Preventing Issues in Your Condo Association or HOA When Snowbirds Fly the Coop

As Illinois anticipates spending the next few months knee-deep in snow, it’s likely that some residents in your condo or homeowners association (HOA) are anticipating spending their winter in a warmer climate. Their departure might be difficult on friends and neighbors, but the impact on your association can be even more challenging if these “snowbirds” haven’t properly prepared for their time away. 

 

The risks are certainly greater in condominiums and townhomes where units share common walls. However, issues that occur because a single-family home is vacant can also lead to problems in other parts of the community. And no matter what kind of home is left vacant, damage that renders it unlivable is bad news for everyone’s property values. 

 

Your board can help to prevent potential problems by providing a list of steps that snowbirds should follow before they leave. Since you may not be aware of all the residents who plan to be away for an extended period, it’s a good idea to send out this list to everyone in the community. A professional community management company can be a big help in getting the word out effectively. 

 

Here are the 10 items you should include:

 

The kind of units in your association will determine what kind of maintenance may be required. For example, homeowners may need to:

Residents should discontinue services such as newspaper delivery while they are gone and should have postal mail forwarded to their winter home. They should also verify that needed services, such as fuel delivery, will continue during their absence. If snow removal is the responsibility of individual homeowners, make sure that they make arrangements in advance to have someone plow or shovel after each snowstorm. 

 

Rodents and insects are all too happy to make themselves at home during a resident’s long absence. These critters can quickly become a nuisance for other residents, too. Encourage departing homeowners to:

Robert Meyer, director of engineering services at FirstService Residential, says that one of the biggest issues his company sees with homeowners who go away is that they either turn off their heat entirely or they turn it down too low. “They might lower the thermostat to 50 degrees thinking that is well above freezing,” he says, “but that’s only at the point where the thermostat is measuring the temperature.” 

 

He explains that the temperature in other areas of the home – such as in a wall, a ceiling or an attic – may actually dip below freezing, especially during a cold snap. This can lead to serious flooding problems if pipes freeze and burst. (Read more about how to protect pipes.)

 

Items that can pose a fire hazard, such as toasters, computers, televisions and microwaves, should be unplugged during a long absence. However, it’s generally not a good idea to shut off the power entirely. Meyer warns that residents often don’t realize that their heating system has components that depend on electricity even if they don’t use electric heat. For example, in a home that has its own furnace, electricity is needed to keep the furnace fan functioning. “Without the furnace fan running, a unit can freeze,” he says. 

 

Timers that are set to turn on lights can help make a home appear occupied. In some cases, it may also make sense for homeowners to install motion detection lights, as well as an alarm system that enables home monitoring from a smart phone. 

 

For their own protection, as well as for the protection of others living in the HOA or condo association, it’s important for residents who will be away to check that their homeowners insurance provides the right coverage and that their premiums are paid up. 

 

The best way for absent residents to ensure that their homes remain safe and problem-free is to have a family member, friend or trusted neighbor check in periodically. Besides taking care of minor upkeep, like watering plants, a regular visitor will quickly notice any problems and be able to alert the homeowner.

 

Surprisingly, many people fail to inform their board or association manager when they plan to be gone for an extended period of time. It’s important for the board to be aware of absences and to have a forwarding address where a resident can receive important letters and notices. 

 

It’s easy for association members who are away to feel left out of activities back home. A community website that is available anytime, from anywhere, can go a long way in helping them stay informed about association business, as well as social events. A good property management software program will also enable board members, residents and the association manager to reach out to each other directly – another way in which out-of-town homeowners can stay connected with the community.