Articles

El Presidente Is Not El Jefe Feb 12, 2018

The office of HOA president is often misunderstood, and very serious disfunction for associations and their boards, as well as heartburn for the president, can be the...

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Reader Questions - Show Us the Money (Records)! Feb 05, 2018

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Thank you for writing for [our paper]. I find the questions and your answers very informative and useful. Can an owner within a HOA request in writing...

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Reader Questions - Why Can’t They Observe? Jan 29, 2018

Mr. Richardson,

I am a new board member. The present board does almost everything in executive session. Then the president makes short announcements at the open board...

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Reader Questions - Who Watches Our HOA? Jan 22, 2018

Dear Kelly,

Is there any agency – state, county or city – that oversees HOA boards? I am extremely frustrated by mine, and have been for years.

C.C., San Diego...

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New Year’s Resolutions [Part 4] – The Service Provider Jan 15, 2018

As the association’s service provider, I resolve to:

Number one:

    1. Follow the Golden Rule. [treating others how I want to be treated]

Proposals:

    1. Give the board...
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New Year’s Resolutions [Part 3] – The Manager Jan 08, 2018

As the association’s professional manager, I resolve to

Number one:

    1. Follow the Golden Rule.

Attitude check:

    1. Remember I am a professional, and will give the...
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New Year’s Resolutions [Part 2] – The HOA Member Jan 01, 2018

I, the HOA member, resolve to:

Number one:

    1. Follow the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.

My attitude:

    1. Not refer to the HOA or board as...
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New Year’s Resolutions [Part 1] – The Director Dec 25, 2017

As an HOA director, I resolve to:

Always:

    1. Follow the Golden Rule.

Reboot my attitude:

    1. I don’t control my neighbors, I serve them. An attitude of service will...
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Reader Questions - Why Pay Inspectors? Dec 18, 2017
 

Dear Kelly,

Our board and manager are unable to conduct an election, and our election, already past due, remains supposedly at a future date “to be...

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Reader Questions - HOA Election Glitches [Part 2] Dec 11, 2017

Dear Kelly,

Our HOA recently held elections. I was a write-in candidate. I won a slot on the Board, but was disqualified because I did not notify the association in...

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Reader Questions - HOA Election Glitches [Part 1] Dec 04, 2017

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Is there any restriction on note taking while inspecting election ballots in a delegate-based election? I believe copying is not allowed, but...

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Reader Questions - Should Boards Shine More Light on Solar Installations? Nov 27, 2017
 

Mr. Richardson,

Last year, I volunteered to sit on the architectural committee for our HOA and it really opened my eyes to how an HOA operates. Applications...

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