Every homeowner’s association has its own set of CC&Rs and rules and regulations, and each one was designed to ensure that community standards will be strictly upheld and that homeowners can co-exist harmoniously. Additionally, HOA management guidelines are included in these rules and by-laws to help the HOA Board perform its duties.

Within these CC&Rs and rules are regulations on home maintenance that every homeowner must follow, which also covers home improvements and renovation. If you are a homeowner looking to renovate your home, it is strongly advised that you seek prior approval from your HOA to ensure that work will run smoothly, thus reducing the risk of costly delays.

You should also take note of these common HOA home renovation regulations:

1. Schedules

Depending on the scale and scope of your renovation project, the HOA might impose a strict schedule for the entire project, from the general timeframe (start and completion) to specific daily schedules (8:00 am to 3 pm on weekdays only and no weekend work, for instance). In general, this rule is imposed in consideration of your neighbors who may be disturbed by all the construction noise.

2. Materials

Apart from checking the materials you’ll be using to ensure their safety for the community and also to make sure that these are in keeping with the corresponding stipulations in the CC&Rs, materials here also refer to how these will be delivered to you, where you will be storing them, and how you will be using them. Again, this is in consideration of your neighbors and the community. In general, anything that can potentially disrupt the peace in the community will need to be pre-approved by the Board (and even by your neighbors if the Board decides to bring it up at a community meeting).

3. Clean-up

HOAs enforce daily clean-up to prevent accidents and also to maintain curb appeal. During clean-up, the homeowner and construction workers should be careful not to damage adjoining or nearby properties. In other words, make sure not to accidentally leave debris, remnants, or dirt on the neighbor’s yard.

The point of getting prior approval from your HOA is to ensure that your renovations are within the HOA’s rules and regulations, especially if the project involves installing a new plumbing system for a new bathroom or an electrical system for a new wing. Approval is also needed if you will be doing major work on the exterior of your property (which will be visible thus could affect the overall appeal of the community).

Not all home renovations need to be pre-approved, however. Homeowners associations generally allow such interior renovations as replacing the kitchen countertop and sink, adding a fresh coat of paint on the walls, installing new wallpaper, or updating interior trims.

Properties in a developed community, whether a multi-family building or a gated community with single-family units are usually governed by a homeowners association; that is, these properties must be managed and maintained by their respective homeowners based on the guidelines and regulations mandated by the HOA’s CC&Rs and by-laws.

But just as each homeowner is expected to maintain both the interior and exterior of their property, the HOA also has a responsibility to maintain the exteriors of the community. Doing so not only ensures that community standards are upheld but also to make the community more appealing to potential home buyers and renters.

On that note, here are a few tips for HOAs on how to enhance curb appeal:

1. Re-paint exterior walls of community buildings and structures

From the community center to the administrative office building, playground, and clubhouse, these are public structures in a community that are generally the responsibility of the homeowners association. This means that other than their interior upkeep, their exterior maintenance is likewise the responsibility of the HOA. And the first thing that potential home buyers or renters and even guests notice is the exterior appeal of these structures. Make sure to add a fresh coat of paint once you start to notice the old paint peeling off.

2. Maintain plants and gardens

One of the things that make a community truly attractive to a potential homeowner as well as visitors is landscaping; not so much as the landscape architecture itself but more of how well it is maintained. Make sure that the grass is regularly cut; plants and flowers are healthy, and trees and bushes are groomed as well. HOAs are reminded not to overlook the importance of well-kept landscaping.

3. Have all necessary safety measures in place

While these aren’t exactly related to aesthetics, safety measures are nonetheless an important consideration for potential homeowners especially if they have young children in their care. Make sure that public spaces for kids, like the park and swimming pool, are installed with the appropriate equipment and that safety measures are in place.

4. Make sure all surfaces are clean

Walls, floors, walkways, porches, and other exterior surfaces are clean. Regular power-washing is recommended to remove stubborn grime and dirt.

5. Work with the community

Get everyone involved. Ask for volunteers who will keep an eye on the community’s public structures. They can alert the HOA for repairs and maintenance that need to be done. This helps ease the burden of the HOA Board.

If you’re considering a rental property that belongs to an HOA-regulated community, you should take the time to go over the HOA’s Covenant, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) before signing the lease because there might be a couple of stipulations or regulations that you won’t feel comfortable living with. You should also read the fine print on the lease contract regarding HOA dues because you could be paying annual membership that your landlord already covers. In any case, it pays to go over the lease contract and HOA regulations as this ensure a smooth moving-in process and an even smoother residency in your new community.

Now if you’re renting an HOA-regulated property for the first time, here are some of the things you need to know about HOAs:

1. Members pay annual dues on top of other fees

Membership dues could cost you anywhere between $300 to a staggering $3,000 per month, depending on the location, type of community, property, and public amenities provided by the HOA. The schedule of payment will depend on the HOA. On top of this, the HOA may also charge you for additional fees from time to time. These could be to cover repairs and maintenance, replacement of old equipment, and other incidentals. Usually, there is an emergency fund for these things but if the cost exceeds the fund, members will have to share the load. Members may also pay an additional fee to build up the reserve fund once it gets depleted.

2. Your landlord will enforce HOA CC&Rs, and rules and regulations

Since you will be moving into a rental, you will have a landlord who will oversee everything, which includes ensuring that tenants abide by the HOA’s CC&Rs and by-laws, as well as applicable rules and regulations. Expect to hear from your landlord about these things from time to time if they have been contacted by the HOA for a violation or complaint, or other reasons.

3. HOA CC&Rs are different from the HOA’s rules and regulations

In general, CC&Rs outline what every household member should do regarding the maintenance of their properties. These could include painting exterior walls with specific colors only, mandatory landscaping of the front lawn, street parking, payment of dues and fees, and whether or not you are allowed to have pets other than cats and dogs.

Rules and regulations, on the other hand, have more to do with day-to-day living in the community. These usually include when to take out the trash for garbage collection, where you can place trash bins outdoors, and such.

In general, these are rules and regulations that haven’t been covered in the CC&Rs or by-laws. And these are more flexible compared to the two as these could be easily amended to keep up with changing times.

Property managers are often employed by owners of rental properties to handle related tasks for them. In other instances, property managers are hired for their services by owners of second homes or vacation homes who can’t be physically present to oversee the maintenance of their property. Whatever the purpose, property managers play a vital role in the upkeep of the property in the absence of the owner.

With that said, it’s important to be selective about your choice of property manager because the wrong one could cause you to lose your investment. While technical skills are critical to their role, soft skills are just as important. For your reference, these are the essential skills that make a successful property manager:

1. Strong communication skills

This is the most essential skill that every property manager must possess because the lack of it could cause a slew of problems for you, especially if their job is to oversee a rental property. With strong communication skills, the property manager knows how to start a dialogue with a tenant, listen when needed, and speak up when necessary. Communication skills will also help in vetting tenants, discussing repairs and maintenance checks with contractors, and talking to every other important personnel related to the upkeep of a property. Likewise, strong communications will help you and/or your tenants with things related to the HOA, if your property belongs to an HOA-regulated community.

You can find out whether or not the property manager has strong communication skills when you interview them for the job.

2. People skills

People skills is a general term used to cover everything about people relations and is closely related to the above. In a nutshell, a good property manager can forge and nurture relationships and partnerships not only with their client/s, which are the property owners, but also with everyone who is and will be involved in all things related to your property, from tenants to contractors, the HOA board, and the like.

Suffice it to say that a property manager who lacks people skills shouldn’t be in any type of job that involves constant interactions with others, especially professionals offering services for the maintenance of your property.

3. Leadership skills

A property manager who possesses strong leadership skills knows when to lead and when to let others take the spotlight. Leadership isn’t focused on managing a team alone; more importantly, it is focused on building and teaching others so they too can become leaders someday. This skill is important in a property manager because it allows them to be open to suggestions from others while also being able to take the reins when necessary. A good leader teaches the team as much as they learn from them.

Homeowners associations are established to ensure the safety of their member-homeowners, protect property value, and maintain the community they serve. To put it another way, homeowners associations are there to protect the interests of both the homeowners and property owners (if these are separate entities).

An HOA is run and managed by volunteer homeowners that make up the Board of Directors. They ensure that the HOA is fully functional and fulfills its duties and responsibilities. And part of their responsibilities is to ascertain that funds are available for both maintenance purposes and emergencies. Where do the funds come from? They come from the community itself; homeowners, in other words.

What every homeowner should know about HOAs is that they too have a responsibility to the association just as the association has a responsibility towards them. Payment of fees and dues is arguably one of the most important responsibilities of a homeowner. Here are some of the fees and dues that homeowners should expect to pay to their HOA:

1. HOA membership fee

Depending on your city or state and the size of your household and property, your HOA membership fee could range anywhere from $300 to $500 per month (some HOAs have a much higher membership fee). A part of the fees collected will go into maintenance funds/daily operational expenses and another portion of it will go into the reserve fund, which can be used for emergency repairs and other unforeseen expenses.

2. Assessment dues

In a nutshell, assessment dues are fees collected from homeowners to pay for expenses that aren’t covered by the membership fee, homeowner insurance, or reserve fund, whichever is applicable. These additional HOA expenses typically include emergency repairs, natural disaster response, and emergency assistance to homeowners the costs for which have exceeded the amount of money kept in the reserve fund.

Understand that for such assessment dues, it doesn’t matter whether or not you’re using the facility that needs repairs or whether or not you were directly affected by the natural disaster/emergency. You, as a member of the association, have a responsibility to the HOA, and this includes payment of assessment fees.

Homeowners may be required to pay assessment dues for a certain number of months until such time when the reserve fund is in the positive again. This arrangement, however, depends on the HOA.

While both financials may seem very basic, there are specific inclusions and considerations for each one and this is actually where the hard work lies. For the HOA membership fee, for instance, the HOA must be able to determine an accurate monthly budget for daily operations as well as allocate a feasible amount for the reserve fund and have a little wiggle room to cover bad debt and deferred equipment repairs or replacement.

Usually, HOAs hire the services of a professional property management company to assist them with their financial duties and other HOA obligations.

If you’re buying or renting a new home in an apartment complex, gated compound or community, multi-family building, or condominium, there’s a good chance that the property belongs to a homeowners association. Most communities in the country have their homeowners association, which means you’ll hardly find a house or residential property that isn’t a part of a homeowners association or similar organization.

Before you sign the contract, take the time to learn about the HOA that covers the property you’re looking to move into for your peace of mind. And if you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of homeowners associations, here’s a short guide to help you better understand what an HOA is all about. Below are the basic things everyone should know about an HOA:

1. HOAs are the gatekeepers of the community

The above statement may seem a little vague but that’s actually what they do; HOAs are the designated gatekeepers of the community. They ensure that the community maintains certain standards to preserve the value of the properties it covers. HOAs also ensure that homeowners are safe and secure in their own homes. And finally, HOAs assist homeowners for their needs, from home repairs to emergency assistance, especially during natural disasters and other unforeseen events.

2. HOAs have a special set of CC&Rs

Every HOA in the country has its own set of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). Within these CC&Rs are ruled that homeowners must follow. These rules cover everything that has to do with the property, homeowners, and the community; from the color of the exterior walls to landscaping, street parking, bikes and other toys in the front yard, garage gate, to the number of people in the household and everything in between.

3. HOAs collect fees

HOAs collect membership fees either monthly, quarterly or annually depending on what’s stipulated in the CC&Rs. Bear in mind that the bigger your property and household, the higher the fees to be collected from you. In other words, HOA dues/fees aren’t standard for every homeowner in your community.

4. HOAs can evict homeowners

In cases where the homeowner was found to violate one or several rules covered in the CC&Rs, the HOA has the power to evict them. But rest assured that eviction is the last course of action. In general, the homeowner will be approached by the HOA first to talk about the supposed violation. A written warning is also usually given, and finally, a hearing with the HOA Board of Directors could ensue to put the issue to rest and resolve it once and for all.

Review the HOA’s CC&Rs before signing the lease/deed of sale. Buyers whose offer to buy has been accepted have the legal right to these HOA documents.

When the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 has escalated to such proportions that it has become a pandemic, countries were quick to enforce rules and restrictions to curb its spread. This meant businesses closing their physical locations, individuals staying home, and social events had to be canceled. For HOA communities, these restrictions meant keeping homeowners safe inside their homes.

As HOAs grapple with these unprecedented changes, they acknowledge the fact that they are responsible for the health and safety of their respective communities. The following are some of the ways HOAs are keeping their communities safe:

1. Strictly enforcing physical distancing

Living with the threat of COVID-19 in the air means normal things suddenly became taboo. Shaking hands, holding hands, hugging, and sitting side by side suddenly became a thing of the past. As health experts advised individuals to practice physical distancing (at least two meters apart) to help prevent the spread of the virus, public spaces were ordered to close down for the time being.

For HOA communities, these meant gyms, pools, and spas. Some HOAs chose to keep their parks open with physical distancing still strictly enforced.

2.Restriction on visits and gatherings

In keeping with the physical distancing protocol, HOAs have opted to restrict outside visitors except when an emergency calls for it. This includes medical personnel for health emergencies, caregivers, and other guests/personnel needed to assist a homeowner.

Gatherings, however, are strictly prohibited. This means parties for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones will have to be postponed until local governments, upon the advice of health experts, lift such restrictions on group gatherings and events.

3. Postponing construction work and other contractual jobs

Construction work will have to be postponed as well except for emergency repairs. Construction work covers renovations and remodeling work both on homes and common areas. On the other hand, if the HOA has contractual employees for specific tasks or jobs, it is up to them to allow employee keep working or freeze the job order until such time when they deem it necessary (and safe) to resume work at the physical location.

4. Keeping homeowners and other stakeholders informed

Understanding that these are unprecedented times, homeowners associations double their efforts to communicate with the homeowners and other stakeholders. Keeping everyone informed about the goings-on in the community, particularly about changes in safety regulations, COVID-19 updates, emergency plans, and disaster management, is critical to preventing transmission within the community.

As HOAs grapple with the effects of COVID-19, it is their duty and responsibility to mitigate risk and keep homeowners informed at all times.

The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging everything we know about health and safety. And though states across the nation are beginning to ease restrictions, we shouldn’t expect an immediate return to the way things were before the outbreak.

HOAs are gearing up for the new strategies they’ll have to employ to ensure the protection of everyone in the community. With that in mind, here are 4 changes homeowners and HOA board members are likely to see in HOA living in the new normal.

1. New public space usage regulations

The safety of every resident is among the chief priorities of any HOA, so anticipate the enforcement of temporary rules that’ll reduce your exposure to crowds. Don’t be surprised to find regulations concerning social distancing and the wearing of PPEs to be in an application in common areas such as streets, parks, and clubhouses. You should also expect new systems to limit the number of people using specific facilities or amenities at any one time. For example, you may have to make a reservation before the HOA permits you access to the swimming pool or basketball court.

2. Increased board meeting flexibility

As physical gatherings are best avoided, HOA board meetings will be conducted using online technologies such as Skype or Zoom. The convenience these technologies provide will grant board members greater flexibility when it comes to scheduling and attending essential conferences. It will also make it easier for residents to participate in such online assemblies, allowing for information to flow more freely between every member of the community.

3. The reallocation of HOA resources

HOAs will undoubtedly reallocate additional funds to safety measures, with a larger percentage of the budget going to cleaning crews. As such, expect costs to rise concerning such services. However, the decreased usage of shared facilities also means a reduction in other expenses, giving HOAs and homeowners several cost-saving opportunities.

4. Extra opportunities to improve your home

The current situation is affording us more time to ourselves and our personal goals, so it will be common to see homeowners busying themselves with various home improvement projects, from trimming the lawn, to planting a garden, to making minor architectural upgrades to one’s place of residence. To make sure they aren’t breaking any rules, it will benefit homeowners to familiarize themselves with HOA guidelines and communicate their intentions to the community manager.

Do you have any questions about HOAs? If so, kindly contact us through our corporate website or give us a call at (888) 828-9444. We’d be happy to answer all your questions!

Homeowners associations are run by homeowner-volunteers who are part of the community they serve. Being volunteers, they do not receive remuneration for their services, which means most of them have day jobs; which also means they may not always be available to fulfill their duties, especially in emergencies. This is why most HOAs turn to a professional HOA management company to help them fulfill their duties to the community and homeowners.

What does an HOA management company do? In its broadest sense, an HOA management company helps the HOA fulfill its duties to the homeowners as well as to the community. To better explain how exactly an HOA management company helps a homeowner’s association, here are three important tasks they perform:

1. Finance

One of the oft-neglected aspects of an HOA has to do with finance; everything that has to do with managing the association’s financials; from collecting dues and other fees to ensuring there is an emergency fund for unforeseen events (like natural disasters and emergency repairs), bookkeeping, managing bank accounts, billings and financial assessments, and following-up on delinquent accounts, among many others.

2. Site maintenance

In every residential community, whether it be a gated subdivision or a multi-family building, there are common/public areas that HOA members can use for leisure, entertainment, fitness, and such. From swimming pools to parks and playgrounds, walkways and pathways, and other common areas, the HOA management company has to perform regular inspections of these areas to make sure their properly maintained for the safety of the residents and guests.

Additionally, the HOA management company also sees to it the rules and regulations regarding lawns and landscaping, exterior paints, and other property-related regulations are strictly followed to maintain property value.

3. Administrative tasks

Last but not the least are administrative tasks. These include scheduling and attending board meetings, submitting a monthly report to the Board regarding management tasks, as well as ensuring that all members of the HOA strictly follow the HOA’s <a=rel”no follow”href=”https://homeguides.sfgate.com/california-homeowners-association-laws-2994.html”>Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&Rs). Additional HOA services may also include any or all of the following:

• Board education and governance
• Vendor selection and cost reduction services
• 24-hour emergency services
• Homeowner participation, including sub-committees
• Reconstruction and large-project management oversight

In general, HOA management companies provide custom-made programs based on the needs of each HOA. Understanding that each HOA is unique with unique strengths and weaknesses, programs tailored to address each of these are the best way to ensure that the HOA remains fully functional; serving the interests of the homeowners and the community as a whole.

You know about homeowner’s associations and you’ve heard of property managers, but do you know what they do, and where their duties and responsibilities start and end? To help you differentiate between the two, below are a few of their key responsibilities:

On management duties:

1. Homeowners associations manage a specific residential community

Residential communities, neighborhoods, and housing complexes are often governed by a homeowners association or HOA. The HOA’s general responsibility is to manage the residential community; making sure that homeowners comply with <a=rel”no follow”href=”https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2019-10-19/many-new-laws-will-affect-hoas-in-2020″>rules and regulations that pertain to property maintenance and neighborhood conduct, and basically, work with the HOA to maintain specific community standards.

2. Property managers oversee a specific property (or cluster of properties owned by the same entity)

If an HOA manages an entire residential community, a property manager oversees a specific property or cluster of properties owned by the same person or entity. In other words, they are only concerned with the specific property assigned to them or for which they were hired. Usually, their services are required for rental properties; working on behalf of the property owner.

On similar duties and responsibilities

3. HOAs oversee the maintenance of common areas, collect dues, hire contractors for repairs, and vet potential homeowners

As mentioned above, HOAs manage an entire residential community, which means they are also responsible for maintaining common areas and public facilities like swimming pools, fitness centers, playgrounds, and such. If anything needs to be repaired, they will oversee the hiring of contractors and workers (this may also extend to repairs needed by homeowners for their own homes).

Additionally, HOAs may also interview people interested in renting or buying a property in their community to evaluate whether or not they are a good fit for the community. Last but not the least, HOAs are also responsible for collecting HOA dues and other fees.

4. Property managers vet tenants, hire contractors, oversee property maintenance, and collect rent and dues

Just as HOAs evaluate potential homeowners, property managers also evaluate potential tenants. This is done to make sure that not only will they be good renters in terms of taking care of the property but more importantly, that they are good payers. In other words, the property manager has to make sure that the tenant has the financial capacity to pay rent in full and on time every month.

They may also oversee the hiring of contractors and laborers for work that needs to be done on the property (for repairs and maintenance).

On HOAs and property managers working together

HOAs are run by volunteers who comprise the Board of Directors and Board Members. They are residents of the same community and they typically have day jobs and personal responsibilities to take care of every day. To ensure that the HOA remains functional for the benefit of the community and homeowners, they may hire a property manager to help them with some of their duties and responsibilities.