If you are purchasing a new home, there’s a chance that home might be in a neighborhood, building or subdivision with a homeowner’s association (HOA). An HOA is an organization comprised of homeowners within that community, and the group is charged with creating and enforcing the rules and restrictions for properties in the community.
If your new neighborhood has an HOA, you’re in luck: neighborhoods with HOAs whose members have a vested stake in the success of the area — and create policies to ensure that success — often thrive. However, it is important to stay on good terms with your HOA in order to ensure you reap the benefits of having one. Here are some tips for dealing with your HOA to ensure your experience in your new home is as happy and successful as possible.
1. Learn the Rules
The whole point of having an HOA is to set policies and rules for the neighborhood. In order to ensure you stay on good terms with the HOA, learn the rules that the organization has established. You may expect the rules to include things like restrictions on what color you can paint the outside of your home, what you can do to your yard and how you can park your vehicles (among many other things). Become well-versed in the rules of the HOA, and you can minimize the chance that you will have to interact with them in a negative manner.
2. Communicate With the Members of the HOA
In order to establish a good relationship with your HOA, you need to communicate with its members. While you might not be used to forging strong bonds with your neighbors, creating good relationships with other members of an HOA can ensure they are looking out for you — and that you are approached about any problem to remedy it before being charged a fine or fee for a violation.
3. Ask for Approval
If you want to make changes to the outside of your home, approach the HOA before you do it. Even if you aren’t planning to do something directly prohibited by bylaws, it can be useful to run the changes by the association to ensure they won’t violate any rules. You can avoid any fines or fees by asking the HOA first — and the association will appreciate the fact that you sought their approval.
4. Consider Becoming a Part of the Board
The board of the HOA is the group that ensures all regulations and policies are followed. If you want to establish a good relationship with members of the board, consider becoming a member of it yourself. When your HOA has elections for board members, run for a position and ask your neighbors and friends to support you. By spending time on the governing board of the HOA, you can arm yourself with an extensive knowledge of the bylaws, and establish strong, positive relationships with your neighbors.
5. Pay Your Dues
Residents who live in neighborhoods with an HOA pay dues to ensure the neighborhood is well-maintained. If you have an HOA, always pay your dues in-full and on-time. While it may seem obvious, paying your dues early and without any issues will ensure that you stay in good favor, and that you can benefit from all of the services the HOA provides.
Amy and Michael Ifland are full-time realtors with nearly 20 years experience in the Houston Real Estate Market. If you’re buying a home in the Houston metropolitan area, please call 281.760.7299 or submit a contact form.
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