In most associations, it seems that doing that weekly drive to find those owners in non-compliance is the rage lately or has it been for some time now? Do you find that this brings a sense of community to those living in your association when they get this violation letter in the mail? I have […]
Security Tips for Managing the Association’s Bank Accounts Online (FL)
Increasing numbers of people and small businesses, including community associations, have switched to managing their bank accounts exclusively over the internet. Not surprisingly, these numbers surged even higher during the pandemic. While online banking has become common place, so have incidents of cybercrime and fraud. Banks of course use a variety of security measures to […]
Amending or adding condo and HOA rules
Condos and HOAs use rules to help support—and fill in the gaps of—the CC&R provisions. Rules regulate things like common areas and amenities, which aren’t included in the CC&Rs (for example, the CC&Rs don’t state the gym’s operating hours). Communities must make those kinds of rules. Read the entire article……………………………….
Proper Documentation – A Fair Housing Must
This article was contributed by the Fair Housing Institute . Why is documentation so important? How can it help you in the event of a fair housing complaint? What are some best practices that your company should be following now? This article provides a brief overview of the value of documentation as well as some […]
A Guide To HOA Board Responsibilities
Serving on the board of a homeowner association is a high calling. Well meaning volunteers are elected to roles that are critical to the well being of the HOA. But what exactly is a board member supposed to do to fulfill this charge? Here’s a handy guide: Read the entire article……………………………….
Maintaining Asphalt, Concrete and Pavers (FL)
Last week we discussed how heat and water damage asphalt. This week let’s discuss how to maintain the asphalt and concrete surfaces. Read the entire article……………………………….
What Condominium Associations Need To Know About The Life Safety Task Force Recommendations (FL)
In light of the recent tragedy at Surfside, the Condominium Law and Policy on Life Safety Issues Advisory Task Force was formed to provide detailed recommendations to Governor Ron DeSantis and other lawmakers in an effort to prevent similar tragedies and to prioritize the health and safety of condominium association residents. Read the entire article……………………………….
Top 8 Committees That Help Every Community Function Better
The HOA is charged with running, managing, and maintaining the community. But being an HOA director can be overwhelming due to the never-ending tasks and responsibilities that one has to handle with their family, work, hobbies, and other personal responsibilities or interests. That’s why it is crucial to have committees that make it possible to […]
5 Steps Your HOA Board Must Take for Winter Preparation (NJ)
Winter is coming, which means it’s time your HOA board begins preparing its community for the icy and snowy weather. Winter storms can bring many issues that cause property damage, power outages, and travel restrictions. To ensure your community is snow and rain-proofed, it’s vital to have the right winter preparation plan in place. Here […]
High-Rise Condo Safety Reform Recommendations Appear, But Most Florida Municipalities Awaiting Statewide Changes
Five months after the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla., several major organizations have developed a number of high-rise condo safety reforms and recommendations. However, most Florida counties and municipalities appear to be holding off in expectation of statewide changes to legislation during the next legislative session that starts in […]
Condominiums, Homeowners’ Associations and Bankruptcy: The Lifecycle of a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy (PA)
In this entry, I want to go through a typical timeline for a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy case — mostly from the Association’s perspective. I do not intend this to be an exact breakdown of the Bankruptcy Court’s filing deadlines and procedures. Rather, this is more of a general, “what to expect” timeline. Read the entire […]
HOA Open Records Request (AZ/TX)
Homeowners associations are obligated to keep a variety of detailed records for their homeowners to be able to access. Potential buyers and current HOA members may wonder what types of HOA records exist and what rights they have to view and review these documents. Read the entire article……………………………….
Why Does My Building Have Outstanding Violations? (NY)
So, you live in a New York City apartment building and you have a problem in your apartment (or building), what do you do? Of course, it may depend on whether you live in a rental building, a cooperative or condominium, or live in a sponsor unit. In some cases and depending on the issue […]
Top 3 reasons to Mediate and NOT Litigate!
When a dispute arises there are a few different ways to handle it. In some difficult situations solving this dispute in court is the best solution but there are drawbacks. Litigation is expensive, time-consuming, stressful and unpredictable; it disrupts people’s lives and damages relationships; and it produces results that are rarely satisfying. In situations where […]
Strategic plans for HOAs
Businesses develop strategic plans to help them gain a clear and uniform understanding of who they are, what they are working to do and why they are working towards their goals. HOAs can also benefit from strategic plans as they can help busy boards and managers ensure their association is moving in the right direction. […]
The Easy Way to Cut Carbon Emissions? A Green Electric Grid (NY)
Many co-op and condo boards are terrified by the potential cost of the city’s Climate Mobilization Act (Local Law 97), which sets caps on building carbon emissions beginning in 2024 – and will impose stiff fines on buildings that fail to comply. Now comes news that’s sure to draw a sigh of relief from anxious […]
7 Consequences Of Delinquent HOA Dues
Homeowners are not the only ones who suffer the consequences of delinquent HOA dues. The association itself can face a lot of problems, too. When left unresolved, these problems can spiral and compound until the association is left with nothing to its name. Read the entire article……………………………….
You Looking at Me? Video Doorbell Cameras Trigger Privacy Concerns and Potential Liability Risks (MA)
Video doorbells (VDs), hugely popular and increasingly ubiquitous, enable homeowners to see, record and communicate with visitors at their door, answer the door remotely when they are away, discourage thieves from stealing packages or video them if they do, and notice when the teen who’s supposed to be in at 10 doesn’t cross the threshold […]
Six Tips for Avoiding Disputes with Your Master Homeowners Association (MI)
It is not uncommon for condominiums and homeowners associations that are located within close proximity to each other to be part of a master homeowners association. Community associations that share and utilize certain property and resources generally are organized in one of two frameworks: (1) sub-associations that manage their own individual communities with an overarching […]
5 Ways to Get More Homeowners Involved in the HOA This Year
The homeowner’s function in an HOA or condo community is distinct. By getting active and taking ownership of important issues, homeowners may have a massive impact on their neighborhood and local environment. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Audits: What You Need to Know
Responsibly managing finances is a big part of a community association board’s job. Homeowners trust board members to use assessment funds to preserve the value of their homes and the neighborhood overall. Completing financial audits as needed or required by your association goes a long way in fulfilling this board duty. Read the entire article……………………………….
Energy Efficiency In Your HOA
While there is continuing debate about the reasons driving climate change, most agree on the need for better stewardship of the Earth. While governments often move at a glacial pace to enact green policies, self help is readily available today. What better place to start than at the homeowner association? HOAs often control a variety […]
5 Tips for Increasing Collaboration Between Managers and Boards
When you work as a manager or board member, you’re expected to do your fair share of collaboration. Keeping tabs on every meeting and member can sometimes be overwhelming to the point that managers lose a sense of self and cooperation among one another. Although this is never a good thing, there are ways to […]
How to resolve HOA disputes (MD)
Disputes involving HOAs, also known as homeowners’ associations, in Maryland are more common than you realize. No matter what type of community you manage, it’s likely that some people may not get along or object to something happening within your borders. Because of this possibility, you should have a strategy to deal with HOA disputes. […]
HOA Board Mass Resignation: What Happens Now?
It is not uncommon for a board member to step down from their position in a homeowners association. But, what happens if all HOA board members resign simultaneously? Is an HOA board mass resignation even permitted? Read the entire article……………………………….
Should The HOA Clubhouse Be Exclusively Used By Homeowners?
In a planned development, residents typically have access to amenities, including the HOA clubhouse. But, should the association open the clubhouse exclusively to members? Read the entire article……………………………….
Climate Change Time: It’s Five Minutes Till Midnight (NY)
I attended a year-end meeting with the president of a Manhattan cooperative and an outside engineer. In October, the engineer had informed the cooperative that under the Climate Mobilization Act, the building was likely facing massive annual fines beginning in 2030 if it did not undertake major energy-efficiency retrofits to reduce the building’s carbon emissions. […]
Maintaining Roads, Driveways and Parking Decks (FL)
The intense Florida heat poses serious safety hazards and if not maintained properly, damages can progress to large cracks and potholes, neither of which you want in your parking lot, on your roads, or parking decks. Read the entire article……………………………….
Cultivating Thankful Owners
Community association board membership can be thankless and stressful work. Owners often do not appreciate their board because its work is not perceived or poorly understood. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Management Agreement
Hiring an HOA management company can add much value to a community and save board members a lot of time. In making a commitment to work with a specific company, it is important to know what to look for in the contracts they are offering. Read the entire article……………………………….
The Basics of HOA Management: Why You Need To Hire An Accountant
Balancing your checkbook is very different than managing a Homeowners Associations (HOA) financial records. If you are responsible for the bookkeeping, you should probably hire an accountant if you don’t have the knowledge or experience needed to maintain the books according to the current laws. Read the entire article……………………………….
Compromise Required When Disabilities Clash With City Codes (NY)
Co-op and condo boards are constantly required to perform balancing acts. For instance, a resident with a disability might ask for a reasonable accommodation, yet granting that accommodation would require breaching city fire and building codes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Is my HOA’s application of bark dust every year a waste of money? Ask an expert (OR)
Q: I live in an HOA in Corvallis. Every year or two we pay a lot to have the bark dust blown into the beds around bushes. It’s blown in to save the expense of humans shoveling it in. Is there a study of the relative costs of having bark dust blown in every couple […]
When the President Thinks They’re King (FL)
So all this talk about the Presidency lately has got me thinking about an issue that comes up every week in my practice for the past 30 years or so. I get a call from someone on a Board of Directors. And they tell me that they have a President on the Board who is […]
When an HOA Fails to Follow Its Own Covenants and Procedures, Is Such a “Technicality” Actionable? (GA)
Homeowners aggrieved by their homeowners associations (HOAs) often quickly notice when the Board of Directors of the HOA fails to follow its own rules, or otherwise conducts business in manner that appears inconsistent with the Board’s policies and procedures. Read the entire article……………………………….
New HOA Holiday Guide
The holiday season is here. Many homeowners associations may choose to develop holiday and religious display guidelines that are easy for residents to follow and simple to enforce. Have a happy holiday with these tips. Read the entire article……………………………….
Tips for Setting HOA Board’s Annual Goals
Every Homeowner’s Association has a fiscal year to evaluate the previous year and set goals for the coming year. The plans can address a variety of topics, such as community enhancements and communication. Read the entire article……………………………….
Façade Inspections: A Critical Component of Your Maintenance Plan
In light of the tragic condo building collapse in Surfside, Florida, earlier this year, condo and co-op boards, as well as rental building landlords, are taking a hard look at their building system inspection policies. While all mandatory inspections exist for a reason and should be taken very seriously, among the most critical is façade […]
Trends in Multifamily Building Technology: Building Systems Better
The forward march of innovation is constantly changing the face of nearly every industry—including residential real estate. To keep co-ops, condominiums, and other multifamily communities functioning optimally, we need to keep abreast of the latest advancements in building systems. Here are a few of the latest trends. Read the entire article……………………………….
What Is Loss Assessment Coverage?
Most people know they need homeowners insurance if they own a single-family home, but figuring out what kind of coverage a condo owner needs isn’t always straightforward. One of the lesser-known coverage types worth considering is loan assessment coverage. In this article, we’ll look at what this is, how it works, and when it makes […]
Insurance Basics: Is Your Association Adequately Covered?
While insuring your association against potential catastrophes can be a daunting proposition for a board made up of volunteers, it’s a crucial part of the job. Fortunately, there are delineated starting points, ample resources, and industry professionals to which a board can turn for guidance. Nobody likes dwelling on worst-case scenarios, but by allocating its […]
Top 5 Coop & Condo Laundry List Items (NY)
In apartment buildings, including coops and condos, the leasing income that we see most frequently is for leasing out the laundry room. A majority of the services in a multifamily building are owned by the housing corporation, but the laundry room is typically handled by a third-party laundry company that renews every few years. Read […]
Hosting A Thanksgiving Party In An HOA? Be Prepared First
Thanksgiving is a time when friends and family get together to eat, catch up, and have fun. But, if you’re throwing a Thanksgiving party in an HOA, there are a few more preparations you need to make note of. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Capital Improvements
When communities are built, they are done so to provide the lifestyle and amenities that residents desire at the time of development; however, as time passes, residents’ desires change, and so do their desired amenities for the communities that they live in or want to live in. In order for communities to keep up with […]
How Committees can help your board (IL)
From time to time, your Association’s Board of Directors may choose to form committees to help gather information. Advantage Management would like to help address some common questions about forming committees and their role. Committees, when formed and run properly, are very helpful to the Board members by taking some of the workload away from […]
How Preventive Maintenance Can Help Your Association (IL)
Preventive maintenance has always been an integral part of maintaining a property, but it has become even more critical in the new age of labor shortages. When your property manager suggests renewing or signing a contract for a vendor to provide preventive maintenance, your Board should seriously consider the option. Read the entire article……………………………….
Does Our Association Have View Rights? (CA)
Asked – Our HOA has been receiving architectural applications from Owners who are requesting to install tall trees or increase the height of their property walls for additional privacy. However, several neighbors have expressed their stark opposition to any modifications that would impact the views from their property. Read the entire article……………………………….
5 Ways to Keep Your HOA’s Financial Stability
Your homeowner’s association (HOA) will achieve success when its financial health is maintained. Your role as an HOA board member goes beyond ensuring that fees get paid in a timely fashion. You should be involved in the budget-making process and monitoring of financial expenses. Board members provide the availability of funds to cater to the […]
There Is No “Meeting by Ballot” Under New NC Law
Our firm’s attorneys have seen several recent association mailings entitled something to the effect of “Meeting by Ballot” or “Annual Meeting by Ballot.” It appears there is a belief among some that the recent adoption of House Bill 320 (“Modernize Remote Business Access”) created a new method of members meeting through a written instrument. It […]
6 Steps for Reviewing and Revising Your Association Rules & Regulations (VA)
STEP 1 – The board of directors should establish an ad hoc committee on rules to periodically review and suggest changes (not make changes!). STEP 2 – Those suggestions would be reviewed by the association manager with comments being given to the committee and the board of directors. Read the entire article……………………………….