September 2015

El Nino is Coming Board Members with Hidden Agendas Self Help Less is Best When Refining Your Rules and Regulations What is a “Request for Proposal”?

August 2015

Berkeley Balcony Tragedy Solving the Reconstruction Puzzle! Lender Requirements Affect Everyone Business v. Politics or Management v. Board Level 3 Inspections: A Non-Invasive Approach to Tree Risk Management

July 2015

Special Assessments Inspection of Records in a Homeowners Association Tell Everyone How You Maintain, Protect and Enhance! Hate Rules Enforcement by your Community Association? Color: Theory and Perception

June 2015

Your Keys to an Energy Efficient Future! Inspection of Records in a Homeowners Association The Association Death Spiral and How to Avoid It Dynamic Negotiations Challenging Directors: Some Practical Tips […]

May 2015

Optional Insurance Coverage Overview Avoiding Illegal Board Activity and Lawsuits The Science Behind Irrigation Water Management Reality Check – The Truth About People, Pets, and Parking New Airbnb Law Legalizing […]

April 2015

Top Traits of Great Boards of Directors HOA Emergency Planning The Lost Art of Roof Maintenance Responding to a Recall Petition Does the Tow Company Owe You Money?

March 2015

Board Member Fiduciary Duty Is Your HOA Unknowingly Engaging in Discrimination? The HOA was Sued and We Should “Tender” – What Does that Mean? Reserve Study Results – What to […]

February 2015

2014 California Community Association Financial Survey Managing Association Contractors and Service Providers 10 Things Every Board Should Know About Architectural Controls What’s In a Warranty? Use of Association Funds

January 2015

How to Evaluate Your HOA Manager What Does “Certified” Mean? How Old is Old Enough? CC&R Enforcement

December 2014

New Laws for 2015 Take Those Partial Payments Color 101: Color Basics Is Your Irrigation “Smart”?

Common Sense: Balancing Responsibility and Authority in HOAs

There is a tendency in many people to equate responsibility with power. They are clearly not the same. Responsibility is a legal obligation. Power is legal authority. A popular maxim […]

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HOA Taxes: Deadlines, Forms, and Tips

Associations, like all other businesses, are required to file taxes. Here is a brief summary of 8 tax reporting and filing requirements for your association. 

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A Guide to Rain Gutter Screens

Rain gutter screens offer the hope of reduced maintenance. But our experience from installing and removing gutter screens for over forty years indicates that sometimes they actually do reduce gutter […]

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Governing Document Amendments: Development Process and Court Intervention

To amend your HOA’s governing documents, you must begin by developing and presenting the amendments to the members. And sometimes, when a vote cannot be obtained, associations can use the […]

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Homeowner Association Financial Analysis: Part I

Published in the ECHO Journal, February 2007 One-Year Data Comparisons In the fall of 2005, my “staff” (two teen-aged sons) and I developed a spreadsheet containing financial information from all […]

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New State Certification Requirements for Electricians

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2007 Legislation was passed in 1999 requiring all electricians who work for a C-10 electrical contractor to be certified by the state of California. […]

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2006 Statute and Case Law Update: Part I

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2007 This summary of case law and legislative developments distills the legal developments in the 2006 calendar year. In Part I—Case Law, summaries are […]

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Homeowner Association Financial Analysis: Part II

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2007 Editor’s Note: Part I of this article that looked at one-year cost comparisons from 60 associations appeared in the February issue of the Journal. […]

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Have Truck, Laptop & Cell Phone—Will Travel

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2007 The Best Firm to Serve Your Needs May Not be Local The homeowner association service market is a very specialized market. The typical […]

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Owner of Record

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2007 It comes up all the time. A resident wants to attend and participate at a board meeting or wants to serve on the […]

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Getting Your HOA to “On Time and On Budget!”

An effective construction manger will display great strength through respectful and clear communication skills, will keep the HOA board informed, will create and maintain a cooperative environment, and will be […]

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2006 Statute and Case Law Update: Part II

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2007 This summary of case law and legislative developments distills the legal developments in the 2006 calendar year. In Part II—Statutory Law, the principal […]

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