If you’re a Board member looking at how to keep fees in a homeowner association down, we have five things you can do to help reduce expenses. Without further delay, here they are: Read the article…………….
HOA Board Liability
As a board member you obviously care about your community and its well-being – good for you! Your community will benefit from your dedication and personal investment. But something you and your fellow board members should consider is personal liability for accidents that happen on association property. Generally, individual board members aren’t found liable. However, […]
What You Should Know about Why Homeowner Associations Have Fee Increases
Why homeowner associations have fee increases is not mysterious; here are a few things that everyone should know about it. The short answer to fee increases is that the cost of goods and services in general increase so naturally the HOA ends up paying more for goods and services, too. Still, some HOAs are better […]
Improving Quorum for Your Meetings
Most board members, and even homeowners, have heard the word “quorum”. However, many don’t understand it or its importance for doing HOA business. In case you’re not familiar with the definition, a quorum is a minimum number of board members and residents in attendance at an HOA meeting. Unless the quorum is reached, meeting business […]
HOA Living: Homeowner Rights and Responsibilities
If you are looking at buying an HOA property, or if you already live in one, then you want to know what your homeowner rights and responsibilities are. Well, we can help you with that. Read on for the list of things you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes to HOA rights and […]
Millennials and New HOA Demographics
As millennials begin families and start to settle down, they are becoming one of the largest groups of home-buyers. From 2010-2015 the percentage of millennials moving into San Antonio homes went up 14.4%. That makes San Antonio the second most popular metro area for millennial home-buyers! While some HOAs are already making the move toward […]
Managing Your Vendors in an HOA Community
As a board member, you are responsible for many aspects of your association. One of these tasks is selecting projects to complete and the vendors who will work on these projects. Whether it’s scheduling routine pool maintenance or arranging for new trees to be planted in the community park. Below are some step-by-step tips for […]
What is an HOA Reserve Specialist?
An HOA reserve specialist conducts a study of the major capital systems within an homeowners association. The specialist evaluates the condition of major items, estimates when the item will need replacing, and projects the cost of replacement. The purpose of such study is for associations to decide how much money to set aside for major […]
Lightning and Your HOA Community
When most of us think of summer, we think of hot sunny days by the water, but the summer months in Texas are also known for their wild storms. It can be hot one minute, and the next second the black storm clouds start rolling in. When planning outdoor activities, consider any looming storms on […]
Appreciating Volunteers in your HOA Community
Most HOAs we work with rely on the help of volunteers to keep their community running smoothly, and while a job well down is something to be proud of, a little recognition goes a long way. Since volunteers can save an HOA serious amounts of money, treating them well and offering recognition will encourage them […]
Five Paths to Reducing Your HOAs Carbon Footprint
It’s one thing to want to reduce your carbon footprint in an HOA, but how do you actually go about doing that? Here are five pathways that might help. Read the article………………
Why Hire Insured and Certified Vendors for your HOA?
To us, it’s clear why it is important to hire insured and certified vendors for your HOA, but sometimes members of the HOA Board might need some convincing. Here are five reasons to consider doing so. Read the article……………
A Quick Guide to Encouraging HOA Volunteerism
Sometimes people who buy a home in an HOA neighborhood may not be used to the core concepts of an HOA. In most places, you take care of your property and keep to yourself. Maybe you get to know one or two neighbors and share cookouts, but if not, that’s okay too. The idea of […]
Your HOA and Home Repair Scams
As the weather starts to draw people outside to plant flowers and make improvements, dodgy contractors and other types of business start targeting homeowners with scams and rip offs. A scammer will usually use some sort of fear tactic, suggesting that the problems are much worse and need to be dealt with immediately. Some may […]
2017 Legislative Update Report (TX)
On May 29, 2017, the Texas Legislature concluded the 2017 legislative session. For the first time since the enactment of Chapter 82 of the Texas Property Code in 1993, the Legislature made no modifications to Title VII of the Texas Property Code (which governs condominiums) or Title XI of the Texas Property Code (which governs […]
Five Tips for Effective Enforcement of HOA Rules
One of the biggest mistakes we see are boards making inconsistent rulings or being very lax with what their CC&Rs say. While it may seem easier to let some things slide, like ignoring people who leave garbage bins in their driveway against HOA rules, your board will lose its effectiveness unless you fairly enforce all […]
Community Gardens in Your HOA
Community gardens are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Gardening offers people the chance to grow their own food and reap the rewards of hard work and diligence. But beyond that, a community garden offers a group of people the chance to come together and bond over a common interest. If your […]
Understanding HOA Fair Debt Collection Practices: Practice Tips
If you work for an HOA, serve on its Board of Directors, or own a property covered by one, there are a few things you should know about debt collection practices. So, to help you develop a greater understanding of HOA Fair Debt Collection Practices, we put together a few tips. Read on for the […]
Tips for Competitive Bids in Your Homeowners Association Community
A large part of running an HOA is hiring contractors. If your board doesn’t do their homework, your community could end up pay more than you should. Before hiring or renewing a contract with a third party, make sure you get a competitive bid. Not only will this help ensure quality work is done, but […]
Avoid Over-watering in Your Association
With temperatures already on the rise, you may be worrying about keeping our plants watered and thriving. While plants die without proper water, the same is true of plants that receive too much water. It is easy to tell when a plant is dying from lack of water (by becoming dry and brittle), but it’s […]
Tips for Understanding the Role of an HOA CPA
Both Board members and homeowners have an interest in the money end of an HOA’s business. After all, it’s the owners who have to pay higher fees when the homeowners association goes over budget. And it’s the Board who is responsible for hiring the right people to run the HOA’s financial business. The good news […]
Tree Care for Your HOA
With spring in bloom and hot weather becoming the norm, it’s important to make sure your trees are properly cared for. We often hear about communities who ignored their trees until many were sick or dying. Instead, we encourage your community to proactively treat trees for pests, prune them regularly, feed them with proper fertilizers, […]
HOA & Pet Policy: What You Need to Know
Almost everyone has a soft spot for animals, and just about every HOA allows pets within certain guidelines. Since pets are a reality, it is important for your HOA to establish clear, understandable, and easy to find guidelines on pets. No one wants to live next door to a dog that always barks, or a […]
Package Theft in your Community
While worse during the holiday season, package theft is a year-round concern for anyone who shops online. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there are people who drive around communities looking for unattended boxes sitting on porches. If you or anyone you know has ever had a package stolen, you know the frustration it causes. Since this […]
Help Your HOA Board Members Understand Crime and Fidelity Insurance
While nearly all HOAs have some type of policies on the books, many HOA boards have little or no idea what type of insurance they have or need. This can potentially lead to expensive litigation and claims that can cost your homeowners association thousands, and sometimes even millions of dollars. There are certain types of […]
Outdoor Spring Cleaning 101
With spring in full swing, it’s time to start working on that spring cleaning checklist. While almost everyone has a list of indoor spring cleaning tasks, you don’t want to forget about the outside of homes and common areas. Here are some recommendations for your home: Read the article…………..
Making Transparency a Priority in Your HOA Board
Nothing will sink your HOA board faster than secrecy. While there are times when confidentially is necessary, most often HOA board business is public information and required to be easily accessible to homeowners. Boards should always focus on clear communication with open door policies to eliminate suspicion and resentment. Here is a list of the […]
“Succeeds to the Interests of” Does Not Require Assumption of Obligations
The individual insured, Robert Primo, previously served as a director and treasurer of Briar Green Condominium Association in Houston, Texas. In 2008 and, shortly before resigning, Primo wrote himself two checks from Briar Green’s account totaling roughly $100,000. Briar Green asserted the funds were misappropriated. Primo, however, contended the funds were payment for management services […]
Package Theft in your Community
While worse during the holiday season, package theft is a year-round concern for anyone who shops online. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there are people who drive around communities looking for unattended boxes sitting on porches. If you or anyone you know has ever had a package stolen, you know the frustration it causes. Since this […]
Preparing for Pool Season
Summer is quickly approaching, which means pool season is just around the corner! If your community is fortunate enough to have a pool, boy are you lucky! To ensure that the pool season goes smoothly, you want to make sure that residents and the community are properly prepared. Below are ways you can get your […]
Energy Efficiency and your HOA Community
Taking your HOA to a place of energy efficiency doesn’t have to mean accepting a different standard of living. With today’s technological advances, becoming energy efficient can be as simple as switching out light bulbs or practicing strategic landscaping. Going green not only saves your community money, it can also increase desirability for buyers committed […]
All About Executive Sessions for HOA Boards
Unlike traditional board meetings, executive sessions are held by the HOA board to discuss privileged or confidential material generally tied to disciplinary action or personnel matters. Having a good understanding of when and how to conduct executive sessions can save your HOA considerable time and work in the long run. If you’re not sure what […]
HOA Housekeeping 101: Proper Waste Removal and Outdoor Neatness
The word “housekeeping” may call up images of shower scrubbing, dusting and vacuuming; but the kind of housekeeping we’re talking about has to do with maintaining proper waste removal and outdoor neatness in your community. When sidewalks are swept, poop is scooped, and loose garbage is picked up, your community will shine with pride of […]
Understanding Your HOA Documents
Understanding your governing documents is essential to every association – without governing documents, an HOA would not exist! These documents serve a specific purpose in the community and allow the association to function. An association board or individual board member may be held legally liable for failure to follow local, state, and federal laws, or […]
Increase Participation at Annual HOA Meetings
While members of the association should understand that it is in their own best interest to attend the annual meeting of the members, many do not realize how important these meetings are. Failure to attend annual meetings results in failure to meet quorum, which in turn results in frustration and disappointment for board members – […]
Taxes and Your HOA Community – To File or Not
If you live in a planned community, there is a good chance questions have come up about taxes and if your community needs to file them. We’ve heard many people admit that they didn’t realize their community needed to file tax returns. Even though it isn’t an uncommon problem for self-managed associations, depending on how […]
Texas High Court Finds for Insurer in D&O Coverage Dispute
The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of an insurer in a case that hinged on the applicability of an insured-v.-insured exclusion in the carrier’s directors and officers (D&O) liability policy. The Court’s action reversed the ruling in Great American Insurance Company v. Robert Primo by the Court of Appeals for the 14th District […]
Dealing with Difficult Residents
At some point, every community will face conflict and difficult people. When this occurs, remember that patience and communication always prevail. By managing your reactions, listening and asking the right questions, your community and board will come to a resolution. The first way to deal with conflict is to understand the different types of behavior […]
Tips to Voice your Concerns and Get Results in your Community
Disagreements among homeowners and fellow board members are bound to happen. However, that’s not always a bad thing. When they’re handled properly, disagreements can lead to unexpected solutions and common ground. Below are five tips to help you keep disagreements in check and voice your concerns so you get results. Read the article…………..
Garage Sales and Your HOA Community
Even if you haven’t kept up with your New Year’s resolutions like you had hoped to, February is still the season of “New Year, New Me,” which means you shouldn’t give up yet on accomplishing those things on your goal list! For many people, one of the best ways to feel like they’re getting a […]
Court Affirmed Dismissal Of Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claims Against Condo Board Members
In Brown v. Hensley, a condominium complex was damaged by a hurricane, and the board of the complex allowed the complex to be demolished. No. 14-14-00981-CV, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 727 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] January 26, 2017, no pet. history). Some of the unit owners sued the board for breach of fiduciary duty and […]
Strengthening Your Community
The community in which we live has a great influence on our lives. Whether that’s relaxing during the summer at the community pool. Or, on the other hand, getting frustrated that our neighbor’s perennials don’t mesh well in the spring. Comfortable, stable communities significantly improve the quality of our lives. Strong communities often have accessible […]
Snow Removal Planning for Community Associations
I was talking with a friend recently regarding the challenges that they have with snow removal, and how they were managing the record snowfall that they have had so far this year. In certain areas of our nation, the snowfall has been significant, and in some instances, welcome reprieve due to droughts. Snow removal for […]
Short-Term Rentals in Associations
Have you wondered whether it’s allowed to rent out your home on a short-term basis? After hearing so much in the news lately about short-term rentals arranged through websites or mobile apps such as Airbnb. The answer really depends on many factors, including where your home is located, what type of home you own, and […]
AirBNB & VRBO: Do My Neighbors Have a Say? (TX)
Following his transfer to Houston, Ruel Benda decided to keep his posh gated neighborhood Rodeo Drive house and started advertising it on AirBNB. His profits were so good that he began renting for 7 days or less. Insisting that Benda’s home use was commercial and not residential, a violation of his property owners association’s (POA) […]
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 […]
Pre-Litigation Requirements For Condo Associations (TX)
When general contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals face claims or lawsuits arising from original construction or remediation of condominium projects, one of the most important—and also sometimes one of the most difficult tasks—has always been to catalog, usually by unit number, every item of claimed damage by Plaintiff. This can be a challenge when individual […]
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, […]
Condo association accuses insurer of deceptive practices (TX)
A Galveston County condo association is suing a Texas City insurance business, alleging deceptive trade practices. Eibands Luxury Condominiums Associations Inc. filed a complaint Oct. 19 in Galveston County District Court against Rust Ewing Watt & Haney Inc., et al, alleging violation of the Consumer Protection Act. According to the complaint, the plaintiff was financially […]