Joining a Community Association is a great way to create a sense of community and shared responsibility. Living in a community association also requires adherence to certain rules and guidelines to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.
As a Board member or manager of an association, it’s your duty to ensure your constituents live comfortably and happily in your community. This means getting these dos and don’ts right between everyone involved.
As seasoned association managers, our team has seen it all. Here are some of our biggest dos and don’ts to keep in mind when living in a community association and how a property management team like Goodwin & Company can make creating a harmonious association an attainable goal.
Rules and Regs
DO Familiarize yourself with the community association’s rules and regulations. As a Board member, you are a leader within your association. Get closely acquainted with your CC&Rs to help you stay in the know about when a member breaks a regulation and what you can do to peacefully guide them back in line with the needs of the community.
DON’T Ignore the rules as a Board member. Ignoring the community association’s rules and regulations can lead to conflict with your neighbors and can ultimately result in fines or legal action. Everyone involved has to do their part to create the best community possible. So, don’t let your decision-making power lead you astray from the rules you must govern.
Good Neighbors
DO your best to keep the peace between all members of your association. Keep noise levels down and avoid parking violations like cars left in front of homes without the homeowner’s permission.
Emphasize the importance of common courtesy and maybe even turn it into a game. How about creating a Neighbor of the Month award? This gives you the chance to reward those who go above and beyond to make the association an enjoyable living environment.
One of the best ways to keep the peace in your community is to take advantage of the portal that comes with your management team. Using your online communication tool, you can remind owners of their responsibilities as neighbors without officially calling anyone out. Everyone gets notified, and you now have documented proof that you’ve made an effort to stress local regulations if you do have to step in and take action.
DON’T let common areas go ill-maintained. Common areas, such as community pools and parks, are shared by all community members. Be respectful of these areas, ensure all owners and guests use them appropriately, and keep the grounds clean.
As a management bonus, reach out to your association management team to connect with reliable vendors that can maintain your common areas and keep your team
Personal Space
DO Hold owners responsible for property maintenance. Your association is an exclusive community. So, you want to ensure your owners take pride in their property and keep the exteriors well-maintained and in line with uniformity standards.
This includes keeping yards tidy and free of debris and ensuring that any exterior changes made to a property comply with the community association’s guidelines.
Helping owners maintain responsibility for their home’s appearance lets your association remain attractive and inviting. This will lead to retaining your current owners and reeling in new, reliable members that want a beautiful place to call home.
DON’T Let association beautification fall to the wayside. You expect your owners to maintain their home’s exterior. So, make every effort to arrange regular inspections of your property and the utilization of reliable local vendors. Failure to do so can quickly lead to small problems getting out of hand and essential attractors like your landscape becoming an eyesore that drives potential owners away.
Trust in Goodwin & Company to Improve Your Association
Looking to maintain a safe and harmonious living environment in your community association? Goodwin & Company can help! By following these dos and don’ts, you can contribute to the well-being of your community association and make it a wonderful place to call home. Contact Goodwin & Company today to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving a thriving community association.
