HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - March 19, 2010
Published: Fri, 03/12/10
=================================================================
2 Common Mistakes of New HOA Board Members; Are You Guilty?
=================================================================
This week's tip challenges you to evaluate your own performance.
Are you committing some of the most predictable mistakes new
condo or homeowners association board members make when they step
into their new role?
"Your authority as a board member stems from your association's
governing documents," explains Robert DeNichilo, an attorney at
Neuland & Whitney APC in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., who
specializes in representing community associations.
"If it's not in the governing documents, you can't do it. But I
see new board members trying to do things outside the board's
authority. They're very enthusiastic, and they want to take care
of issues they care about. For example, a hot-button issue is
parking. But if there's nothing in the governing documents about
regulating parking, or if your association has public streets,
there's little the board can do to regulate parking."
David Regenbaum, founder, chairman, and CEO of Association
Management Inc. in Houston, which manages 239 communities with
about 62,000 units, points out another error newbies make. "One
of the most egregious mistakes new board members make is coming
into office and attempting to change the lifestyle the membership
expects the association to provide," he says.
"Maybe an association has an onsite manager, and the new board
enters in a cost-saving mode and says, 'We're going to cut out
the onsite manager.' But the owners bought a Cadillac and were
prepared to pay for a Cadillac, and the new board wants to force
them into a Volkswagen. I'm not saying new boards shouldn't try
to save money. But be careful about changing the lifestyle that
owners expected when they moved into the property without
consulting with them."
In a new article, we've outlined nine common mis-steps that
brand-new board members make. You may be making them--even now.
Find out: http://www.hoaleader.com/members/404.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
================================================================
HOA Finances: If Your Condo or Homeowners Association Needs a
Loan, Can You Look to Your Reserves?
If your HOA is short on cash for an insurance payment or would
like to make an equipment purchase, can you borrow against that
large chunk of money in your reserve fund? Would that even be
wise? Here we discuss whether taking a loan from your condo or
homeowner association reserves is proper or advisable.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/402.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Finances: Can--and Should--Your Association Consider
Bankruptcy?
If your homeowner association has been beaten up by the economic
downturn and there seems to be little hope of ever getting back
onto solid financial footing, bankruptcy is something your board
can consider. Here's what you need to know about how bankruptcy
might affect your HOA.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/401.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Finances: Tips for Handling Your Reserve Account
Are you putting enough money aside to pay to replace or repair
your HOA's buildings and amenities? Is it possible your condo or
homeowner association is putting too much aside? Does the HOA
board know how reserves are supposed to be used? This article
provides tips on how much to save and how to properly use
association reserve accounts.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/400.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Security: Low-Cost Ways to Improve Security in Your Homeowner
Association
Here are a few tips for improving security in your HOA without
digging deep into your condo or homeowner association's wallet
for expensive security devices.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/399.cfm >
================================================================
HOA Rules: Using Webcams and Video to Enforce Rules in Your
Homeowners Association
Webcams may be the simple and low-cost solution to some common
but annoying problems with enforcing HOA rules. But can your
condo or homeowners association install cameras and use the
evidence you capture on video to impose fines on your residents?
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/398.cfm >
=================================================================
Get your own copy!
Subscribe to the HOAleader.com Tip of the Week at:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/department49.cfm
=================================================================
Please feel free to forward the *entire text* of this email to
others.
Copyright 2010, Plain-English Media, LLC
909 Marina Village Parkway #183
Alameda, CA 94501
(866) 641-4548
http://www.hoaleader.com