5 Ways For Your HOA to Prepare For Summer

With summer coming upon us, the time draws near for HOA communities to prepare for the season. Here are 5 tips that will make the transition into summer easier:

Prepare Amenities for Use

Prepare your outdoor amenities, so they are ready to be used by the residents in your community. This means ensuring grills have gas and are in working order, the decks are scrubbed/dry/safe for use, all the chairs/umbrellas in common areas are in good repair, etc. Doing all of this in the months leading up to the equipment and facilities being the most heavily used helps avoid headaches for the HOA from complaints that equipment was not ready for use.

Prepare to open the community pool.

Schedule an initial inspection with your pool vendor to ensure the facility passes city inspection if required. Cities can get busy the closer it is to summer, so be sure you are not delayed in scheduling an inspection. Also, be sure any repairs are made before the inspection. Barring city inspection, be sure to test emergency phone lines, test fences, and gates, update pool rules that are posted, update pool hours, and inspect any pool furniture.

Hire a professional landscaping company. 

It is a good idea to look for winter damage in your HOA community, but when it comes to the dos and don’ts of landscaping for the summer, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. This option gives you top experience and unrivaled knowledge of flowers, trees, grass, and climate. It is also a cost-efficient alternative to manual labor and a huge benefit to your residents and potential buyers and renters.

Making sure common areas are safe.

After a long winter, your community’s playgrounds should be inspected before summer takes full effect. Ensure all children’s playground equipment is free of potential hazards and replace bolts and other structural pieces as needed. Watch out for any other hazards such as glass or insect infestations to remove as well. Post children at play signs near playground amenities to prevent accidents along roads.

Plan community events for the summer

Summer months are the perfect time to plan events that encourage residents to get out of their houses and mingle with neighbors. Potlucks, outdoor movie screenings, community talent shows, and dances are all memorable bonding experiences. If you are a board member, use these opportunities to introduce yourselves to residents and answer questions. 

From the classic cookout to a pool party or a family fun day, the options of what type of event is appropriate are endless. When deciding what, exactly, is an appropriate event for your community association will largely be determined based on the lifestyle the people in your specific community choose to live.