HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - September 7, 2012
Published: Fri, 09/07/12
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Look for Good HOA Neighbors to Share Ideas, Costs
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In this week's tip, we cover the growing trend of HOAs
networking with their neighbors to share ideas and save money.
"I've seen a fair amount of associations, particularly those in
the same geographic area, 'friend' each other on Facebook and
connect on LinkedIn to share ideas and resources," says Raymond
Daniel Burke, a principal at Ober Kaler, a law firm in Baltimore,
who represents an average of 20 community associations.
"There's sharing of information on property managers and
contractors--almost an Angie's List for associations would be a
good idea. But it's sporadic. As social networking becomes more
common, I expect that connection will be more common. But
associations are volunteer organizations, and someone has to
take time to set up a Facebook page or a LinkedIn account."
An advocate of the practice is Samuel "Sandy" Moskowitz, a
partner at Davis, Malm & D'Agostine PC in Boston who
represents 30-40 community associations at any given time.
"Sharing ideas is permissible," he says. "You could do it
either on a general or a limited basis. You could say, 'We've
got two side-by-side condo associations with railroad tracks
behind them. Let's work together to get leverage in dealing
with the railroad owner on issues that come up.' That's a
good idea as long as individual boards reserve their right to
back out and do what they believe is in the best interest of
their association."
Some associations have even created formal relationships with
others. "Sitting here on my desk is a re-siding agreement for
four separate condo associations on Cape Cod developed by a
common developer," says Moskowitz. "They've worked together and
formed a board between them, and that board then goes out and
contracts for work at the associations. It makes a lot of sense
with these condos--they're contiguous and were built at the same
time with the same materials except, for whatever reason, the
developer created them as separate condos. There's an economy of
scale that suggests they be operated together. It works."
Check your state law, however, before you go that far. Find out
why, and get three tips to get your networking ball rolling, in
our new article: http://www.hoaleader.com/members/756.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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