One of the most important factors in the decision to purchase a condominium or co-op is lifestyle. Many who live in residential communities, particularly those in single-family HOAs, choose community living over a single-family home for the convenience of what they don’t have to do: no snow shoveling, no grass mowing, and no cleaning the […]
Enforce, collect, and hire help: An association board’s biggest responsibilities
A community association board consists of volunteers elected to serve on behalf of residents to execute a wide variety of tasks. It’s a big job, but most board members are happy to serve and make the community a great place to call home. The board’s biggest responsibilities include enforcing rules, collecting assessments, and hiring help. […]
Mediation Can Resolve Disputes Without Litigation (NY)
We live in contentious times, including those of us who live in co-ops and condominiums. “People are becoming less tolerant of one another, and there are more disagreements than ever,” says Claudine Gruen, vice president and director of operations at Garthchester Realty. When disputes prove intractable, there’s a tried-and-true remedy available to co-op and condo […]
Keep Your Chicago Condominium Fire Safe! (IL)
If you are a property owner in Chicago, one of the most important aspects of your property ownership is ensuring the fire safety of your tenants and your building. This includes regular fire safety equipment inspections, maintenance, and following all new regulations. This helps you to avoid costly penalties and to make sure that your […]
Architectural Review Within Your Community Association (NC)
Want to give the exterior of your home a fresh new look… in your favorite shade of pink? If you live in a community association, chances are you can’t break out the paint cans just yet. Homeowners and property owners associations (POAs) in neighborhoods and condo communities typically include in their covenants a set of […]
Meeting Tips #4 – Little Things Set a Tone & Help You Get Stuff Done
Excellence does not come about by accident. Nor is it typically the result of heroic leaps and bounds. It is usually the accumulation of incremental actions, the compounded interest earned from habits applied to what might seem to be insignificant details. Exceptionally productive meetings are no different. They don’t happen by accident. And there are […]
Dealing with elderly neighbor in violation of rules (FL)
For most violations of rules and restrictions contained in a Condominium or Homeowners’ Association governing documents, the enforcement procedure is fairly simple. A call or letter is sent by management telling the rule or regulation violator to knock it off. If the violation continues, then a certified letter is usually sent from the Association’s attorney […]
HOA Homefront: Outstanding directors understand how this role is DIFFERENT (Part 3)
All the knowledge and experience from the working world (“day job”) can actually hinder a volunteer’s effectiveness in the world of HOA governance if the differences between the two worlds are not understood. Outstanding directors have learned that much of what worked for them in their day job will likely work poorly in the context […]
How To De-escalate a Confrontational Exchange
Why do so many interactions these days become heated? Are people just meaner than they used to be? Have we lost our ability to be tolerant of one another? And, if so, what can we do about it? In today’s society, it seems we are not only entitled to our opinion, but everyone else is […]
Selling a Special Assessment
One of the most challenging experiences a board member faces is deciding when it’s necessary to assign a special assessment. Homeowners may not always immediately understand how critical it is to fix certain infrastructure issues. Additionally, if a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, were to hit your association, homeowners may themselves have homes in […]
Developer Voting Rights: When Does it End in Ohio Condominiums?
Every condominium association is initially created by a developer who controls the association during the beginning of development. During that time, the developer operates the association, but also is in the business of selling homes. Because the developer will want to protect its investment, it will most likely make certain decisions with that interest in […]
What Does the Sign Say? Sign Regulation, Legal Issues and the First Amendment (FL:
All signs are subject to some form of regulation while at the same time carrying some form of First Amendment protection. Due to those protections afforded by the First Amendment, government regulation of signs is subject to a heightened scrutiny. This can often lead to disputes and litigation which we all know can be expensive […]
Seven ways to be heard at your next condo or HOA meeting
Residents are encouraged to attend and observe community association board meetings. If you’d like to bring an issue to your community association governing board’s attention, you’re welcome to speak during the homeowner forum—a time set aside just for you. So that everyone who attends has an opportunity for a meaningful exchange with the board, typically […]
When Raising HOA Dues Is a Good Idea
Dues are always a hot topic for HOAs. The collection and allocation of dues can be a touchy subject for the membership since it directly affects their wallets. However, successful homeowners association management wouldn’t be possible without everyone sharing the cost. Board members are put in a tricky situation: they want to please the membership […]
Essential HOA Board Member Skills
As new board members soon find out, a wide variety of skills are needed to make sure an association runs smoothly. Below, we’ve highlighted four important skills that help boards run effectively. Read the article……………………
4 Steps to Take When Addressing Property Damage Within Your Association
When disaster strikes your Association, are you prepared? Here are four steps to take when faced with damage to your Association’s property. Read the article…………………
A Civil Action
Worried about rudeness, disruption, and even physical attacks, community associations are establishing codes that demand courteousness and respect. Read the article………………….
Community Association Directors, Officers Are Protected from Frivolous Lawsuits (FL)
There are many objections to board service that are often cited by unit owners who are reluctant to serve on their community association’s board of directors. While the time commitment is a prevalent concern, some believe that the post also brings with it an unreasonable level of liability and exposure to lawsuits by disgruntled unit […]
Does Your Building Have “Tuck Under” Parking?
If your building was constructed in the 1970s or 80s, it may have tuck under parking. This is when the building has an open ground floor which is used for parking. Most of these buildings are wood frame. The problem is that the open ground floor, sometimes called “soft-story construction” makes the building top heavy. […]
Ask the HOA Expert: Rules With Reason
Homeowner associations (HOAs) are the fastest growing form of home ownership in America. In metropolitan markets, they can account for over 2/3rds of all new home construction. As more buyers choose this form of housing, condos and planned communities are becoming a dominant force to be reckoned with. HOAs are quasi-governments that collect mandatory fees […]
Meeting Tips #3 – O Say Can You Hear?
Community association boards do the bulk of their business at board meetings (or at least, they SHOULD). It can be tough for community members to observe the proceedings and resist the urge to chime in from the audience, especially on hot topics. This happens often with residents who do not understand that community associations are […]
Enforcing Rules in Your HOA Community
Being a board member isn’t just about overseeing the annual National Night Out event or choosing a new landscape vendor who can upkeep common areas for a fair price. You also have the responsibility of making sure the rules in the association’s governing documents are followed by all members—homeowners, committee members, and board members alike. […]
HOA Homefront: What makes a director outstanding (Part II)? Preparation
Before seeking a board seat, the best candidates should improve their readiness for service. Here are some tips on how to prepare …. Read the article…………………
6-Steps to Prepare Your Homeowners Association for an Earthquake
You can never predict an earthquake, but you can plan and prepare for one. Maintaining awareness of your insurance coverage in the event of an earthquake is a simple but effective way to help a homeowners association mitigate damages when an earthquake does occur. In this post, we’ll look at 6 tips on how to […]
Primary Condo Association Board Duties
Being on a Condo Board entails numerous tasks. Some include intense planning, such as a major project or special assessment. Other tasks must be more oriented towards being a leader within your community. There are certain Condo Association Board duties which make up the bread and butter of your activities. No matter what else you […]
Material Alterations
We receive numerous questions from our condominium association clients regarding proposed “material alterations” to the common elements. In general, the board is empowered with authority to maintain the common elements. Read the article………………………
Does Electronic Voting For Community Associations Really Work? How Do You Implement? (FL)
Q: I heard that the law in Florida recently changed and that owners in community associations can now vote electronically. What is required to implement electronic voting in my community? And does it really work? Read the Q&A……………….
The Subrogation Situation
With increasing frequency, insurance companies that provide unit owner insurance are suing community associations to recover payments made to the unit owner that are related to water leaks in the unit. The problem with these lawsuits is two-fold. First, the insurance companies are waiting years to bring them, although still within the statute of limitations […]
HOA Meetings That Don’t Stink
We know. Your HOA runs like a well-oiled machine. The grounds are beautiful. Everything works. Your reserves are funded. Neighbors never fight. People always pay their fees on time. And nobody ever complains about anything…except the meetings. Yeah, right. Why are you here again? Read the article…………………..
Why Your Community Association Should Plan Like a Business
Community associations are essentially businesses, and board members should treat planning and budgeting the way they would approach corporation planning. Here are tips on how to start.
How Is Maintenance Calculated? Let Us Count the Ways (NY)
New Yorkers paid an average of $1.73 per square foot in co-op maintenance in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel. So for an 800-square-foot apartment, the monthly maintenance bill was $1,384. But that number can fluctuate wildly, even within a co-op. Here, according to Brick Underground, are the […]
A ‘kinder, gentler’ community starts with you
“Where is it written that we must act as if we do not care, as if we’re not moved? Well, I am moved. I want a kinder, gentler nation.” That was the late George H.W. Bush as he accepted the Republican nomination for president in 1988. Bush, of course, would go on to serve in […]
Mediation: What Is It and Why Do It?
Mediation is often confused with arbitration. They have similarities, including that both are overseen by third-party neutrals that do not have financial stakes in the outcomes. The key difference is that while arbitration results in the neutral evaluating the outcome (which typically is binding, but by agreement can be non-binding), while in mediation the third-party […]
When to Use Your HOA Reserve Fund
This article is the third in a series on reserve studies. In the first article, we discussed what a reserve study is and why conducting one is important for the financial health of your association. We also provided basic information to help you obtain a reserve study. We’ll discuss the difference between the reserve fund […]
Turning Over a New Leaf: Fixing Previous Board Mistakes
A board’s role is to govern and set the policies, procedures, standards, budgets and programs for an association. Some decisions boards make are extremely beneficial, while some don’t have a substantial impact, and others fail miserably. Unfortunately, when a board makes a bad decision, it isn’t immediately obvious, and a future board of directors may […]
When a Renter Is a Hoarder, What’s a Co-op To Do? (NY)
The tenant in a rent-stabilized apartment in a co-op has turned into a hoarder. Neighboring apartments are being infested with mice and roaches. What should the affected shareholders and the co-op board do? Read the article……………………….
Can You Claim HOA Fees on Your Taxes?
When the holiday season approaches, many homeowners begin preparing for the year ahead. Contemplating New Year’s resolutions is common during this time, and a popular resolution is to become more financially stable. One of the most satisfying ways to get money back into your pocket is through tax refunds. This poses the question of whether […]
Meeting Tips #2 – Prepare TO Die? Or is it Prepare OR Die? Same thing!
The Five Ps: Proper preparation prevents poor performance. Think about meetings of any type you’ve attended where the participants were well prepared. Quality discussion, good decisions, the right balance of thorough and efficient, right? Board members are fiduciaries. They have been entrusted with taking care of association members’ assets. Their decisions can make a difference […]
How to Get the Most from Your HOA Reserve Study
This article is the second in a series on reserve studies. Last week, we addressed the importance of getting a reserve study done. This week, we’re going to discuss how to make the most of it. Spectrum Association Management always encourages associations to live below their means, but we recognize that preparing for future costs […]
Emotional Support Animals
With the growing popularity of emotional support animals, condominium associations are increasing forced to confront the issue of whether or not to permit emotional support animals to reside in units at associations that do not allow pets. Emotional support animals differ from service animals in that service animals are specially trained animals that assist people […]
Job One for New Condo Boards: Get a Building Physical (NY)
New York City is bristling with shiny new condominium towers. As fledgling condo boards are discovering at an alarming rate, those towers are often bristling with construction defects. In many cases, the defects are so serious that the buildings fail to pass their first mandated facade inspection, formerly known as Local Law 11, now the […]
Get Involved: How to Handle HOA Micromanagement (FL)
HOAs can provide big benefits to home owners within a close-knit community. But when do the rules go too far, and the HOA ends up micromanaging? Read the article……………………
What does a community association manager do?
Community associations today employ highly-qualified professional community association managers, and we think residents should know what the manager has—and has not—been hired to do. Some residents expect the manager to perform certain tasks that just aren’t part of the job. When the manager doesn’t meet those expectations, residents are unhappy. In short, the manager has […]
No Pets Allowed: Accommodating Pets in Housing and Public Places
Anyone who has had the honor of sharing their life with a dog can relate to the experience of looking into your fur-baby’s eyes and feeling a sense of calm. In fact, research has revealed that petting a dog for a short period of time may actually lower blood pressure.[1] So, does this type of […]
True or False: 7 Privacy Questions in an Association
Living in a condominium, homeowners, or townhome association requires an owner to divulge personal information that is safe-guarded by the inherent fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors. Although providing information like the make and model of your vehicle might appear invasive, the Board collects this information in an effort to efficiently run the Association […]
When Does Interest Accrue on Delinquent Assessments? (FL)
The ability to collect interest for delinquent assessments is found in a community associations governing documents and is also recognized in Fl. Stat. Chapters 718 for condominium associations and 720 for homeowner associations. Specifically, section 718.116(3), Florida Statutes for condominium associations provides in part that unpaid assessments shall bear interest from the due date until […]
The Science of Vendor Selection – A Practical Approach
Does embarking on a new project in your association seem as stressful as going to the dentist? Oftentimes, projects seem daunting based on scope and cost as it’s sometimes like pulling teeth for Board Members to part ways with the almighty assessment dollars. Many Board Members rely on keeping assessments low as a barometer of […]
Association Reserve Studies Explained
A reserve study is a long-term budget-planning tool designed to identify the current status of an association’s reserve fund, which offsets the association’s ongoing disrepair and future costs. A reserve study has two parts: Read the article…………………