Power Down, Save Money

Looking to cut back due to a tight budget or ready to go green? Here are 10 quick and easy tips to accomplish both: Unplug appliances and electronics. TVs, computers and kitchen appliances, as well as cell phone and laptop chargers, digital pianos all use energy when they are plugged in—even if they are turned […]

What Our Accountant Does for Us

The accountant is a vital part of our association’s professional team. A staff member or volunteer may take care of the bookkeeping for the association, but the CPA is needed to conduct an audit at the end of the year. In addition, our accountant: Conducts association financial audits Prepares association tax returns Reviews financial data, […]

Electronic Payment an Option for Assessments

The association board and manager encourage all members to take advantage of the association’s electronic payment program to pay monthly assessments because it provides numerous advantages to you, the association and the environment. For association owners, electronic payment is very convenient. Once we’ve set up your account, you no longer have to worry about lost […]

Be Prepared for Disasters

If you think hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods won’t happen to you or that you don’t need to insure against these disasters, you’re among the nearly half of U.S. homeowners and renters who lack the insurance coverage to deal with potential losses, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In a recent NAIC […]

Surviving A Job Loss

It’s never a good time to lose your job. However, businesses can close at any time and downsizing and layoffs can happen when you least expect it. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) offers the following tips for surviving a layoff:  Allow yourself to be upset or even afraid. These are natural reactions. […]

How the Budget is Prepared

Each year you receive a draft of the proposed budget for review and comment. A lot of work goes into preparing the budget. It’s a complex activity that has to start early so the budget can be finalized and approved prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year. Here’s how we do it: The […]

Beware of Foreclosure Scams

Rising foreclosure rates have led to an increase in scam artists offering to aid homeowners in financial straits. They typically promise to help save the homes of people facing foreclosure, but will strip away the value of the home with no benefit for the homeowner. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling advises homeowners to proceed […]

What is this Thing Called Fiduciary Duty?

From time to time you may hear that the board of the association operates in a fiduciary capacity for the homeowners. Or you may read about the board’s fiduciary responsibility in the governing documents. Just exactly what does this mean? Fiduciary duty simply means the board has an ethical and legal obligation to make decisions […]

Preparing for, Recovering from Fires

Everyone in our community should prepare themselves for the risk of fire (not just wildfires). Drought conditions persist across the country and many of our homes are in or near woodland settings. Wildfires in California and other places across the country and single home fires remind us to be prepared. The association urges all residents […]

Excuses, Excuses

Association members who pay their assessments late or not at all come up with some very interesting excuses. Here’s half a dozen of the most common, and why it’s smart not to use them. Excuse #1: “I didn’t get what I paid for.” “My building hasn’t been painted in five years! I’m not paying another […]