One of the most important, and sometimes dreaded, tasks of the board is to take detailed meeting minutes. The secretary board position is often one of the hardest spots for HOAs to fill, but today we want to dispel any preconceived ideas about meeting minutes. Despite their reputation, meeting minutes can be simple and straightforward […]
HOA Fees and How to Determine Them
How HOA fees are determined is usually one of the main points of disagreement in communities. Homeowners insist on knowing how their money is being spent, and boards often struggle to decide how much each resident needs to contribute to make sure the community has sufficient funds. While it’s easy to compare your community with […]
HOA Committees – Does your Association Need Them?
In HOAs there are the board members, the HOA property management company, and in most cases committee members. We’ve talked a lot on this blog about the roles and responsibilities of board members and property managers, but today we want to take a closer look at committees and their value. Depending on your governing documents, […]
HOA Community: Are Your Trash Cans Compliant?
Sometimes it can seem like your HOA community has ridiculous rules. For example, many have rules about the placement of trash cans and how long they can be out at the curb. They may also have rules about the kind of trash and recycling bins you can have (in some cases, the HOA or their […]
Setting Boundaries as an HOA Board Member
Unlike a lot of other businesses, HOAs have the unique challenge of managing boundaries between volunteer board members and homeowners. The reason it is important to set boundaries between the HOA and homeowners is so that volunteer board members (and other volunteers) aren’t finding themselves constantly at the beck and call of homeowners. Today we […]
HOA Architectural Review: Can an HOA Reject Your Request?
The short answer is: Yes, an HOA can reject your request for modifications that fall outside of the covenant restrictions. The longer answer is more complicated. Your HOA architectural review committee may reject your request for a number of reasons, but the core tends to be that they feel your modifications negatively affect the look […]
How to Create an Effective Community Association Committee
Community association committees are a great tool in easing the workload of association boards. There’s a world of talent, skills, and knowledge within your association community. Here are a few quick tips on how to create an effective community association committee: Read the article………………
Secrets of Smart HOA Board Members
We’ve all worked with that one person who is always knowledgeable on pretty much everything and up-to-date on current processes. Having a person like that on your board is an incredible resource, and today we’re going to share the most important their secret, which will help you become that person as well! Drum roll…it’s all […]
Help for New HOA Directors
Many board members want to serve their communities but don’t always know what is involved in HOA management. This week, we’ll share an overview of the roles, duties, and responsibilities associated with being a new director. In an HOA, all board members have an individual role with different responsibilities. The president of an HOA’s main […]
Roles and Responsibilities of a Board for a Condo Association
Serving on the board of a condo association is a great way to become involved with your condo community. Your election by fellow association members means you’ve received their vote of trust to oversee association matters in a responsible manner. Let’s look at several roles and responsibilities of a board that accompany a board position: […]
Helping Out Unhappy Homeowners in Your HOA
Discontent can become a major distraction for your community. Helping an unhappy homeowner in any setting can be a real challenge. But in a homeowner association, where the person who is displeased is your neighbor, there exists an entirely new level of concern. But, the bottom line is, unhappy homeowners often just need to be […]
Items to Review Annually as HOA Board Members
With the end of the year having come and gone, both homeowners and board members are looking forward to starting the new year fresh! To help you get through your tasks, we’ve put together a list of important items your HOA should review every year. Your HOA has three main categories of documents to review […]
Does your Condominium Association have a Fire-Safety Plan?
If you are running a high-rise condo, then fire safety may well be on your mind – especially after the high-profile apartment block fire in London. The fire involved a number of failures, some of which are not the responsibility of anyone but the builder or contractor doing updates. Read the article……………..
Getting Your HOA Winter Ready (TX)
With the first day of winter having passed, it’s time to get your HOA winter ready for the lower temperatures and anything else Mother Nature can throw at you, which has been plenty here in Texas! As an HOA, your board should have already taken care of any final fall clean up, sprinkler blow outs, […]
HOA Legal Landscape – Consulting Experts Before Making Key Decisions
Although your HOA board of directors certainly embodies a broad spectrum of knowledge and expertise, it’s unlikely that it will cover every critical aspect of association decision-making. Many community association’s are aware of this, but are nonetheless tempted to save the money otherwise spent on hiring outside expertise. Be wary of making this mistake. The […]
HOA Board Training 101
When new board members join it is important to make sure they receive some basic training to help them succeed. As a veteran board member it can be easy to assume that most duties are self explanatory, but if you don’t take time to train your new board members, you’re doing them and the entire […]
5 Tips for Improving Communication with HOA Associations
A lack of communication leads to conflict and upset in any situation. People like to be kept aware of what is happening but are inundated with messages every day. Cut through the clutter and improve communication with your HOA members by implementing the following five tools and tips: Read the article……………..
Improve HOA Board Communication
Along with the holidays, the annual meeting season is here! Many HOAs face change during this time of year as board positions become vacant and new people fill those roles. It’s always a good idea to help new board members with their transition by offering advice on how to improve your board’s communication. As a […]
Community Association – Outdoor and Indoor Water Conservation Tips
Water is a valuable resource. Follow the tips below to help conserve water both indoors and outdoors. Read the article……………
What Foreclosure Means to Your Homeowners Association
Foreclosure is a bit of a dirty word. Nobody wants to see anyone thrown out of their home – but it happens. There are basically two different kinds of foreclosure homeowners association need to worry about: Foreclosure by the bank and foreclosure by the association itself. When a bank forecloses on a home in the […]
Appeals court rules Capella Park HOA must accommodate disabled residents (TX)
The Court of Appeals for the 5th District of Texas has reversed a trial court’s decision that was in favor of a homeowners’ association (HOA) trying to enforce its restrictive covenants against a home for disabled residents. The decision, filed Nov. 30, found that Willie E. Walls III and Melody Hanson, the operators of My […]
What is the Best Practice for Elevator Maintenance?
People who live in tall buildings dread broken elevators. They cause delays – and repeatedly broken elevators can even cost you, residents, as people move out. Some residents, of course, are unable to use the stairs at all. Condominium owners expect to be able to reliably access elevators at all times, but too many building […]
Hold a Board Meeting in Under 1 Hour
Sixty minutes is generally a reasonable goal for the length of any board meeting, but you have a lot of ground to cover and need to make progress! This week, we want to offer some tips to maximize meeting time and ensure that meetings are structured, effective, and engaging. Remember, a board meeting is a […]
Don’t Be an HOA Scrooge with Holiday Decor
Most HOAs have rules about what people can and can’t put in their yards and this can range from signage to holiday decorations. Whether an HOA should be able to limit decorations isn’t what we want to discuss. Instead, we want to talk about how to encourage your community to celebrate their holidays with decorations […]
Cleaning Up Mold in Your Community
While the damaging weather seems to be behind us, the water damage can continue to plague communities for months. Don’t let your community be lured into a false sense of security just because the floodwaters have receded. Previously wet flooring, sheet-rock, and furniture may appear dry on the surface, but there is a good chance […]
Cleaning Up Fall Lawns
With winter right around the corner, it’s time to clean up as fall winds down. While the changing of leaves is beautiful, those vibrant leaves are likely scattered across your lawn, in your gutters, flowerbeds, or the street drains. The best way to protect your community this winter is to keep your lawn tidy, and […]
Home Business in your Association (TX)
With improved technologies and the ability to work from anywhere in the world, more and more neighborhoods are finding residents who work from home. From business professionals who work from home one or two days a week, to small business owners running companies from their living rooms. It is apparent that working from home has […]
Helpful City Services
Many board members receive homeowner requests for community events, complaints about violations, and questions about trash collection or stray animals. With only a limited budget and limited authority, what are board members to do when these requests go beyond the scope of their power? Many cities offer services to residents that can complement those the […]
Managing Conflicts in Your HOA Community
Let’s be honest, there is no way to avoid conflict entirely. Which means at some point your HOA will deal with some sort of disagreement. There are many types of conflict, and just as many dos and don’ts for how to manage them. Here are some ways your board can handle a situation, should it […]
Adding Solar Panels in an HOA Community
Many homeowners are beginning to see the appeal of installing solar panels to their home. As an HOA it is important to consider the benefits and identify ways to work with homeowners so everyone is happy. What your board doesn’t want to do is forbid homeowners from installing solar panels, or end up in a […]
HOA Governance: The Pros and Cons of an HOA Rental Cap
The policies of any HOA are sometimes a touchy subject because, at any one time, homeowners are simultaneously responsible for and subject to the rules set out by their home owner’s association. There are a number of perfectly normal policies that are put into place like a stylistic agreement to keep the neighborhood looking nice […]
How Enhancement Matching Grant Programs can Benefit Your HOA
There are always improvements that need to be made around the property covered by your homeowner’s association. In some cases, however, low-income areas or a lack of attention to those improvements over several years can lead to big needs that the homeowners association budget simply isn’t able to cover alone. For these areas and projects, […]
The Complete Story of the River Oaks Tank
The tactical withdrawal of Tony Buzbee’s World War II-era Sherman M4A4 tank earlier this month brought the month-long Battle of River Oaks Boulevard to a close. After Buzbee—a trial lawyer, Marine veteran, and proud Aggie alum (and current A&M regent)—parked the fully operational tank on the street in front of his home on Houston’s swankiest […]
HOA Landscape – Consult Experts Before Making a Decision
When running a HOA, you often have to make a lot of decisions about how to upkeep the neighborhood – without building the kind of resentment that gives HOAs a bad name. Overall landscaping of the neighborhood is something everyone notices. HOA landscape guidelines should balance the needs of the community between aesthetics and harmony. […]
Improving Indoor Air Quality
As the heat continues to bear down, most people find themselves retreating indoors to beat the heat. But what most people don’t realize is that air quality indoors can be just as bad as it is outdoors. If your HOA community has indoor hallways, staircases and common areas, it’s important that you take a few […]
Top Amenity Trends in New HOA Communities
Home buyers are searching for more than a new home; they are searching for a place that offers a sense of community. Walking trails, resort-style pools, and quaint shopping and cafes top the list of amenities today’s home buyers desire. These type of amenities allow for interaction with others in the community. When it comes […]
Halloween is upon us
It is officially fall and that means Halloween is right around the corner. Doorsteps will soon be adorned with pumpkins, autumn wreaths, and spooky figures, but what does your HOA actually allow? Since some people get really excited for the holidays, it’s important to establish rules around Halloween decorations and communicate them with plenty of […]
Handling Special Assessments in Your HOA
Special assessments happen. No matter how well managed an association is, things happen and money reserves can be exhausted, making special assessments necessary. Since it won’t do your community any good to pretend your HOA is above special assessments, we encourage you to focus on these tips to make the process simple and understandable for […]
Reading Your CC&Rs
Show of hands: Who has actually read their community’s CC&Rs cover to cover and word for word? Statistically speaking, not many have. And while it may feel unnecessary to read them, we assure you it’s better to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations before you’re fighting them or trying to implement them! Read the […]
How to Have Successful HOA Elections
One of the centerpieces of a successful HOA is a well-organized election process. However, in order to ensure that your HOA elections succeed every year, it’s important to take heed of a few key rules: follow your governing documents; send out proxies; ensure that you have a quorum; document your elections appropriately; know who can […]
Weeding Out Your Yard
Nothing ruins a beautiful, well-manicured summer lawn like weeds. From those ugly ones that have thorn-like leaves to the tall, unsightly ones that demand to be seen, weeds are an equal opportunity annoyance. As an HOA board, it’s important to remember that one weed here or there isn’t going to hurt curb appeal, but if […]
In Heavily Flooded West Houston, a Neighborhood Comes Together to Save Itself (TX)
One of the first rescues was 120 pounds of wet, terrified Rhodesian ridgeback, wide-eyed and shaking on top of a kitchen counter. It was Sunday, August 27. A neighbor kid had been pet-sitting for the dog’s out-of-town owners, when he realized Buffalo Bayou was coming out of its banks so rapidly he could no longer […]
5th Cir. Holds Threat of Lawsuit to Collect Partially Time-Barred Debt Did Not Violate FDCPA (TX)
In a split decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently decided that attorneys representing a condominium association did not violate the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by threatening non-judicial foreclosure on debt that was partially but not fully time barred. The plaintiffs owned a condominium in Houston, Texas. They sued […]
Rule Skirting and How to Avoid it in Your HOA
Let’s be honest – every HOA struggles with residents who skirt the rules. Sometimes it’s a one-time thing, and other times it’s chronic. No matter what rules are being broken, every HOA needs to address the issues without coming across like “that” HOA who enforces a rule so absurd it receives national attention. Since no […]
Guidance for Working With FEMA for Debris Removal Following Hurricanes Harvey & Irma
As storm victims struggle to survive after the devastation and loss caused by Hurricane Harvey, the first thing individuals and community associations should do is register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Community association residents are most likely concerned with debris removal. Here are steps a community association manager/board should take to […]
Four Ways Active Adult Communities Are Changing to Emphasize Lifestyle
Developers are taking note of the new demands placed by buyers in adult communities. Ten years ago the average buyer age was 72 years-old; now it is 62 years-old. With the younger age comes an expectation of services and amenities that developers strive to provide. Here are just four ways active adult communities are changing: […]
What Happened When a Texas Homeowner Association Opted to Sign with a Single Hauler
Ever think that your homeowners or condo association is plowing ahead with an ill-considered project? Ignoring its own rules? Now and then, here and there, many people feel this way, but at the same time they are daunted by the time and effort to take on the governing board. To cheer one’s hopes, here’s a […]
Avoid Misunderstandings about Dues
Across the country people are wondering how and where their HOA dues are being used. It’s a good question to ask, but it also one that an HOA board should be able to answer quickly and easily. To reduce miscommunication with homeowners, the board first needs to understand these things about HOA dues and openly […]