Summer Living in an HOA – The Pool
Living in Minnesota we know all too well how much our temperatures swing between summer to winter. We go from one cold extreme to a very hot extreme within a few short months. That makes having a pool in your HOA very attractive in the summertime. It’s important to keep in mind some of the […]
Summer Storms
We’ve already experienced some of the fury Mother Nature can produce this summer season resulting in widespread hail damage to roofs and siding in the south metro. We thought this would be a great time to share a few tidbits regarding insurance coverages and what to do in the event of server weather. If you’ve […]
Summer Living in an HOA – Nuisance Barking
As summer approaches, it’s inevitable that noise complaints in many forms will arise within an HOA. One of the most common issues is barking dogs. The definition of nuisance barking varies from one association to the next, and some City Ordinances, but examples of common definitions include: Nuisance noise from a dog is defined as […]
How Associations Work – Sharper Management’s Role – A Closer Look
We often are asked about services homeowners perceive to be the responsibility of the management company. In actuality, contracts vary from one HOA to another depending upon the HOA’s budgets and needs. The duties of the management company will be outlined in the Management Agreement and often involve both administrative and site management services, but […]
Getting Ready to Sell in an HOA
Prepping for the sale of your home doesn’t need to be an arduous task. Just like selling any other single-family home, selling your townhouse or condo may require a few interior updates and fixes, but there are also a few simple things that you can do that will go a long way in adding appeal […]
How Associations Work – Sharper Management’s Role
While the elected board of a CIC, or Common Interest Community, operates on behalf of preserving their community, they will most likely hire a management company to aid them in the day-to-day duties. The management company will act under the board’s orders and takes direction from them on how to manage the association under their […]
Understanding Your Governing Documents
After joining a CIC, or Common Interest Community, each member receives governing documents they must follow in respect to how the community and individual units are operated and used. In most cases, governing documents include a declaration, bylaws, articles of incorporation, and rules and regulations. Those documents will describe important administration or financial info like […]
Construction Chat: Navigating a Bad Ice Dam Year
The up and down temperatures and the record-breaking February snow totals have been the perfect recipe for ice dam formation on various types of roofs this year. Ice dams are particularly tricky for associations because the line between Homeowner vs. Association responsibility can become rather blurred. First, it is important to understand how and why […]
Winter in Minnesota
Now that we’re in February, Minnesota’s winter is roughly halfway over. Whether you love the cold or hate it, it is part of everyday life in the northland. If you’ve recently downsized into a smaller townhouse or condo, you might be dealing with a worse case of cabin fever than normal. To help cheer you […]
Insurance: So Why Does the Association Have to File a Claim?
There are few things trickier and more complicated in the operation of a community association than that of insurance. What types of policies must the association have? What is the scope of coverage? How does the “master policy” work with the individual homeowner’s policy (“HO6”)? There are many components and questions. Perhaps the most seldom […]