HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - August 16, 2013
Published: Fri, 08/16/13
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2 Ways to Shrink Your HOA Legal Fees
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In this week's tip, we sharesmart tactics to
dramatically cut your HOA's legal bills.
All too often, board members fail to get necessary
legal advice in a timely manner because they're
concerned about the risk of exorbitant fees.
But there's a saying: "The cheap comes out expensive."
"It takes very little time to review a contract before
it's entered into, but it can take a lot of time to get
you out of a contract after you've entered into it,"
explains Erin McManis, a senior associate at Mulcahy
Law Firm PC in Phoenix, who advises many associations.
"A little money up front can save big on legal fees
at the end."
In a new article we share 7 tips to keep legal fees in
check. Here are two tips:
1. Budget for fees so you don't feel pinched springing
for legal advice. "I've tried to tell people to try
to be proactive," says Matthew A. Drewes, a partner
at Thomsen &Nybeck PA in Edina, Minn., who represents
associations. "Think about the issues on which you
know you'll need help, like collections, and budget
for those things."
2. Create procedures to avoid double-dipping with a
lawyer. "Take the issue of collections," explains Drewes.
"Some associations, by not having set protocol for how
to handle them, end up spinning their wheels or asking
the lawyer the same questions over and over again."
A similar point: Read your governing documents! "If you
know your rules and governing documents, you're less
likely to create the problem of running up a bill on
every question that comes up," says Brian F. Lozell,
CPM, director of condominium management at Seneca Real
Estate Advisors, a Chicago startup company that manages
less than 100 units so far;at Lozell's prior firm, he
managed as many as 1,000 units.
Get five more great ideas to save your HOA money on legal
costs in our new article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/885.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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Job Description 101: HOA Onsite Manager
In this week's tip, we give a reader a head start on creating a job description
for an onsite manager. There are no absolute rules governing onsite
managers' duties. There will be a set of basic duties, like paying the bills,
but the onsite manager's duties will vary among management companies and
boards of directors.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/Job-Description-101-HOA-Onsite-Manager.cfm
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What Does an HOA Onsite Manager Do?
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "Our self-managed HOA pays a member of the
community to be the onsite manager. The original job description prepared
for this role leaves much to be desired. I am wondering if any HOAleader
subscribers might have a manager's job description document they would be
prepared to share as a starting template for others." Here our management
and legal experts flesh out what an onsite manager should and shouldn't be
doing on behalf of an HOA.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/What-Does-an-HOA-Onsite-Manager-Do.cfm
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Tips to Avoid Getting Too Personal with Owners
In this week's tip, we answer a reader's question about whether the board
asked for TMI, as the kids say (translation: too much information), from
owners.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/Tips-to-Avoid-Getting-Too-Personal-with-Owners.cfm
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Did This HOA Board Ask Too Many Invasive Questions?
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "Is there a legal problem in a board
requesting a homeowner to fill out a form showing legal owner, names of
occupants, emergency contacts, special needs, vehicles and pets? I have
been told this is an invasion of privacy by a couple of homeowners."
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Did-This-HOA-Board-Ask-Too-Many-Invasive-Questions.cfm
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Residency Requirements for Your HOA Board of Directors, Pros and Cons
In some states, it's possible for homeowners associations to restrict
board eligibility to residents of the community, thereby prohibiting
nonresident owners from serving. Here we discuss the practical pros and
cons.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Residency-Requirements-for-Your-HOA-Board-of-Directors-Pros-and-Cons.cfm
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