Our Blog – Page 3 of 7

Most HOA board members know that the association has a reserve fund, and they may even know why it’s there, but that doesn’t mean they know how to manage it properly. Here’s what every HOA board needs to understand when it comes to their reserve fund. What is the Reserve Fund? The reserve fund is […]... [Read More...]

If you’re new to being on your HOA board or you feel like your meetings aren’t as effective as they could be, try the following strategies. Making sure your meetings are running well will help motivate people to attend them and will help your whole organization work more efficiently. Have an Agenda An agenda is […]... [Read More...]

Most HOAs keep minutes of their meetings. This is standard operating procedure and is likely required by the governing documents, as well. However, many board members don’t know just how important the minutes can be. Here’s what you need to know to make sure you take good minutes and have minutes that can withstand any […]... [Read More...]

One of the key tasks of an HOA board is to handle the community’s money. It comes in via dues, but the board has to decide how best to spend it for the good of the entire community. However, sometimes board members don’t know how to best spend the money they are entrusted with, or […]... [Read More...]

If you’re on a HOA board, you will eventually need to help your association set up contracts for services. These might be ongoing services, like snow removal or trash pickup, or they might be one-time services, like sprinkler installation or pool repair. No matter what the service is, make sure you avoid the following mistakes. […]... [Read More...]

Most HOA boards work with committees of homeowners to achieve certain goals. There might be a social or an events committee, a landscape committee, a social media committee, and more. Every HOA can tailor their committees to work for them, so they are maximally effective at running their community. However, it’s not enough to just […]... [Read More...]

All sorts of issues can come up when you live in an HOA. If you’re on the board, you have to figure out how to deal with these in ways that will help people live well without hampering too much of their independence. Here are just a few of the issues that people we work […]... [Read More...]

Sometimes, confusion arises in an HOA about the difference between insurance that individual homeowners need to hold and insurance that the HOA itself needs to hold. People can end up with gaps in their coverage or could be paying for double coverage that they don’t need. The best way to make sure that your members […]... [Read More...]

HOAs require money in order to complete the tasks set out for them in the governing documents. However, it’s important to make sure that money gets spent wisely and that no single person has too much control over the budget. This is where the operating budget comes into play. Since most HOAs publish their budgets […]... [Read More...]

Did you know that trust is one of the most important commodities that an HOA board deals in? It’s true. When people trust the HOA board, they will be more likely to follow the rules, respond positively when they don’t follow a rule, bring up conflict in a healthy way, and build community among their […]... [Read More...]

Establishing a sense of goodwill in your community may not seem like it should be a priority, but that’s an incorrect impression. In fact, this sense can be key to keeping your community running smoothly and well. Here’s why you might want to change your mind about focusing on goodwill in your HOA. What, Exactly, […]... [Read More...]

Holiday season is just around the corner, which means that it is time to consider holiday decorations in your neighborhood. Remember, some people like to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more, so it’s never a bad time to consider what your rules are going to be and how you’re going to enforce them. Set […]... [Read More...]

Most people have heard horror stories about HOAs that are only out for the money, or ones that go bankrupt, or ones that spend way too much on services because they don’t know any better. However, most people don’t realize that most HOAs are okay, if not exceptional, places to live. If you’re on your […]... [Read More...]

There are many challenging aspects to being on an HOA board. Most people don’t think that board meetings would be one of the harder aspects, but they can be more difficult than you might think. Here’s what you need to know to successfully run an HOA board meeting that actually gets things done. Plan Ahead […]... [Read More...]

Sometimes, people join HOA boards only to find that there are a lot of things they don’t know. While it’s always possible to learn, it’s also important to understand a few things so that you don’t make costly mistakes for your HOA. One key element to being effective on an HOA board is knowing which […]... [Read More...]

Are you new to your HOA board or would you like to step into the role in a way you haven’t been able to do before? There are a few characteristics that great board members have in common. If you can cultivate these, you’ll be one of the best board members your HOA has ever […]... [Read More...]

Almost every HOA has parking rules of some kind. These may be a major part of the rules in your association, or they might only cover a few spots surrounding common areas. No matter how limited your parking rules are, though, there will be times when you need to tow an offending vehicle. It’s best […]... [Read More...]

Being on an HOA board may sound like fun, but many people are shocked when they discover what board members have to deal with. There are so many different possible issues and ways for people to – intentionally or unintentionally – make life harder for those who volunteer for HOA leadership. Nonpayment of dues is […]... [Read More...]

If your association is facing a significant conflict between two different groups of homeowners, it’s easy to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. After all, as a board member, it’s easy to feel like fixing the problem is your number one job. While you may actually have more important things to do, there are a few steps […]... [Read More...]

Are you looking for more people to move into your community? Are there houses or units that have been sitting empty and you know everyone wants them full? Marketing the community to prospective buyers is one way to get the people you need and want for your community. However, there are some things to consider […]... [Read More...]

Most people who live in homeowners’ associations choose to do so, at least in part, because living there usually means that homes look good and are kept neat and tidy. However, it can be hard to motivate homeowners to go above and beyond what is specified in the HOA rules. If you would like to […]... [Read More...]

No HOA wants to take on unnecessary risks. However, sometimes these groups end up doing so unintentionally, even though they think they are doing everything right. Here’s what you need to know to protect your association no matter what. Have the Right Insurance Make sure that you have effective liability insurance and that it is […]... [Read More...]

Everyone wants the neighborhood kids to be safe when they are playing outside on bikes and scooters. While it is the parents’ responsibility to teach their kids the safety rules, it is the HOA’s responsibility to make a good HOA contract, tell people what the rules are, and play their part in keeping people safe. […]... [Read More...]

HOAs come in all shapes and sizes. Some use HOA management companies from the beginning and love them, some transition to or away from using these companies as the association changes, while others value being self-managed. While you might think that we are biased toward using management companies, the truth is that we want your […]... [Read More...]

It can be hard to find enough people in a community to fill all of the seats on its HOA board. Some communities are willing to take anyone who is a warm body and willing to have their name on legal documents. However, getting informed board members will help your association function better. Here’s what […]... [Read More...]

Most homeowner’s associations have newsletters of some sort. The hope is that these will draw people together and help them get to know each other, as well as feel like part of the community. However, the truth is that people rarely read and interact with these bulletins. If you want more people to read your […]... [Read More...]

If you’re on an HOA board, then you probably expect people to ask you about HOA fees. After all, some people have never lived in an HOA before and they don’t understand the thinking behind the fees. Here are some easy answers you can give people when they ask you about HOA fees. Make sure […]... [Read More...]

Is it time to hire a new landscaping company to take care of common areas under your HOA’s care? When it comes to this important task, you not only want to make sure that you don’t pay too much for the services you receive but also that you get competent people working on the project. […]... [Read More...]

Most people who live in HOAs know that the association has covenants, but some people don’t know much more than that about how the association is governed. Here’s what every member of an HOA needs to know about the covenants that help structure the association. What are HOA Covenants? Covenants are basically rules for living […]... [Read More...]

If you’ve ever lived in an HOA but not been on the board, then you probably know how confusing it can be to get design changes to your home approved. Even if the process is simple, many people don’t know what it is. Some might even put off exterior home improvement projects because they don’t […]... [Read More...]