Your HOA often spends a lot of money to help you and other homeowners have a great community, and you can give back by helping them save money. A lot of homeowners don’t think much about the HOA they have, unless there’s a problem they need addressed or they get fined for breaking one of the rules. Then they’re very concerned about the HOA and what it’s doing for them. However, the people who run these Associations generally work very hard, and there is often a tight budget to keep community areas in good shape and usable. The level of services can vary from one Association to the next, but none of them are inexpensive. Rather than only pay attention to the Association when there’s a problem, you can be one of the people who helps save your HOA money. Here are five ways you can do that.
1). Can you keep your yard looking great?
In addition to fining people who don’t mow their yards, some HOAs also send someone around to mow it. Then they charge the homeowner for the cost of the mowing, but it might not get paid. They could fight it, get it thrown out, or just not pay it for a lot of different reasons. If you keep your yard nice and neat, you avoid costing the Association money. They don’t have to send someone out to cut your grass, send you a violation notice, and deal with bookkeeping, follow-up letters, and other issues that can come up when an HOA wants a person to pay their bill. Eventually, some HOAs will take a person to court and have a lien placed on their property because they didn’t pay the fines they were notified about. That costs the Association a lot of money, and can keep them from using that money on services for the residents.
2). Did you forget to bring those trash cans in?
When you’re buying a home you probably don’t think much about the things like when the trash cans have to be rolled back from the curb. If you buy in a community with an HOA, though, those kinds of things definitely matter. Warnings, letters, fines, and more bookkeeping can ensue. It’s a small matter, but if everyone did their part there wouldn’t be as much for the Association to contend with. That could help them focus on other things that are arguably more important, or that can be handled in a way that benefits the residents of the entire community. Make yourself a note or a calendar reminder about those small things and help save your Association money in a lot of little ways.
3). Why does going to the meetings matter?
You should know what’s going on with your HOA, and you can do that by going to the meetings. That can help you see what kinds of plans are in the works, and it can also help you get a better understanding of what the needs might be. Then, volunteer. There are few reasons why you can’t help out, and there’s generally always something you can do that will benefit the Association in some way. Whether it’s offering to host a meeting, bringing refreshments, taking an unpaid position, or volunteering in some other way, anything you do that the Association would otherwise have to pay for can help them save money. When the HOA saves money on those kinds of things, it’s better able to provide more services to the community because the funds are available.
4). Should you get involved in your local HOA community?
Among the responsibilities of a homeowner is taking care of their home inside and out. Maintenance and other things are vital to making sure the home stays in good repair. One of the ways you can help your Association save money is to get involved in your HOA community and help keep up maintenance. It’s not just your house that matters, either, or the houses of your neighbors. It’s also all the common spaces that you can’t enjoy if they fall into disrepair. Whether you use those spaces or not, a lot of people in your community enjoy them. The Association pays a lot to maintain them, and if you can volunteer for some upkeep you’ll be doing your part to keep your community great and saving your HOA money at the same time. That way, everyone wins.
5). Do those notices cost them money to send?
It’s not difficult to make some changes that will help your HOA, so it can continue to provide a high level of service to everyone who lives within its boundaries. Even something as simple as allowing them to notify you electronically can add up. Those letters and other notices they send out to homeowners all cost, but it doesn’t cost anything to send an email. If you definitely need something in writing you can print it out or request a copy from the office, but by getting most notifications electronically you can focus on the kinds of things that really matter and let the Association do the same.
2 Point Highlight
Your HOA often spends a lot of money to help you and other homeowners have a great community, and you can give back by helping them save money.
It’s not difficult to make some changes that will help your HOA, so it can continue to provide a high level of service to everyone who lives within its boundaries.
