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/

Snow Removal FYI

In light of the snow storm which will hit Southeast Michigan today, LandArc would like to inform our customers that we will do everything possible to ensure efficient snow removal.  Our strong working relationship with our vendors ensures that the job is done.  As you are most likely aware, we are expecting to get 5-7 inches this afternoon and evening, although it seems like we may receive less. 

As stated in our contract, “in the event the continuing snowfall exceeds 4”, the contractor shall immediately plow out driveways and roads to facilitate ingress and egress from the site, and then complete the remaining areas as designated in this contract.”  We would also like board members to be aware that snow removal will commence no later than four hours after snow fall has reached the level stated in the contract between your association and your snow vendor.  If snow accumulation continues, the vendor has within four additional hours to clear and within 24 hours to clear areas that were inaccessible initially or where snow has drifted.  We ask for patience while our vendors strive to keep up with the needs of our communities. 

LandArc Winter 2013 Newsletter

BIA Trade Show

Tomorrow, LandArc will have a table set up at the BIA Builders and Remodelers Trade Show in Sterling Heights.  This show will take place tomorrow, February 13th from 10 am to noon at Best Western Sterling Inn Banquet and Conference Center 34911 Van Dyke Avenue, Sterling Heights, MI, 48312.  Stop by and see us.

Digging Out

Five inches of snow dumped on the tri-county area.  At least two more inches expected throughout the day.  Associations, please be aware that LandArc is doing everything in our power to ensure that roads within your associations are cleared.  We work closely with our vendors to make sure that the job is done.  In the meantime, take it slow out on the roads.  If possible, give yourself more time to reach your destination.  Better to arrive at your destination a little late than to drive into a ditch and not arrive at all.  When it comes to safety, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Hot and Cold

This has been a strange year so far in terms of temperature.  On Tuesday, it was 50 degrees, fairly comfortable.  Yesterday, it dropped down to the mid twenties with snow added into the mix.  Today, it’s cold as well.   This is because the jet stream.  The flow of air that dictates weather patterns in the United States is taking an odd path, pushing cold air to the south and pulling warmer air to the north.

Based on this, it is important to keep an eye on your pipes with all the freezing and refreezing going on.  Did you know that when water freezes, it also expands?  Which is why routine preventive maintenance is necessary for your community.  This way, you can be sure that you do not experience any problems in your community that could have been prevented through routine measures.

Cold Concerns

It’s cold outside in Southeast Michigan.  While driving into work this morning, the thermostat in my car read 4 degrees and that is without wind chill.  When it’s this cold outside (and you can usually tell by the squeaking sound snow makes beneath your feet) there are certain precautions that need to be taken to protect your home and protect yourself.  Limit exposure to these frigid temperatures to prevent frostbite and always make sure you wear proper winter gear: hat, gloves, scarf, etc.

Also, make sure that you check up on the regulations in your HOA community to see what snow removal procedures are in place.  While vendors are hired to take care of many snow removal activities, their contracts can limit what situations they are supposed to handle, so it is always better to be aware of such things before a sudden snowfall catches you unawares.  As always, cold temperatures create the risk of pipes freezing/bursting which creates problems for everyone involved.  Precautions are often as simple as leaving the cupboard below each sink open so warmer air inside of your house can reach water pipes.  Implementing routine preventive maintenance activities makes things easier for you and it also makes our job at LandArc easier too.

HOA Self Management?

As we begin 2013, many can only hope that his year will bring better economical conditions than previous years.  In the recent recession, many businesses have survived only by drastically cutting costs.  However, where homeowner associations are concerned, self management is not the answer.

In an article titled “The Myth of HOA Self Management,” the author states that the myth of HOA self management was started in the 1960s by developers which stood to profit from the decreased costs of self management.  As many HOA boards went forward with self management, they found the path of self management full of pitfalls and dead ends.

An unhappy truth of HOA Management is the need to collect delinquent payments.  This requires a high amount of diplomacy and very thick skin.  How many board members want to walk next door, knock on their neighbor’s door, and tell their neighbor that they are behind on their association payments?  What kind of community environment does that create?  Is it worth the money that might be saved?

The article went on to say that “…the two most emotional reasons that even the smallest HOAs should be professionally managed: Money and Rules. No neighbor should have to collect money from or enforce rules on another neighbor since the actions are predictably confrontational.”

LandArc has more than 25 years of experience in the property management industry.  This experience simply cannot be matched by volunteer boards of HOA communities.  Within the last year, LandArc has proven our excellence in crisis management when one of our communities was damaged in a tornado last year.  Our response to that situation gained us the business of a neighboring HOA community.  What board member would be able to handle managing the cleanup and reconstruction of not only their own home but their neighbor’s homes as well?

Self management is not the answer to reduced costs and will lead to more headaches.  To read more about the myth of HOA self management, click on the following link:

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20020123_selfmanage.htm

Tips for Snowbirds

Every winter LandArc deals with emergencies where the owners have left for the winter but have not properly winterized their units. If you plan to head south for the winter, please review and follow these guidelines:

• Set your thermostat no less than 50 degrees. Any lower setting could cause frozen pipes and devastating damage.
• Draining the water heater and shutting off the water will serve as an extra measure against burst pipes.
• Winterize all exterior spigots by removing hoses, turning off the water, and draining the spigot from the outside.
• Leave a key with a neighbor and let LandArc know who to contact in an emergency.
• Keep doors open throughout the house to ensure heat gets to all areas of the house
• Keep cupboards doors open below sinks where plumbing lines are located

It's Here! It's Here!

Well, it is here at last.  The white blanket of frozen water that settles upon our cars, streets, and communities.  We have been fortunate so far when it comes to snow, but it is here now in southeast Michigan and likely here to stay.  Remember to drive safely.  If you feel like others are driving as though they “have never seen snow before,” consider that they may be driving slowly and carefully because they have seen snow and know what to expect from slippery and icy conditions.  So drive safely and consider driving slower than the listed speed limit in your community, just to be safe.  LandArc wishes you and your family a blessed and joyous Christmas season!