by Meredith Pond | Feb 2, 2016
Today, there are roughly 57 million Americans living in managed communities, or HOAs. Of those 57 million, every single one of them has a certain set of expectations about what that should mean. While most homeowners would reasonably expect things like grounds maintenance, snow removal, and maybe some nice amenities, that's not really the point. Residents have some deeper needs, and as an HOA, you have a responsibility to meet them the best way you know how. Read More...
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by Harvey Radin | Jan 19, 2016
Editors and reporters know a good thing when they see it. Just about anything involving HOAs is bound to be controversial.But there is a little something HOA volunteers and property managers can do to become more aware of potentially nasty issues and to hopefully keep them from hitting the fan. They can take some time to think about issues, and ask themselves a simple question: What if this or that happens? After identifying what might hit the fan, HOA leaders can think about how they would handle questions and determine when they may need to call in the cavalry, a property manager or HOA attorney, for their insights and expertise. Read More...
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by Quinn Sperry | Nov 24, 2015
It’s not uncommon for homeowner associations to adopt rules that violate federal and state fair housing laws, or the Fair Housing Act (the “FHA”). Violations of the FHA can bring severe penalties, as demonstrated in a recent case where an individual was awarded damages in excess of a hundred of thousand dollars against an HOA. A valuable strategy for board members is to carefully review their HOA’s governing documents with legal counsel and other industry professionals on a regular basis to ensure that the HOA’s rules and other governing provisions comply with the fair housing laws while balancing safety issues that your HOA must address. Read More...
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by Burke Nielsen | Nov 12, 2015 |
If you're a community association manager (CAM), you've probably had one of those clients who soaks up too much of your time and energy. This type of client can be stressful and exhausting for managers and will, in the long run, affect your overall customer service and reduce profits.The question is — What to do about it? The simple solution is to just fire the client. But let's face it, if we fired every client that had a 3 hour meeting, we wouldn't have very many clients. In many cases these problems come down to misunderstandings and poor communication. So before you fire that client, here are a few things you may want to consider. Read More...
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by Meredith Pond | Oct 7, 2015 |
Success in any business — including your HOA — involves a heavy dose of PR. Just as possession is nine tenths of the law, good PR makes up the lion's share of effective marketing. For good or bad, publicity inside or outside your community can create a lot of emotion. In an HOA, homeowners are your “public.” As a board member or manager, you must take their perceptions and feelings into account in all you do. The decisions you make and the rules enforced will have an undeniable effect on how residents view not only the Association, but your community as a whole. The key is to find a balance between your public's perception and what keeps things running smoothly. Read More...
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by Victoria Cohen | Sep 29, 2015 |
Nobody likes to take meeting minutes (or so I have been told). As an HOA Meeting Recorder and Parliamentarian, I take the meeting minutes for many associations. My method is easy and simple. Here are some steps that I hope you will find useful in taking proper minutes. Read More...
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