Blog - Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO)

Holistic Land Stewardship

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, January 2013 Holistic land stewardship is a frame of reference for considering the larger ecology when making decisions about the design and maintenance of your […]

Fund Accounting Vs. Equity Method of Reporting: Which One is Right for You?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, January 2013 Financial statements for a homeowners’ association may be presented using either the Fund Accounting Method of Reporting or the Equity Method of Reporting. […]

Making Ends Meet: Fiduciary Duty on a Limited Budget

Educational Topics

It wasn’t so long ago that delinquencies were up, assessment payments were down and the bad economy strained the many aspects of homeowner association operations. The only thing that didn’t […]

How to Revive Your Corporate Status

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2013 If your homeowners association is a corporation, has it been suspended and you don’t know why? Or, do you know why, but don’t […]

FAQs on Water Management

Educational Topics

Cagwin & Dorward’s Water Manager, Paul Schultz, shares customer’s frequently asked questions. You might just have some of the same questions yourself. I received a letter from the water district […]

Every HOA Must Adopt Election Rules – Following the Civil Code Isn’t Enough

Educational Topics

California HOA boards who fail to adopt elections rules are in violation of the law – even when they follow the procedures outlined in California’s Civil Code. This article explains […]

Write-In Candidates: When are they Required?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2013 A major legislative overhaul of how homeowners associations in California are required to conduct director elections (and other membership votes) occurred in 2006.[1] […]

Water, Water Everywhere – Who Is Responsible For The Damage?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2013 A burning question for associations and owners is who is responsible to make repairs and restore property when there is a water leak […]

Monthly Irrigation Tips

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2013 Jan – Monitor irrigation related water meters in “off season” for mainline leaks. Feb – Pre-season irrigation review. Repair, check, and fine tune […]

It Takes a Village

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2013 Owner and the Association’s Mutual Maintenance Responsibility and How It Affects the Building Longevity Have you, the board member, or your association manager […]

Changing the Rules: Can the Board of Directors Transfer Maintenance Responsibilities to the Owners?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2013 A Board of Directors may at times wish to transfer a part of the Association’s maintenance responsibility to the individual owners. This can […]

HOA Guide to Painting: How to Choose the Best Color and Contractor

Educational Topics

Repainting the buildings in your association can be a daunting task, but we’ve got you covered. Learn how to select the right colors, what finishes to use, how to prepare […]