Journals Archive - Page 3 of 16 - Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO)

State Law Mandates Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Homes and Communities

Every year, thousands of Americans are victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, requiring hospitilzation and sometimes even dying as a result. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless – and toxic […]

Protecting Your HOA from Fraud and Embezzlement

Unfortunately, fraud happens in homeowners associations. No strategy will guarantee that your HOA won’t be a victim of theft or embezzlement, but your board can take reasonable steps to reduce […]

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Green Amenities for HOA Property

There are nearly 100,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in California – 40 percent of the national PEV market. Your homeowners association may have already received requests for charging stations on […]

Effective Communication Is Necessary When Managing an Emergency

Communication Is the Key to Disaster Management Management of any disaster or emergency event is a complicated and multi-faceted task. One of the most important, and oftentimes overlooked, parts of […]

How to Evaluate Your HOA Manager

How do you know if your HOA manager is doing a good job? Identify problems, and learn how to get better service for your condominium or association.

We Won the Case: Now What?

From time to time, a community association is forced to sue a member who has violated the governing documents. Many times, these lawsuits are “settled” without trial. Sometimes however, a […]

When Disaster Strikes: Emergency Planning for Community Associations

Start Planning for a Disaster Now Consider this scenario: You are a board member for an HOA that represents over 300 residents in a condominium complex of 20 buildings. In the […]

The 3 Methods of HOA Accounting and Financial Statements

We recommend that HOAs use the Accrual Basis of Accounting for financial statements. Learn the differences between accrual, modified accrual, and cash basis accounting, and how they affect your financials.

Please Park Responsibly: The Ins and Outs of Parking Rules

Although CA State regulates private property towing, it gives each city the freedom to write more restrictive municipal codes. Some cities require the properties to pay for permits to allow […]

Problem Solving

Whether you are an owner, a board member, or a manager, here are some thoughts and philosophy about problem solving: Do not put the blinders on and ignore the good […]

Drafting the Construction Contract for Your HOA

What Is a Construction Contract? When your property manager reports to a board that one portion or a significant element of the common area is in need of repair, the […]

When Is Contruction Really Complete?

During project closeout, many differing interests and perspectives—some of them conflicting—create a complex dynamic. Pinpointing whether or not construction is truly “over” isn’t always a simple, straightforward matter. Numerous individuals […]

Issue Three 2021

Issue Two 2021

Issue One 2021

November/December 2020

September/October 2020

July/August 2020

Echo’s May/June 2020 Journal

March/April 2020

January/February 2020

November 2019