Search

Did you know that your level of knowledge as an association board member can have a direct impact on your community’s property values? Learn how your education can help you excel at your role and enhance your community.

Owning a home in a community association carries both advantages and obligations. Many individuals find a reassuring sense of structure and harmony in residing within a neighborhood overseen by a Homeowners Association (HOA). However, this structured way of life typically entails a collection of guidelines and regulations known as the HOA bylaws.

Before deciding that pet amenities are right for your community, find out if your residents even want them. How many residents actually have pets? Will most residents be willing to appropriate space and money for these amenities? Depending on your unique needs, constraints, and level of interest, here are five suggestions for making your community more pet-friendly.

Vacation season has arrived, and with it, the need to pack, plan and in many cases, make arrangements for our four-legged family members. Many hotels and other accommodations are not pet-friendly, so pet owners must decide where, and with whom, to leave Muffy or Max when heading out of town. From kennels to in-home pet sitters, there are various options to fit your lifestyle and budget.

Wages are playing a big role in the labor shortage challenge. Learn what your community association can do.

Parking is one of the most common challenges for homeowners associations (HOAs). It seems, regardless of the type of community, the same parking situations happen to us all. To help keep misunderstandings and violations to a minimum, follow these five tips to manage your HOA’s parking policy.

Not too long ago, one of the main ways residents in homeowner associations (HOAs) could pay their association fees was with a check, money order, or cash. Fast forward a decade or two later, and paying with a check is inconvenient for many residents who no longer use checkbooks or carry cash—leaving many homeowners wondering how to make an HOA payment online. Luckily, we know how.

Sometimes, an unforeseen event will occur and your homeowners’ association will be left with a vacant seat on the board. Depending on the number of seats on your board, you may or may not need to fill that position immediately. Also, you will need to refer to your association’s governing documents for the proper protocol in filling that seat. What would the term limit of the new board member be? Do you need to notify your association’s membership about the vacancy and go through the entire election process again? Will you need to wait until the next annual election? Is your board ready and capable to fill this vacancy? We can help!

The prevalence of homeowner associations (HOAs) has been steadily increasing, with over 53 percent of current homeowners in the United States living in HOAs and 82.4 percent of newly constructed homes sold in 2021 being part of a homeowners association.

An HOA violation refers to any action or condition that goes against the community's governing documents, including covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs), and bylaws.

Serving as a board member of your condo isn’t an easy job and mistakes can happen. Learn the seven common mistakes board members make and how to avoid them.

Realizing that energy conservation and managing HOA community environmental footprints is crucial, board members have a responsibility to homeowners to exercise financial prudence and proactively seek ways to manage rising costs.

How much do you know about community association insurance? Every community’s bylaws and declarations include requirements to provide homeowners association insurance coverage, and Board members have a fiduciary duty to protect the best interest of their HOA and owners. Additionally, associations are under pressure to find the least expensive homeowners association insurance options available. But there is a caveat – in community insurance, as in most things, buyer beware – not all policies are alike, and if you neglect certain types of coverage, you may end up paying a much higher price.

Did you know that only 40 percent (estimated) of BC homeowners have personal insurance? This figure is even lower for tenants. Whether living in the unit or as an investor, unit owners should always make sure their personal assets and liabilities are adequately protected by their own personal insurance policy.

Remember when you last painted your living or dining room, your entrance hallway, den, kitchen, or another room in your home? It felt so great just looking at the finished work, even before the furniture was moved back into place. That new colour scheme you selected – the clean, unmarred baseboard and molding that set off that room so well? The bright white ceiling that highlighted the whole space? But it’s been a few years. How do you know when it’s time to repaint?