The Top 10 Tasks an HOA Management Company Can Help You With

HOA management companies are essential to a well-run HOA or condominium community. However, if you are new to these companies, you may not be sure what tasks you can expect an HOA management company to help you with.

Don’t despair. In the rest of this article, we answer that very crucial question.  

The Top 10 Tasks That an HOA Management Company Can Help You With

An HOA management company provides a wide range of services to help effectively manage and maintain a community. Below we describe the top 10 tasks an HOA management company can assist you with. 

1)      Administrative support
Administrative duties often provide the biggest drain on Board resources. They can be time-consuming and monotonous. An HOA management company can take on all these tasks, including the following.  

·         Budgeting
·         Coordinating meetings
·         Answering phone calls and emails
·         Creating reports 

2)      Common area maintenance
The common areas are the heart of an HOA. These are spaces for homeowners to gather and the community to come together. The best HOAs have immaculate common areas, a goal an HOA management company can help you achieve. You can expect the following common area maintenance services from these companies.  

·         Maintain storage areas
·         Enforce rules and regulations
·         Hire and oversee vendors
·         Manage trash and yard maintenance in common areas 

3)      Vendor management
Vendors do most of the services provided to HOAs. Your Board can spend much time hiring and maintaining vendor relationships. And in some crowded specialties, finding the best vendors can be a challenge.  

With HOA management companies, those issues go away. They will provide the following services.  

·         Interview and hire vendors
·         Manage contracts
·         Obtain bids
·         Oversee vendor performance 

4)      Financial management
One of the most crucial tasks of an HOA is financial management. A financially sound community will attract homeowners and stand out. HOA management companies can help you keep your HOA in good financial standing by doing the following.  

·         Collect and manage dues
·         Create a budget
·         Handle financial reporting and statement
·         Pay bills  

5)      Community improvement projects
HOA communities should always attempt to improve themselves. Undertaking regular community improvement projects, such as tree planting or trash pickup days, are a good way to do this. An HOA management company can organize and oversee all projects to improve your community.  

6)      Communication
You will have less conflict in your HOA if you communicate well. Let your HOA management company stay on top of communication with residents so you do not have to. They will do this in the following ways. 

·         Create a community website and online portal
·         Provide online payment systems 

7)      Board training
HOA Boards are comprised of volunteers. They may need training to be the best at their job. HOA management companies can provide this training, along with the following:  

·         Help in strategic planning and decision-making
·         Provide guidance
·         Offer their expertise  

8)      Dispute resolution
No matter how well-run your HOA is, there will be conflicts. When disputes happen, an HOA management company can be an objective third party and help you resolve those issues. Common disputes that HOA management companies can handle include  

·         Noise complaints
·         Property line encroachments
·         Rule violations 

9)      Community policies enforcement
Everyone in the HOA needs to abide by the rules. That is why all HOAs have a CC&R, covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Your HOA management company can help enforce the rules in these documents. 

10)  Billing and collections
Finally, HOA management companies can assume the two important billing and collections tasks. These involve the following.  

·         Bill residents
·         Collect dues
·         Handle delicate accounts
·         Issue delinquent notices 

If you are ready to experience the difference an experienced HOA management company can make, contact Association Management Group (AMG). Our experience will translate into a successful community for you.

How to Keep Residents Engaged In Your Community

Residents are the heart of any community. The community would not function without the engagement and buy-in of its residents. That is why you should foster a good community through resident engagement. 

Many communities saw a drastic drop in resident engagement with the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with infections leveling off in many locations, and the widespread availability of the vaccine, communities are beginning to open back up. That means you need to work to build up your resident engagement again. 

Tips for Keeping Residents Engaged 

Looking for ways to keep your residents engaged in your community? If so, try the following tips. 

1) Schedule regular activities.
Activities are a great way to keep your residents engaged. In-person activities allow your residents to meet each other. This social interaction creates important ties between the resident and the community. When residents feel a part of a community, they are more likely to engage with it. Barbeques, parties, and programs for children  are all ways to increase resident engagement. 

Also, you can plan activities around making your community nicer. These volunteer activities foster community engagement because the participants are directly working to make their community a better place. Tree planting, trash clean up, and other similar activities are very popular. 

2) Use social media.
When it comes to community engagement, social media is your friend. Use a couple different sites so that a wider group of residents frequents your pages. 

Remember that different demographics use different social media, so try to have a social media location for everyone. This may mean developing a community page on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. 

3) Talk to your residents. 
You will have a better idea of how to keep your residents engaged if you talk with your residents. Surveys, townhalls, and even informal conversations can help you determine what your residents want. 

Obviously, you will not be able to make everyone happy. But, if you are noticing certain complaints or requests coming up all the time, you should attempt to address them. When residents feel heard, they will be more likely to continue engaging with the community. 

4) Don’t forget online tools. 
We have already mentioned social media. However, there are many other online tools that you can use to foster good community engagement. Zoom, YouTube, and more provide a great place to discuss your community and engage your residents. 

For example, plan some community events to take place online. Many people are still worried about Covid-19 and may be more comfortable interacting with other residents online. Online organizational tools and web portals can also help you bring your community to a single online location. 

If you are looking for more community engagement tips, contact Association Management Group (AMG). We are North and South Carolina’s source for excellent property management. We provide administrative, fiscal, and facility services to our partner communities. We do the hard work, so your Board can focus on making the important decisions and engaging residents.

3 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Spring

Spring is an exciting time. In the Carolinas, the weather is starting to warm up in spring. There may be rain, but it brings new life to our yards and forests. With all the renewal of spring, it makes sense that we want to clean up our homes as well. This is why spring cleaning is such a popular pastime.

When you live in a Carolina community, preparing your home for spring is important. It helps keep your residence in great condition and looking nice. Plus, it increases the overall appeal of the community. Spring cleaning is a win-win for everyone.  

How to Prepare Your Home for Spring

Even though it is important to prepare your home for spring, most people do not have a lot of time. We all have families, pets, and jobs to worry about. So, here are the top three ways to prepare your home for spring. If your spring cleaning time is limited this year, start here.  

1)      Clean your gutters.
Gutters tend to get clogged. Leaves, sticks, and other debris often fall in gutters throughout the spring and summer. The more stuff you have in your gutters, the greater the likelihood of clogged gutters in the spring.

Clogged gutters don’t drain appropriately. They can cause leaks, which damage your walls, ceiling, and foundations. The water has to go somewhere, and often it ends up in your basement. Your gutter may even end up breaking.

The best way to avoid clogged gutter problems is to clean out your gutters regularly. Start this process at the beginning of spring, so that your home will be ready for the rainy season.  

2)      Work on your lawn.
As the weather warms up, it is time for yard work. You may need to replace the mulch, plant new flowers, and start mowing your yard again. Yard work will vary from home to home. however, better-looking yards will increase the appeal of the entire community.

Your community may also offer yard services. However, this is something to ask your community organization about. If no services are offered, you will need to do this work yourself.  

3)      Repair your roof.
No, you don’t need a new roof every year. In fact, depending on the type of shingle, you will likely need to repair the roof every 12-30 years. Even if you do not need a new roof, that doesn’t mean there will be no damage.

Leaks often occur because of shingles or other damage to our roofs. Plus, hurricane season is from September to October in the Carolinas. Your home may have sustained damage in last year’s hurricanes that needs to be fixed this spring.

The best way to assess and repair any roof damage is to hire experts. Contractors can inspect and help you repair holes, damaged shingles, and other roof problems. The beginning of spring is the time to make an appointment with these companies, as they will get busier as the spring and summer progresses.

Spring is a great time to repair our homes and make them sparkle. By following the three tips in this article, your home and community will be a beautiful place to live this spring. If your community needs help preparing communal spaces for spring, contact Association Management Group (AMG). We are your Carolina source for amazing property management services.  

The Top 5 HOA Management Questions Answered

If you are new to HOA management, you likely have a lot of questions. Let us help you get started. Below are the top five HOA management questions and their answers.   

Top 5 HOA Management Questions Answered 

1)      What is HOA Management?

Perhaps the most important question of this entire post is this one. What is HOA management? It is essential to know what something is before you hire someone.

Put simply, HOA management is something most home owner’s association (HOA) Boards do every day. It is the consistent management of all of the concerns of the HOA. These can range from management volunteers to maintaining common areas and planning meetings. Budgeting and other financial considerations are also included in HOA management.  

For many HOA Boards, the day-to-day tasks of managing an HOA are too much to handle alone. They hire an HOA management company to take care of some or all of these tasks.  

2)      Why is HOA Management important?

HOA management is crucial because it keeps your community running smoothly. Without proper HOA management, your home’s value could plummet, and your community could be a much less nice place to live.  

This is why it is so important to consider HOA management companies. No single Board can do everything. Boards consist of volunteers with their own lives and jobs after all. Instead, an HOA management company’s entire job is to see your community thrive. The Board will still maintain the decision-making power. But the competition of each task is the responsibility of the HOA management company. This frees up your Board members to make the important decisions that will result in a better community.  

3)      Will my HOA managers be part of the Board?

No. HOA management companies are not members of the Board. They will not have decision-making powers. The HOA manager will help and advise. But they cannot directly affect the direction or decisions of your community. Only the Board can do that.  

4)      What are some pros of hiring an HOA Management company?

There are a lot of positives to hiring an HOA management company. Here are a few of the most important. 

• They have years of experience helping communities succeed.

• You will have access to people with expert financial and legal information.

• They likely have long-term relationships with vendors.

• They can facilitate communications among your Board and with the broader community.

• They have advanced technological resources.  

5)      Do I need HOA Management?

Now we get to another crucial question about HOA management. Do you need it? The short answer: yes.  

All communities need good HOA management. Whether this management is provided by your Board or an outside company is up to your community. We’d highly recommend outsourcing your HOA management tasks. The pros simply outweigh the cons.  

In North and South Carolina, your source for the best HOA and condominium management is AMG (Association Management Group). We have physical offices throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today to learn more about we can help your community.

The Top 8 Ways a Property Management Company Will Make Your Life Easier

Property management companies can be a big help no matter what type of community you live in. Condominium associations, townhome HOAs, homeowner associations, life style communities, lake management, and office or retail spaces could all use property management.  

Property management companies work with your Board to manage the day-to-day running of the community. There are many services that top property management companies offer. All can elevate common headaches for your Board members.  

Top 8 Ways Property Management Companies Make Your Life Easier

The best property management companies can truly make your life easier. Here are eight ways they do so.

 1)      Save you money.

Probably the most important result of using a property management company is financial savings. This may seem impossible. You will be paying the property management company after all. However, property management companies streamline your communities and raise their overall value. Both will save you money in the long term.  

2)      Save you time.

Another big positive of using a property management company is the time savings. Your time is valuable too. Most Boards are comprised of volunteers who have their own lives and jobs. A property management company takes care of all the mundane, repetitive tasks, which keeps your Board free to make decisions and guide the community.  

3)      Save you worry.

When you have expert help, you don’t have to worry about making the right decisions. Property managers do not supersede your Board, but they can act as guides. Whether you are navigating a new regulation or planning next year’s budget, employing a property management company is a great way to reduce your concerns.

 4)      Make taxes a breeze.

Taxes are never fun. That statement is doubly true for community associations. Property management companies can help you with all your tax needs. Your manager will work with the Board to complete this year’s taxes and make a financial plan for the following year. You don’t need to be an accounting expert when you use a good property management company.  

5)      Help with communication.

Communication is always hard. It doesn’t matter what type of community you live in. Property managers are here to help with communication. They can facilitate better communication with your tenants or residents, develop efficient online communication tools, and even mediate disputes. Having a non-biased third party is always important when communicating with your community.  

6)      Connect you with the best vendors.

There are a lot of vendors available for hire. Not all vendors are the same, however. If you want the best vendors in your area, you need the help of a property management company. They will likely have an existing relationship with vendors. These can help guide your hiring process and potentially save you money.   

7)      Take care of maintenance tasks.

General maintenance is something no Board likes to deal with. It is one of the worst things about community management. However, with a property management company, you no longer have to be responsible for the maintenance of your community. The property management company can be in charge of that task.  

8)      Keep your residents happy and involved.

Finally, a major reason to choose a good property management company is that they will keep your residents happy. A better run and more communicative community mean happier residents. More satisfied residents are likely to be more involved in their community. It is a good, self-0sustaining cycle.  

If you are looking for great property management in North and South Carolina, contact Association Management Group (AMG) today.

How to Make Sure Your Community Stays Connected During COVID-19

COVID-19 has hit everyone hard. One of the virus’s many unfortunate consequences is the decimation of our normal community interactions. Most people move to a community to experience the benefits of living in that community: companionship, activities, and more. 

If you are a board member looking for ways to reinvigorate your community during COVID-19, keep reading. In this article, you will find the top four ways to make sure your community stays connected during COVID-19. 

4 Ways for a Community to Stay Connected During COVID-19

Want to keep your community connected? Here are four ways to do just that. 

1.Leverage online resources. 

You likely have an online portal or email system for your residents. You may even use AMG’s AMG CONNECTS system. Leverage this technology to keep your community informed and involved. 

For example, you can organize digital events using tools like Zoom. These could be meetings for the community or even concerts or virtual parties. Use email communication to determine the types of events or services that your residents prefer. Then organize them digitally, which will help keep your community cohesive. 

2.Encourage your community to donate and support small, local businesses. 

COVID-19 has been hard for everyone. However, some members of your local community are probably suffering more than others. Small businesses all over the country have struggled to stay open during this time. Families throughout North and South Carolina are struggling with lost wages and home-schooling. 

As a community leader, you can organize food drives, donations, and even provide local, small business recommendations to your community. This will help your city thrive while also providing a sense of unity among your residents. 

3.Check on elderly and ill residents.

Another group that has been hard-hit by COVID-19 is the elderly and chronically ill. Make sure to socially distance. However, visiting, bringing groceries too, and communicating with these people is great. As with donating, philanthropic work can bring everyone together. Plus, it will provide a lot of positive benefits to members of your community who are more isolated. 

4.Plan safe and socially-distanced events. 

Depending on the rules of your location, you can also plan safe, outdoor, socially-distanced events for your community. Make sure all safety requirements are followed. If you are part of a large community, you will also want to ensure that you are following attendance recommendations.

Spring and summer are great for outdoor events in North and South Carolina. Now is the time for your residents to get out of their homes and begin enjoying their community again. Outdoor fitness classes, socially-distanced picnics, and more are all ways to enjoy the outdoors and bring your community together. 

Don’t let COVID-19 cause your community to lose cohesion. You have to be more creative than normal. However, the benefits to the mental and physical well-being of your community are immense. If you’d like to learn more community management strategies and live in North or South Carolina, contact AMG today.

Why Hiring a Community Management Company for Your HOA Will Save You Time & Money?

Managing your HOA can be a strain on your time and money. There are seemingly infinite tasks associated with running a community. It takes money to perform all of these tasks as well. Because most HOA boards are run by volunteers, it can be hard to find the time to get everything done efficiently. 

Hiring a Community Management Company can solve all of your problems. Plus, they can save you time and money as well. Keep reading to find out why. 

Why Hire a Community Management Company? 

Hiring a community management company can be one of the most important things you do for your HOA. The right community management company will be made up of professionals with years of experience. That expertise helps provide your HOA with the following benefits, all of which will save your board both time and money. 

1.Financial help. 

Because money is such an important commodity for HOAs, let’s begin by discussing the financial help a community management company can provide. At AMG Association Management Group, for example, we offer a wide variety of fiscal services. These include bookkeeping and accounting, fee collection, association banking, and association taxes. 

All of the financial services offered by community management companies can be time-consuming and hard for non-specialists to complete. Unless you have an accountant with lots of time on your HOA board, it is best to bring in the professionals. Not only will they take care of these essential tasks, but they will also save you money in the long run. When everything is done correctly the first time, you will not have to pay fines or multiple fees. Plus, having a third party enforcing dues and other financial transactions for the community can solve many conflicts. 

2.Facility and community upkeep. 

Another big part of running an HOA involves community and facility upkeep. Depending on the type of community your HOA governs, there may be a lot of common spaces that need to be kept clean and in good repair. The better your common spaces are, the more appeal your community will have, which keeps your resident turn-over rate low. 

Facility services require working with vendors. A good community management company will have existing relationships with the best vendors. They can handle these relationships and ensure the work is done properly. When high-quality work is done the first time, your HOA will not have to spend more money on repairs or replacements. 

Residents of the Carolinas should consider AMG for their community management needs. We have physical offices in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Raleigh/Durham, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC. That means we are your local Carolina source for community management. Don’t gamble on an impersonal national company. With AMG you get a company with lots of resources and community-focused priorities. 

Our experts have experience running a wide range of communities. From condominiums to townhomes, life style communities, lake management, and common interest offices we can manage it all. It doesn’t matter what your HOA manages, you will love working with AMG. 

Contact us today to receive more information or a quote.