It is important when you live in and volunteer within your HOA community to have access to different resources.  If your community is managed, you can always ask your HOA Management company but there are times that you would like to do some of your own research and information gathering. 

Are you a Director for your community's Board of Directors?  Have you ever held that position before?  To learn more information about "Your Director Hat, A Guide to Serving as a Director On a Board" by Greg Zadel visit http://www.YourDirectorHat.com.  Greg Zadel has served on many Boards of Directors and is currently the President Elect for the Colorado Association of REALTORS (CAR).  What a great resource from someone that has been there and done that.

Are you perplexed by the different laws effecting HOA's and how they are changing and being modified?  Hindman and Sanchez are attorneys in the Denver Metro area that focus on Homeowner Associations needs.  They have many great resources on their web site, a newsletter that you can sign up for, classes to help you better understand and more.  The information they provide is great for the entire community!

Reserve studies look at your community's common areas and determine what it will take to replace those common elements.  They should look at the life expectancy of those items through a physical inspection.  We all know roofs say they will last 20, 30, 40 years but know that they really don't.  Through a physical inspection, reserve study companies will give the community a better idea when they should expect to replace a roof and the future cost.  Also, they should look at painting of the buildings within the common areas - those areas that have the sun "beating" on them will need to be painted sooner than shaded areas.  A Vantage Properties has worked with Reserve Advisors and have been greatly impressed with the information that they have provided. 

The Community Association Institute is an Association for Homeowner Associations.  They provide resourses for vendors that provide services to HOA's.  They provide education for homeowners so they can be better participants within their community.  For HOA managers, they provide classes and designations.  They also work with the governments on legislations to better communities and associations.

We hear from many living in communities stating that they just wish they knew more information about what was happening.  One great way for a board or an HOA manager to share information in an easy way is through blogs.  Blogs do not require a lot of technical skills, time, or money unlike updating a web site.  Also, information on a blog will last longer than a mailed newsletter that may or may not be read and then thrown away.  A great place to sign up for a blog is through Real Town Blogs.

Have fun exploring these different resources that A Vantage Properties uses in our management of Homeowner Associations.