warning signs. There’s rumbling and venting going on. Disgruntled phone calls, rants at board […]
D&O Insurance — Uncovered
Homeowner Association and Condo boards have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the community as a whole, follow the law, and protect the assets and financial stability of the community. Proper insurance plays a major role in fulfilling that duty. But many board members are unsure if they have the right […]
How to Resolve Disputes Over Common Areas in an HOA Community
When homeowners live in close proximity, as in a gated community, condo complex or other HOA-managed community, disputes over common areas are bound to arise. Tempers can flare, leading to unnecessary conflict and problems between residents and Board members. In this article, we show you how to successfully address and resolve common area disputes so […]
Being Secretary of the Association Carries Significant Responsibilities
Questions often arise about the duties of the secretary in taking and producing minutes of meetings and providing association records to members. The primary functions of the Secretary are to produce minutes of meetings and maintain the records of the association. The secretary must produce a draft of the minutes for approval, and then finalize […]
Turkey Deep-Fryers in Condominiums: Crispy and Delicious but Bad for You Financially
Deep fried turkey combines the deliciousness of a well-cooked turkey with the crispiness of deep-fried goodness. Thanksgiving is one of the few opportunities many families have to enjoy a deep-fried turkey because of the time and attention needed to use a deep-fryer, especially one able to handle a ten pound turkey. What can go wrong? […]
Types of Committees – Part 2
Welcome back to our two-part series on committees. In the first post, we talked about how committees can benefit an HOA and how to organize them effectively. Today we are going to highlight the various types of committees and hopefully help you identify which are best suited to your needs. There are eight popular types […]
What’s the Deal With Ice Dams
If you’ve never seen an ice dam, it actually looks a lot like you would expect. It is an accumulation of ice on along the eave line of a sloped roof. The ice can build and build over the winter months until it is a solid wall that can be ice-damfeet thick and can span […]
Shortening the Board Member Learning Curve
For those who live in community associations, board membership should be viewed in the same vein as a civic duty. An effective board of directors is essential for the financial and administrative wherewithal and stability of every community association, so all unit owners who are able should volunteer to serve at least one term to […]
Worker’s Compensation Insurance for Your HOA
As a community association, it may not seem that workers’ compensation is a necessary tool in your arsenal. However, to keep the neighborhood looking good, you probably hire outside vendors, such as contractors, landscapers, etc. If this is the case, you need to protect your HOA with workers’ compensation in case someone is injured while […]
8 Things to Be Thankful for in Your Homeowners Association
As Thanksgiving approaches many of us have many things to be grateful for. Volunteering as an HOA board member of your homeowners association is sometimes a thankless job — but there are a few things you can be grateful for. Your HOA does good things for the community and makes it a better place to […]
HOA disciplinary hearings: not a public court process (CA)
Ifeveryone followed the Golden Rule (“do unto others…”), homeowners association disciplinary hearings would be rare. Unfortunately, hearings are a necessary, regular, and unpleasant board responsibility. These hearings are governed by Civil Code 5850 and 5855, which establish a simple system. The process begins with a written notice to the homeowner at least 10 days before […]
4 Simple Ways Through Which an HOA Website Can Improve Your Community
In case you are a property manager associated with HOA, you would be pretty familiar with the fact that the entire business may be very time-consuming. However, at the same time, it is very important to ensure that all your members are fully aware of whatever is going on all the time. So the best […]
Your Professionals Should Stay Out of Board Politics
It seems to happen year after year after year: An entrenched board refuses to hold elections or annual meetings. At one such co-op with the same board members “for almost 20 years,” writes a shareholder, a meeting finally was scheduled for the first time in four years. “There was no list of nominees provided,” the […]
Reserve Funds: Do You Know How Much Your HOA Needs?
Funding community operations is one of the most important functions of an HOA board. Typically, there are two types of funds in your HOA – operating funds and reserve funds. Operating funds are used to take care of day-to-day operations. Examples of operating funds might be contracted services (gate, fence, lighting, security, etc.), utility expenses, […]
How to Make Condo Boards Successful: The Ultimate Checklist
One of the questions I’m often asked is what makes a condo board successful. I’ve been in the thick of things as President of my condo board, and I’ve spoken to people involved with dozens of other condo boards. From that experience, I’ve compiled the ultimate checklist of best practices for condo boards to make […]
Drone Delivery and Its Impact on HOAs
As technology continues to move forward, many online companies – amazon at the forefront – are toying with the idea of using unmanned drones to deliver packages to customers. If you’re not familiar with drones, they’re essentially small, highly maneuverable helicopters that can be controlled remotely. Read the article………….
Requirements for Contracts Entered Into by Florida Condominium Associations
Contracting with vendors and service providers is part of the normal course of business for many condominium associations in Florida. Generally, section 718.3026, Florida Statutes provides for certain requirements when an association contracts for products and services. If a contract for the purchase, lease, or renting of materials or equipment, or for the provision of […]
The 9 Most Frequently Asked Questions About HOA Super Liens
We have heard far too many incorrect assumptions from servicers about how various rules will be applied to liens placed by Homeowners Associations (HOA) and Condo Owners Associations (COA) that we feel compelled to set the record straight. The most erroneous assumption is that these rules do not threaten servicers’ lien position, and therefore they […]
Yes You Can Change Your HOA Rules! Here are the 3 Keys to Making It Happen
Did you just fall in love with a Great Dane puppy only to find out your association has a 50 pound weight limit on dogs? Are you expecting a long-term house guest who won’t be able to park overnight on the street during their stay? Your association has Rules for a reason – don’t break […]
Five Tips for Managing a Parking Policy in Your HOA
Parking is one of the most common challenges for homeowners associations (HOAs). It seems, regardless of the type of community, the same parking situations happen to us all. These may include: Read the article…………..
Common Area Political Statement
The events of the past few days remind us how politically divided our country is on so many issues. It seems that in some cases opposing political parties disagree simply to be disagreeable. But in the United States it’s our right to express our views — heck, it’s part of what makes us Americans. These […]
The Art of Squeezing Money from Your Building (NY)
Savvy co-op and condo boards are perpetually on the lookout for ways to raise revenue so they can meet rising expenses while keeping monthly maintenance low. Boards have been known to sell their air rights or rent roof space for cell-phone relay towers. Or switch from park-and-lock to valet service in their parking garages. Or […]
The Value of Committees – Part 1
A well-managed community is a full time job, but it doesn’t have to be a burden. Instead of burdening the board and community managers with every HOA need, consider using volunteer-based committees. Like board members, volunteers from your community have the best interest of the neighborhood in mind. By leveraging their willingness to help out, […]