Governing Board Duties Increasing

As many cities, including Detroit, experience financial difficulties, some homeowner associations have assumed control of various duties for the associations they serve.  The nature of HOA communities has shifted to include property maintenance, trash collection, and other duties that were once performed by local governments.  As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for board members of HOA communities to take care of the day-to-day operational tasks of managing the communities they represent.  According to USA Today, 75%-85% of HOA communities perform their day-to-day activities with the assistance of an experienced property management company, while the other 15%-25% are still self managed.  

As the residual effects of the housing crises continue, governing board members of HOAs are required to take on more and more responsibilities.  This ranges from daily operations like dealing with contractors, bookkeeping duties like paying invoices, and collecting delinquent association fees from fellow members  These tasks can prove to be daunting without the assistance of a professional management company, such as LandArc.

Click on the following link to read more:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/03/hoas-pick-up-duties-left-by-struggling-cities/1960671/

Presentation Dinner

Now that winter is underway, it is time to think about preventive maintenance.  We can help.  LandArc is holding a presentation on Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30 pm. Among the topics that will be discussed are: routine preventive maintenance, handling delinquencies, and saving money. This event will take place at the Station 885 at 885 Starkweather, Plymouth, MI, 48170. Dinner will be included. 

Call (888) 646-9888 or email rcomins@landarc.com to register.

A drawing and giveaway will be held at the conclusion of the evening.

Holiday Tidbits

Just a couple more things to keep in mind with Christmas just around the corner: if you are holding a Christmas party, it is important to be considerate of your neighbors.  Keeping party noise under control makes the holidays fun for everyone.  Also, when it comes to family gatherings, educate your guests on parking rules in your community.  As always, have a fun and safe Christmas season.

Disruptive Homowners at Community Meetings

Meetings at homeowner associations are the driving force behind progress in an HOA community. This is where decisions are made. An HOA with disruptive meetings is a community that is not achieving the full growth they would otherwise. While homeowners might not always follow rules in an HOA, often homeowners can attend governing board meetings. If these homeowners disrupt the forward progress in a meeting, what can be done? One way includes wording the bylaws in a way that prohibits disruptive homeowners from attending meetings.

For more information on this intriguing subject, click here:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kane-property-management-in-hoa-meetings-order-is-key-2012-10-10

HOA Woes

Often HOA communities are situated very near to other homes. These homes are not part of the HOA, so they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the community board and the governing documents. What happens if a member of the HOA has a problem with the adjacent household that is not a part of their community organization? Can the board do anything if the non-member homeowner is too loud or disturbs HOA homeowners in other ways? The stark reality is that the governing board often can’t do anything about that. If it is another HOA community, then a homeowner should contact management of that organization. If not, then call police, or if necessary, animal control.

For more information, click here:
http://www.lvrj.com/real_estate/neighbor-over-the-wall-is-not-in-the-community-172950011.html?ref=011

Change of Season

Fall is here!  Leaves are scattering in the wind.  With that in mind, it is a good idea to be aware of your association’s bylaws when it comes to fall cleanup.  Looking ahead to the near future, Halloween is just around the corner.  The kids are anxious to get into their carefully selected costumes to enjoy the night of autumn frolic.  While the candy is certainly good, it is also worth checking what your association permits in terms of Halloween decorations and the coveted time of tricks and treats.