Our Blog

Dealing with renters can be tricky for members of an HOA board. After all, it’s usually better to have a home occupied even if the occupant isn’t an owner. However, renters often care less about following the HOA’s rules and keeping up the home they live in, simply because it isn’t theirs. Here’s what you, […]... [Read More...]

Expenses rise almost constantly and many HOA boards find themselves in a battle between members who don’t want to contribute more money and budgets that will not balance without additional funding. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to try and shave a few more dollars off the budget. Every dollar you save […]... [Read More...]

As a member of your HOA’s board, you want people to feel safe in the neighborhood. After all, this helps keep property values high, means that people want to maintain residence in the area, and is the right thing to do. Here’s how your board can make safety a priority. Increase Lighting Without proper lighting, […]... [Read More...]

COVID-19 has thrown many aspects of our culture into chaos. Even though we are months into the pandemic now, changing regulations mean that people are on edge and don’t always know what to expect. As part of your responsibilities on your HOA board, it’s up to you to help your members understand how to live […]... [Read More...]

Many homeowners who move into HOA communities for the first time have a lot of questions about the board. Some may not understand the purpose of the board or what their responsibilities are. Others might be interested in participating as board members but need more understanding of what that involves. These are some of the […]... [Read More...]

Most HOA communities have all sorts of rules covering home renovations. These state which renovations need to be approved by the board or the design committee before homeowners start the work. They should also articulate how the process works and what sort of timeline homeowners can expect so they know when they can schedule builders, […]... [Read More...]

Most HOA board members sign up for conflict, but they often don’t realize just how contentious being on the board can be. If members are unhappy and feel like it’s been a long time since someone really heard their voices, they can make life difficult in significant ways. As a board, here’s what you can […]... [Read More...]

Managing an HOA’s budget is not a job for the faint of heart. After all, this budget affects everyone in your association and many will have differing opinions on how and where money should be spent. Once you’ve established a strong HOA budget plan, you need to constantly check in to make sure you’re sticking […]... [Read More...]

With the Coronavirus running rampant around the United States, many HOAs are struggling to hold effective virtual board meetings. It can be hard to get the technology working, make sure everyone has access to the meeting, and figure out who should speak when. Here are a few tips for making your meetings maximally effective even […]... [Read More...]

As a member of your HOA board, you care about how your community functions and you’d like to make it work better. In fact, you probably decided to run for board membership because there are issues in your community that you would like to deal with or ideas you have for how things could work […]... [Read More...]

At AMI, we strive to offer the best HOA management service around. If you work with us now, we want you to hold us accountable to the promises we made to you when we formed our relationship. If you don’t work with us now, consider whether your current manager or management company is doing a […]... [Read More...]

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, more and more HOA boards are finding themselves faced with new questions. Some of these questions have been around since all of this started in March, while others seem to pop up every day. Here are some ways you can help your members during this crisis, while also looking out […]... [Read More...]

Emotional support animals are a hot issue for many HOAs. For several years now, people have been passing off a variety of animals as emotional support animals. Dogs and cats are one thing, but peacocks, miniature horses, and even chickens can be entirely another, especially when they are in Florida condos, houses, or even back […]... [Read More...]

As an HOA board member, resident age may not be something you’ve thought much about. However, your community has certain responsibilities to older residents that may not apply to younger ones or that are more important for the elders in your community. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re helping […]... [Read More...]

While hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1st, Tropical Storm Arthur got ahead of the game. It formed off the coast of Florida on May 16th. Though it didn’t cause significant damage on land, it’s a good reminder that everyone needs to be ready for these storms before they come through. This includes HOA […]... [Read More...]

While some topics will always need to be dealt with and worked around in an HOA, other topics seem to come and go. These might be based on legislation in other locales, developing technology, or an increased awareness of certain aspects of life. No matter what they are based on, though, it’s important to address […]... [Read More...]

The COVID-19 crisis is changing everyday life across America. Previously, we discussed how you, as an HOA board member, can help your members get through the COVID-19 crisis. However, you need to take care of yourself and protect your board, too. Here’s what you need to know so you can take the proper precautions. Close […]... [Read More...]

With COVID-19, or Coronavirus, keeping people in their homes more and more, HOA board members may find themselves interacting with their neighbors more than they have in the past. They may also realize that there are a few steps they can take to make this crisis easier for the people in their community. Here are […]... [Read More...]

If you’re on the HOA board, then you probably know how important it is to allocate your money effectively. There’s only so much of it each year and it’s easy to let the budget get bloated in certain areas. Here are some ways that you can make sure you’re getting the most out of every […]... [Read More...]

Being an HOA board member comes with a lot of responsibilities, as well as the pleasure of knowing you are doing something good for yourself and your neighborhood. One of the things that HOA boards are responsible for is transparency when communicating with people in the neighborhood. It can be tempting to keep certain things […]... [Read More...]

It’s easy to forget who your neighbors are if you don’t see them very much! As part of your HOA board, it’s part of your job to help them get to know each other. Spring can be a great time to plan some community activities that help people make new friends and remain in contact […]... [Read More...]

It’s easy to get nervous when the time comes for your community to vote on new board members. Though most HOAs are set up so that anyone who wants to run for an open space on the board can, many candidates show up because they are nominated or encouraged by a current board member. If […]... [Read More...]

The end of the year is often a stressful time if you’re on an HOA board. After all, many associations hold votes at the end of the year and financial statements are also due. In fact, you might be time to take a break by the time January comes. However, starting the new year right […]... [Read More...]

The year is fast approaching its end. Surprising as that may feel, it’s coming whether your HOA board is prepared or not. Some board members may relish the new year as a fresh start for your board and your community. Others may hate it because it involves extra paperwork or frantic deadlines. No matter how […]... [Read More...]

HOA boards tend to be all business. Most of the time, that makes sense. However, they can also work to build community in their neighborhoods. The holiday season is a great time to do that. Here are a few activities that are relatively easy to plan and that can help people get to know each […]... [Read More...]

If you’re on an HOA board, then you probably know how frustrating the holidays can get. What one person thinks is acceptable lighting or decor is offensive or over the top to the next! No matter what you’re facing, though, there are ways to make holiday lighting easier throughout your neighborhood. Here are a few […]... [Read More...]

One of the best parts about being involved in your HOA is getting to know people in the neighborhood and helping them get to know each other. Thanksgiving is a great time of year to facilitate activities that help people make friends while they are helping to meet local needs. Organizing a way for your […]... [Read More...]

As part of your HOA board, it’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of the job. There are always papers to fill out, meetings to attend, and people who want your attention. In fact, it can be hard to remember that, first and foremost, your job is to represent your owners and help them […]... [Read More...]

Halloween is coming up fast! It may be the most wonderful time of the year for many of your residents but it can be a difficult time to be on the HOA board. Between disputes over what constitutes an appropriate decoration to conflicts over noise and problems with too many pedestrians, it can be hard […]... [Read More...]

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re on the board for your HOA. After all, it can feel like the only people you hear from are those who are unhappy with the work you’re doing. This can make it feel like no one likes you or appreciates what you do to make life work in […]... [Read More...]