We want your HOA experience to be as positive as possible. Whether you are new to a Homeowners Association (HOA), or have lived in one for years, here are a few tips to help you make the transition to community living.
Read your governing documents:
When you closed on your new home, you received a lot of documents related to the HOA. Among them are the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Along with your Architectural/Landscape Design Guidelines, these will give you an overview of your responsibilities within the HOA.
Get to know your neighbors, get involved in the community, form a neighborhood Block Watch:
One of the advantages of living in an HOA is the sense of community. Some HOAs have websites, Community activities lists, etc. Strike up conversations with your neighbors. You may make some friendships that will last for years. And, statistics show that forming a neighborhood Block Watch program significantly cuts down on crime.
Community Concerns:
Have a concern regarding the Community? Contact your Community Manager. They are there to serve you and the best interests of the Community.
Respect your neighbors and their property:
The governing documents generally have parking and barking dog restrictions. Abiding by these restrictions will go a long way in keeping peace and a sense of neighborhood in the Community.
Submit proposed changes to the Design Review Committee (DRC) before installing them:
Your CC&Rs generally require submission of some sort of plans prior to installation of any architectural and/or landscaping changes to your home. The purpose of these restrictions is to assure an overall theme running through the Community. Failure to submit plans prior to installation may require you to incur the cost of removing your installation and bringing it into compliance with the governing documents. To save yourself time, money and aggravation, be sure to submit your changes to the DRC before commencing any work.
Be involved:
Look into joining a committee and becoming involved with the events and activities going on in your community.
Once you've done your part, what should you expect from the board and management company?
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors makes all the decisions for the Association as outlined in the Bylaws and CC&Rs for your Community. The Powers and Duties of the Board may include:
- Approve the Annual Budget
- Set the Assessments Annually
- Establish Rules for the Common Areas
- Hire/Fire Vendors
- Create/Oversee Committees
- Approve Repairs to Common Areas
- Enforce the Documents
- Pursue Money owed to the Association
As the Board is a volunteer role, the documents also allow for the hiring of a managing agent to help with the day to day operations of a community. This is where the Management Company comes into play.
A common misconception is that a community does not have a Board of Directors until the community is turned over to the homeowners. From the time the documents are drafted, often before ground breaks for the building of the first home, the association is fully in place, including the Board of Directors. During the time of Developer Control, the Board is made up of representatives from the development company. When the developer no longer owns any property the Board is to be turned over to homeowner control.
Management Company
The Management Company follows the direction of the Board of Directors. It cannot make decisions on behalf of the Community.
AAM, LLC is the management company for your Community, they are not the Board. The following is a list of some of the services they provide:
- Reviews of Community Documents
- Invoicing of Assessments
- Process and Payment of Invoices
- Prepare Monthly Financial Statements
- Coordinate Tax Returns
- Manage Collection Process
- Establish and Maintain Bank Accounts
- Assess Late Charges & Fines as Necessary
- Maintain and Store Association Records
- Coordinate Meeting Locations & Notices
- Completes Compliance Inspections and Violation Letters as Necessary
- Performs Regular Community Inspections
- Coordinate All Maintenance & Repair Work
- Complete Request for Proposals When Necessary
- Prepares Board Meeting Agendas
- Attendance at Board Meetings as Necessary
- Create Newsletters as Requested
- Maintains Homeowner Database
- Updates Board on Current & Pending Legislation that Affects Associations
- Monitors 24-Hour Emergency Number
