Our Blog

How to Handle Foreclosures with Aplomb If you’re like most HOA board members, you probably don’t enjoy dealing with foreclosures, especially if the HOA board is the one initiating foreclosure proceedings. And that makes sense! After all, these are friends and neighbors who are facing hard times and you don’t want to make the situation […]... [Read More...]

Parking can become a big deal in an HOA if you don’t have a plan in place for how to deal with it. Whether your members have assigned parking spots, there is a lot up for grabs, or everyone parks in their own driveways, here’s what you need to know to keep the hassle out […]... [Read More...]

These days, most HOA boards have a management company that works alongside them. AMI is one of these companies, but there are many that you can choose from. If you’re transitioning to working with a management company or choosing a new one, you’ll want to make sure you find one that is a good match […]... [Read More...]

Drones are becoming a big deal in some HOAs across the country. It’s true! People worry that their neighbors can spy on them, they hate the noise, or they are afraid that the drones will cause damage. Drones can also do some really cool things. They can take photographs of damage to homes or other […]... [Read More...]

Part of being on an HOA board is participating in and chairing committees. Some board members hate this part of the job because they feel like committees are pointless or like they take forever to make any decisions. However, that usually has more to do with how the committee is run than with the committee […]... [Read More...]

It happens to every homeowners association at some point in time: a project pops up that urgently needs to be completed but that you have not budgeted for. Not doing it is not an option but you’ve got to find the money. This can be a tough place, but you always have choices. Unplanned Projects […]... [Read More...]

It’s 2021, which means your HOA should have a user-friendly website where your members can get all of the information they need to live well in your community. Gone are the days when a Facebook page or a basic website will do the trick. Here’s what your website should include to make it as useful […]... [Read More...]

There are so many rewarding things about being on an HOA board. You get to know your community members better and you get to work hard to make your home a better place. However, there are also some difficult jobs that come with being on the board. One of the hardest is dealing with homeowner […]... [Read More...]

In many communities, ‘tis the season for electing new board members. If you are considering HOA board membership in your community or you’ve just been elected, it’s important to know how to find success in this job. Here’s what you need to think about to have a successful tenure as an HOA board member. Remain […]... [Read More...]

Dealing with renters can be tricky for members of an HOA board. After all, it’s usually better to have a home occupied even if the occupant isn’t an owner. However, renters often care less about following the HOA’s rules and keeping up the home they live in, simply because it isn’t theirs. Here’s what you, […]... [Read More...]

Expenses rise almost constantly and many HOA boards find themselves in a battle between members who don’t want to contribute more money and budgets that will not balance without additional funding. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to try and shave a few more dollars off the budget. Every dollar you save […]... [Read More...]

COVID-19 has thrown many aspects of our culture into chaos. Even though we are months into the pandemic now, changing regulations mean that people are on edge and don’t always know what to expect. As part of your responsibilities on your HOA board, it’s up to you to help your members understand how to live […]... [Read More...]

Many homeowners who move into HOA communities for the first time have a lot of questions about the board. Some may not understand the purpose of the board or what their responsibilities are. Others might be interested in participating as board members but need more understanding of what that involves. These are some of the […]... [Read More...]

Most HOA communities have all sorts of rules covering home renovations. These state which renovations need to be approved by the board or the design committee before homeowners start the work. They should also articulate how the process works and what sort of timeline homeowners can expect so they know when they can schedule builders, […]... [Read More...]

Most HOA board members sign up for conflict, but they often don’t realize just how contentious being on the board can be. If members are unhappy and feel like it’s been a long time since someone really heard their voices, they can make life difficult in significant ways. As a board, here’s what you can […]... [Read More...]

Managing an HOA’s budget is not a job for the faint of heart. After all, this budget affects everyone in your association and many will have differing opinions on how and where money should be spent. Once you’ve established a strong HOA budget plan, you need to constantly check in to make sure you’re sticking […]... [Read More...]

With the Coronavirus running rampant around the United States, many HOAs are struggling to hold effective virtual board meetings. It can be hard to get the technology working, make sure everyone has access to the meeting, and figure out who should speak when. Here are a few tips for making your meetings maximally effective even […]... [Read More...]

As a member of your HOA board, you care about how your community functions and you’d like to make it work better. In fact, you probably decided to run for board membership because there are issues in your community that you would like to deal with or ideas you have for how things could work […]... [Read More...]

At AMI, we strive to offer the best HOA management service around. If you work with us now, we want you to hold us accountable to the promises we made to you when we formed our relationship. If you don’t work with us now, consider whether your current manager or management company is doing a […]... [Read More...]

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, more and more HOA boards are finding themselves faced with new questions. Some of these questions have been around since all of this started in March, while others seem to pop up every day. Here are some ways you can help your members during this crisis, while also looking out […]... [Read More...]

Emotional support animals are a hot issue for many HOAs. For several years now, people have been passing off a variety of animals as emotional support animals. Dogs and cats are one thing, but peacocks, miniature horses, and even chickens can be entirely another, especially when they are in Florida condos, houses, or even back […]... [Read More...]

As an HOA board member, resident age may not be something you’ve thought much about. However, your community has certain responsibilities to older residents that may not apply to younger ones or that are more important for the elders in your community. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re helping […]... [Read More...]

While hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1st, Tropical Storm Arthur got ahead of the game. It formed off the coast of Florida on May 16th. Though it didn’t cause significant damage on land, it’s a good reminder that everyone needs to be ready for these storms before they come through. This includes HOA […]... [Read More...]

While some topics will always need to be dealt with and worked around in an HOA, other topics seem to come and go. These might be based on legislation in other locales, developing technology, or an increased awareness of certain aspects of life. No matter what they are based on, though, it’s important to address […]... [Read More...]

The COVID-19 crisis is changing everyday life across America. Previously, we discussed how you, as an HOA board member, can help your members get through the COVID-19 crisis. However, you need to take care of yourself and protect your board, too. Here’s what you need to know so you can take the proper precautions. Close […]... [Read More...]

With COVID-19, or Coronavirus, keeping people in their homes more and more, HOA board members may find themselves interacting with their neighbors more than they have in the past. They may also realize that there are a few steps they can take to make this crisis easier for the people in their community. Here are […]... [Read More...]

If you’re on the HOA board, then you probably know how important it is to allocate your money effectively. There’s only so much of it each year and it’s easy to let the budget get bloated in certain areas. Here are some ways that you can make sure you’re getting the most out of every […]... [Read More...]

It’s easy to forget who your neighbors are if you don’t see them very much! As part of your HOA board, it’s part of your job to help them get to know each other. Spring can be a great time to plan some community activities that help people make new friends and remain in contact […]... [Read More...]

It’s easy to get nervous when the time comes for your community to vote on new board members. Though most HOAs are set up so that anyone who wants to run for an open space on the board can, many candidates show up because they are nominated or encouraged by a current board member. If […]... [Read More...]

The year is fast approaching its end. Surprising as that may feel, it’s coming whether your HOA board is prepared or not. Some board members may relish the new year as a fresh start for your board and your community. Others may hate it because it involves extra paperwork or frantic deadlines. No matter how […]... [Read More...]