Navigating the New Neighborhood: Tips for Handling Homeowners Associations

It’s SPOOKY season and things can get scary! One thing that may scare you when looking for a new home is the existence of a homeowners association (HOA). While there are plenty of positives to HOAs, such as maintaining a well-kept neighborhood and offering amenities for residents (rents and owners alike), some people may not welcome all of the rules and regulations enforced in neighborhoods with an association. 

Here are a few tips to keep your HOA from becoming a nightmare! 

Knowledge is power! First of all, it’s important to know the rules and fees and what’s what about your HOA. The covenants and by-laws should be well-known and posted publicly. There should be transparency between the community and the governing board. You should know what paying your HOA fee gets you. Many neighborhoods that have an HOA get certain amenities like the use of a community pool and common areas. 

Typically, the homeowners association maintains the streetlights, signage and foliage at neighborhood entrances, and may even offer lawn care and maintenance for your yard. In some neighborhoods, you may be responsible for maintaining your own lawn and upholding a certain standard, like perhaps a maximum grass height or sticking with colors like “Agreeable Gray” for exterior paint, and knowing the by-laws of your community. In theory, this keeps neighbors from starting a circus in their front yard and arguably keeping the property values up, but some HOAs can be pretty strict. Knowing what to expect is half the battle, so we suggest ensuring you know all expectations for homeownership in your hood before signing the dotted line! 

Get involved! If you don’t like something, change it— right? If you don’t like the way your HOA is handling things, run for a board position yourself. Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution. Many arguments or disagreements with HOAs can be avoided if you’re simply in the know (as mentioned above), but also if you’re on “team solution” and you stay or get involved. Then, you have some sense of control. 

Every homeowner should be able to vote in all meetings and for any changes in policy. Some HOAs also have lawyers on retainer and insurance, particularly if there’s a common recreational area like tennis or basketball courts or a community pool. Become involved in writing new policies and rules or editing old ones for the betterment of your entire community. 

Be transparent! Lastly, open and honest communication is key. If you’re a board member, people want to know what is happening, but more so WHY it is happening. Especially, when it comes to their hard-earned money. If people know what their dues are going towards and can see and USE the benefits they’re entitled to through paying their fees, they’re way more likely to pay said fees– and pay on time. If there’s a hold-up with maintenance or an issue with the pool and it can’t be used, street lights are going out, or projects aren’t being completed as promised, communicate that. A simple email or post on a neighborhood Facebook page stating, “Hey, guys our current lawn care service shut down, please be patient with us as we find a new service,” coupled with an invitation to provide feedback, “Please let us know if you have any suggestions for temporary or permanent solutions,” can go a looooong way and help keep the peace in your neighborhood. 

If you want to be even more proactive, mention and make everyone aware of any potential issues before they become problems, ask for help when needed, and be open to suggestions. Most people just want to be given an opportunity to be heard and understood– just make sure you listen. Even if you don’t agree or the suggestion can’t be done, acknowledging the concern and clearly stating what you are and aren’t allowed to do about it should keep everyone involved happy (or at the very least, cordial and respectful). 

The Bottom Line 

When you live in a planned community or one where a homeowners association exists, you have the power to make the most of the situation and ensure that it is a blessing and not a hindrance. Be proactive with knowing the rules and regulations, ask questions, and become involved to make it a good experience and not a nightmare! If you have questions about HOAs in your state, feel free to reach out to our team and we can lend a hand!