HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - June 26, 2015
Published: Fri, 06/26/15
=================================================================
Are You Marketing Your HOA to the Public? Should You Be?
=================================================================
Here’s an interesting question: Should you, as a board, actively take steps
to promote your HOA in your broader community? In this week’s tip, we address
a reader’s concern about his board’s “advertising” of association units
when several members of the board are real estate agents or owners with lots
to sell.
First, a caveat. We’d need more information to fully answer this reader’s
exact question. There are too many unknowns to be precise.
“It seems as though the owner’s suspicion is that this is self-serving and
self promoting,” explains Matthew A. Drewes, a partner at Thomsen & Nybeck
PA in Edina, Minn., who represents associations. “It seems the reader
suspects that those in charge are providing themselves an opportunity to
unload the extra inventory of units or lots as quickly as possible and at as
high a price as they can. It’s hard to say what the actual motivation is here,
though, without knowing more information.”
The broader issue this question raises is one for which the answer isn’t easy
to pin down. “This is a really interesting question,” comments David
Firmin, a partner at Hindman Sanchez, a law firm in Arvada, Colo., with about
1,600 association clients. “One of the major functions of the association
is to protect, preserve, and increase property values. I do know of
associations that have gone through construction defect lawsuits where
property values plummet, units can’t really be sold, and they get a really
bad reputation in the real estate industry. Then as people go online trying
to find a unit—it’s condos, usually—they research the communities they’re
looking into and find that negative information. So I do think part of the
association’s job is to market and put on the best image possible, and I don’t
think it’s necessarily inappropriate.”
Many governing documents in other states also include the directive Firmin
notes. “If I were asked on behalf of a client doing or intending to do this, the
first thing I’d do is look at the governing documents to find out what
permitted uses can be made of common expenses, and what are the duties of the
board under their declaration or bylaws,” explains Gregory S. Cagle, a
partner at Savrick Schumann Johnson McGarr Kaminski & Shirley in Austin,
Texas, and author of Texas Homeowners Association Law. “That will answer
that question 99 times out of 100.
That’s just a start. Our new article, explains the benefits of
selling your community and offers tips on when you may need a license to do
that. Go there now: http://www.hoaleader.com/members/1199.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Brand-New Event!
=================================================================
New HOA Board Members?
Here's How to Run a Successful Board Orientation
An Exclusive HOAleader.com Webinar
With Practical Tips for Condo and HOA Boards
Thursday, July 16, 2015
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Pacific Time
Learn more or Register now:
http://www.hoaleader.com/snip/202.htm
Members save $30!
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
=================================================================
Is the HOA in the Business of Selling Itself?
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "Several new board members are real estate
agents or owners with many lots they want to sell. The board has authorized
'advertising' monies not in our budget. The focus is quickly becoming sales
of lots. Our documents state our primary focus is 1) Maintaining common
areas and 2) Maintaining building and architectural requirements. Our
documents do not say anything about 'advertising.' Anyone else dealing
with this issue?"
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-in-Business-Selling-Itself.cfm
=================================================================
HOA Extermination 101: What to Know
A small six-unit condo association in urban Chicago has a rat problem in its
common yard. Gross! (Bright side: At least they're not in the building!)
They're calling an exterminator, and that has triggered them to begin
thinking about the broad issues that typically arise with such services.
When should the association hire an exterminator to enter owners' units to
spray? Can owners decline access? How can boards work around owners if they
have a right to and do decline? Here are answers.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Extermination-101-What-Know.cfm
=================================================================
New HOA Board Members? Here's How to Run a Successful Board Orientation
Want your condo or homeowner association board to operate effectively, no
matter how many members come and go over time? It's not a pipe dream. It's an
achievable reality if you create and implement a new-board orientation to
help just-elected or just-appointed members hit the ground running.
Join us for a July 16 webinar to hear from two experienced community
association lawyers everything you need to know to craft an effective and
timeless new-board orientation program.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/snip/202.htm
=================================================================
How One Arizona HOA Battled Criminals
Our experts hesitate to advise their clients to take on the responsibility
for crime fighting. In this week's tip, we highlight an Arizona HOA that's
doing just the opposite.
The Circle Tree Owners Association in Mesa is made up of 250 condos, and it
used to be a mess, says homeowner and manager David Russell.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/How-One-Arizona-HOA-Battled-Criminals.cfm
=================================================================
How to Create a New-Owner Orientation Program for Your HOA
Watch this on-demand webinar to find out how to create a new-owner
orientation program at your homeowner or condo association -- lead by a
knowledgeable community association manager and an experienced
community association lawyer.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/snip/201.htm
=================================================================
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 2015, Plain-English Media, LLC
(866) 641-4548
http://www.hoaleader.com