HOA Management Blog

Summer is nearly here. With seasonal weather looking to pick up, it’s time for look at your community pool (should your association have one) and make sure the facility is up to the task of providing a way for residents to cool off and relax during the approaching summer heat. Here are a few things...

Social media has become the easiest way to get a message across a large audience very quickly. Like most businesses, HOAs can use social media to broadcast relevant information, get to know their audience and host discussions on relevant topics. It doesn’t take a tech-savvy board member to know platforms like Facebook can be uniquely...

Do you plan on traveling to the mountains or embarking on a journey up north? If so, here are a few tips to help you gear up for the challenges that colder climates can present: Pack Wisely During winter travel, ensure your packing aligns with your destination's climate. Bring light clothing for layering, sensible shoes...

Depending on your location, it's likely that you'll encounter at least one bout of winter weather before the arrival of spring. Whether facing a freeze or snow, it's essential to prepare adequately to ensure the safety of yourself, your loved ones, and your residence. Ready Your Home's Exterior Before the winter weather begins, prepare the...

The festive season is here, and one of the most popular traditions is cruising around neighborhoods to appreciate the shimmering Christmas lights. To assist you in your local Christmas light expedition, we've compiled a guide with suggestions for being a thoughtful and considerate community member during the holiday season. Mindful Driving It's crucial to drive...

The holiday season is a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration. For many communities, the HOA plays a crucial role in creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere during this time of year. While a good amount of holiday cheer comes from a community’s residents themselves, there are several things your HOA board can do to...

The board of directors in an HOA can face many challenges. From organizing meetings, to managing budgets, it’s safe to say their hands are full. But what happens when the board of directors wants input from its HOA members? While some homeowners may have no problem voicing their concerns, it can be difficult for the...

 HOA rules In Charlotte Homeowners Associations have strict rules and regulations that community members must abide by, these restrictions are the way board members keep the community safe and beautiful for everyone.  No matter which neighborhood Charlotte residents choose to live in, many decide to live in communities run by a homeowner’s association.  The benefits...

As with all associations, expenses go up each year as reflected in the annual budget. First and foremost, these expense increases should always be offset by matching assessment increases.  The reasoning being, that these gradual yearly assessment increases are viewed much more favorably by the membership, than an extreme increase down the road.  When these...

Without a doubt, a small book could be written just on the utilization of proxies for a homeowner association annual meeting. On Amazon, there is a book on the use of proxies for annual meetings of businesses, or more precisely, profit corporations. However, there are no specific books for the use of proxies and homeowner...

Transcribing Minutes should be transcribed as soon as possible after the board of directors’ meeting. This improves accuracy and makes compiling the minutes much more efficient. Review the notes and agenda. Make concise adjustments where needed. It is acceptable to clarify points by adding additional information. Once transcribed, double-check notes about decisions made, the motions,...

The board meeting minutes are a written record of the board meeting of the homeowner association board of directors. Meeting minutes are essentially the formal summary of what transpired during a board of directors meeting. Meeting minutes are typically recorded and maintained by the board secretary. The board secretary is the designated custodian of the...

Overview Fortunately, the vast majority of HOA legal matters do not result in full-blown litigation. There is a great deal of truth to the adage: the only person who wins a lawsuit is the lawyer. Because of covenant enforcement issues and collection issues, legal proceedings are a way of life with homeowner associations. With all...

Issues can sometimes arise when homeowner association boards of directors implement resolutions, procedures, and rules and regulations that are in addition to what is mandated by their declaration of covenants, bylaws, or articles of incorporation. These implementations, or subsidiary documents, can also be in addition to established state statutes. These subsidiary documents typically originate due...

Continued from Part One Request for admissions Or a request to admit, are written statements sent from one litigating party to another litigating party to seek either an admission or denial on a specific claim of the lawsuit. A request for admissions, while similar to interrogatories, is different in purpose. This difference is that each...

Most homeowner associations (HOAs) seldom become involved in litigation other than collection-related litigation involving delinquent members. However, it is beneficial for the board of directors to have an understanding of certain aspects of this legal process. The discovery phase or simply discovery is one major aspect of civil litigation. Discovery can be one of the...

Minutes must be taken in executive session if actions are taken. It is preferable for the board secretary to keep a completely different set of minutes for the executive session. Executive session minutes should be approved in the executive session of the next board of directors meeting. If one set of meeting minutes are compiled...

A common misconception with a few homeowner association (HOA) members is that there is something improper or something is being done improperly when the board of directors enters into executive session. A common question is why would anything have to be secret and kept from the homeowners? This misconception is not just held by some...

There are typically four categories of resolutions for a homeowner association (HOA): Policy: Policy resolutions address member’s rights and duties. For example, rules for the use of common areas and amenities. Architectural guidelines and enforcement procedures would be another example. However, issues such as these in the majority of cases are best addressed with amendments...

A resolution is simply a written motion, many times a very detailed motion. Resolutions are used by legislative bodies, nonprofit corporations, and large and small for-profit corporations. The terms corporate resolution and board resolution are synonymous. In some cases, and areas, the term “resolve” is used instead of, or in addition to, “resolution.” For-profit corporation's...