Welcome Packets and Your HOA
A welcome packet is a nice way to make new families in your HOA feel at home and provide them with handy information about your community. Some ideas regarding items to include are: Welcome letter. It would be expected for a welcome packet to contain a welcome letter from the HOA community. This letter can be generic and used for every new resident. Be sure to include a brief explanation of what is contained in the rest of the packet and note when the next HOA Board meeting will be taking place. Community rules and regulations. Even though rules and regulations have likely been covered already, it’s not to have a handy list for new residents. Amenity information. If your community has shared amenities, like a pool, gym, or clubhouse include a sheet detailing hours of operation and any other relevant information. Some examples of other information include if reservations are required, COVID guidelines regarding the shared gym area, or pool usage information. Owner contact sheet. If you don’t collect this information at closing, the Welcome Packet is an appropriate place to include a sheet to collect new owner’s contact information in case of emergency. Local points of interest. Exploring the community beyond the HOA is one of the most engaging parts of moving to a new home. Your Welcome Packet can make this an easier process for new residents by including local points of interest. Restaurant ideas, the address of the local library, or a “hidden gem” in the neighborhood like a great dog park are all nice tidbits to include and will help new residents in your HOA feel right at home.
Sharper News – Christopher Gosse Promoted to Senior Community Manager
Sharper Management is pleased to announce Community Manager Christopher Gosse has been promoted to Senior Community Manager at Sharper Management. Gosse will continue to manager properties for Sharper, but will also become a mentor to new Community Mangers joining the Sharper Management team. Gosse, a member of the Sharper Management family since January 2016, is a highly experienced community manager in virtually all areas of property management. “His vast knowledge in community management and his ability to put his personal touch on each situation is hugely beneficial. We looking forward to sharing Gosse’s expertise throughout our team of community managers,” states Matt Froehlich, Partner and Head of Operations at Sharper Management Gosse is a two-time CAI-MN Vision Award winner taking home back-to-back wins in 2016 (Rookie of the Year) and in 2017 (Financial Impact).
Creating a Maintenance Plan for Your HOA
Creating a Maintenance Plan for your HOA As we near the end of February, your Board conversations are likely turning to summer maintenance projects. Having an overall Maintenance Plan in place is a helpful tool to have in your pocket at this time of year. An effective approach to maintaining your Association helps to ensure you are spending maintenance dollars where they are needed the most. Five Key Goals a Maintenance Plan Should Achieve: First and foremost, a Maintenance Plan is in place to preserve the value of all owner’s investment in the property. Enhance the property value, maintain the property value and create a comfortable place to live. Increase efficiency of HOA operations. Preventative Maintenance Plans help buildings operate efficiently. By effectively maintaining equipment, it functions at the highest levels and can reduce operational inefficiencies due to unexpected breakdown and can lessen wasteful energy usage. Prevent failures of building systems. Buildings that operate trouble-free allow the occupants to enjoy the property as intended. Preventive maintenance includes regular inspections and replacement of equipment crucial to building operations. Sustain a safe and healthy environment. Protecting the physical integrity of building components preserves a safe environment for residents. Provide cost effective maintenance. Preventive maintenance can prevent minor problems from escalating into major failures and costly repairs. Preventive maintenance can be handled relatively cheaply, efficiently and systematically through advance scheduling while major failures always happen after hours, at peak billing times and to equipment that must be special ordered. An overall Maintenance Plan provides clear direction to the board and management on how and when to make repairs to building and grounds components. If followed in conjunction with a reserve study, the components will enjoy their maximum useful lives and related repair costs kept to a minimum.