A homeowner at North Park in Valencia says he reached out to his homeowner’s association with an application to put in a drought-tolerant garden, but says his application was delayed and ultimately rejected by the board.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/homeowner-at-odds-with-hoa-over-drought-tolerant-landscape-rules/
A homeowner has been praised online after confessing to parking his truck outside a home and revving its engine daily in a bid to annoy his homeowner association.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/homeowner-association-reddit-truck-post-1743655
Charlotte neighbors say they've received warnings about potential fines from their HOA for mailboxes that were damaged by thieves.
Man involved in a civil dispute with his homeowner’s association was arrested, accused of sending threatening messages to the firm representing the HOA.
Federal legislation was introduced to provide condominium associations access to insured building rehabilitation loans—a move that would help board members make critical structural and safety-based condo repairs.
Although it doesn't quite feel like it yet, Fall is just around the corner. What better time to start prepping your home for the weather to come? We've gathered the most important Fall home maintenance tasks to get you and your home ready for this next season.
MAKE SURE YOUR ROOF IS IN GOOD SHAPE
Inspect for missing and loose shingles. Ice, rain, snow and wind combined with rapidly changing temperatures and humidity wreak havoc on roofs. Your roof is your first defense in protecting your home. Without it functioning properly, water damage can occur. This causes deterioration to insulation, wood and drywall, making electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems vulnerable.
CLEAN OUT YOUR GUTTERS
It’s good to clean out your gutters every season, but it is most important to do before fall hits because you don’t want them to get clogged. All of the leaves on your trees will fall and these can easily get stuck in your gutters and cause damage if the weight becomes too heavy.
FIX ANY CRACKS IN YOUR DRIVEWAY
When water gets into cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger. Enough small cracks can turn into big cracks, and eventually the concrete can crumble. You would prefer a driveway without a giant pothole. So, using concrete crack sealer, fill it up and be done with it.
SEAL UP AIR LEAKS
A home with air leaks around windows and doors is like a coat left unbuttoned. Gaps in caulk and weatherstripping let cold air into your warm home, and sealing up a drafty house can save up to 20% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN
You know what they say: The best offense is a good defense. If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active when the grass isn't growing, so applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage.
HAVE YOUR FURNACE INSPECTED
Hire an HVAC professional to test for leaks, check heating efficiency, and change the filter. They can also do a carbon monoxide check to ensure air safety. It’s also a good idea to stock up on extra air filters and change them every few months.
SWEEP YOUR CHIMNEY, AND CLEAN YOUR FIRE PLACE
This is an extremely important check that you need to do before the start of the fall season. Creosote is a very high flammable substance that builds up inside the chimney as a result of burning wood and it needs to be cleaned out for your safety and energy efficiency. Before you get the fireplace up and running with your marshmallows, your fireplace also needs a thorough cleaning. Make sure there are no nests from spiders, and clean out all the leaves that may have fallen into the fireplace area.
PUT SEASONAL FURNITURE AWAY
A lot of homeowners forget to store their summer patio furniture before fall. While this may not be a problem for drier regions, homes that experience a lot of rain should contemplate putting their seasonal furniture away before fall hits. This could potentially save you a lot of money and from needing to replace your outdoor furniture next year.
INSPECT YOUR SCREENS AND WINDOWS
Fall is the perfect time to throw open windows and let fresh, cool air inside before the days get too chilly. But you should check your screens first to make sure they are aren't warped or bent. Large spaces encourage curious insects to enter your home. This is also a good time to check your window weatherstripping to make sure the felt is intact and not letting any drafts through.
Fall is right around the corner. With it comes dropping temperatures that can damage your home. How are you preparing your home for this transition from summer to autumn?
Carolinas HOA Management Company Gifts Four College Scholarships to Community Students
(GREENSBORO, NC) Four college students have been awarded $1000 scholarships from Association Management Group (AMG), one of the Carolinas’ largest professional homeowner association managers, representing more than 30,000 property owners. Open to residents and vendors of AMG properties, as well as AMG employees and family members, the third annual AMG College Scholarship Program selected the winning students based on essays they wrote about the importance of community. The essays were evaluated anonymously by a judging panel comprised of twelve people: representatives and staff from AMG, HOA board members from Greensboro and Charlotte, NC, and Greenville, SC, as well as client community vendors. “We are in the business of helping create safe, enjoyable, attractive communities with the goal of enhancing the quality of life of residents through effective homeowner association governance,” said AMG Founder and CEO Paul Mengert. “It’s quite meaningful to hear from these students about how powerful community has been in their lives and the ways their neighborhoods are inspiring them to be our leaders of tomorrow. How these scholars value their communities is a true tribute to the dedicated volunteers who serve on their hometown association boards.”
This year’s AMG College Scholarship Program winners:
Tiffany Soliben of Aiken, SC, who attends Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, SC, was awarded the Corey Flynt Scholarship. The scholarship commemorates the life of Flynt, who died in a 2017 car accident. He was the son of AMG President Dacy Cavicchia and brother to Charlotte Director of Operations Danielle Rudisill and Special Projects Coordinator Cassie Kutay.
Christian Willis of Greensboro, NC, a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, received the Tommy Badgett Scholarship, named in honor of a long-term AMG employee and friend who passed away in January 2021.
Hakim Thompson of Mebane, NC, matriculating at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC, won the Billie Butler Scholarship, which celebrates Butler’s twenty-plus years of service to AMG clients in the Charlotte area.
Khamryn Pollock of Woodruff, SC, a student at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, was awarded the Ron Erickson Scholarship, to commemorate the life and accomplishments of the late world-class financial planning professional and role model.
“The AMG College Scholarship Program celebrates several inspiring people who mean so much to AMG and their communities,” said May Gayle Mengert, AMG Vice President. “AMG cannot think of a better way to honor their lives and legacy than by assisting future generations in their advancement, as these individuals have the same passion and commitment for higher education.”
About AMG: AMG is a professional community association management company dedicated to building effective community associations. AMG guides and assists executive boards to help protect the association's interests, enhance the lives of community members, and improve the property values in the community. With offices throughout the Carolinas in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC, AMG is a knowledgeable partner in enforcing community governing documents with a proven set of processes and techniques, and supporting communities with a broad range of services which can be tailored to individual community needs. Association Management Group, Inc. is a locally Accredited Business by the BBB and is a nationally Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) by the Community Associations Institute. For more about AMG, visit https://www.amgworld.com.
Imagine no longer being able to collect assessments from property owners to pay for maintenance of a dam. What if your volunteer association board was prohibited from enacting reasonable rules or setting a policy about fencing, setbacks, and architectural changes? Consider the chaos if your community governance documents were suddenly voided.
All of these scenarios became very real probabilities in North Carolina in recent years. In addition, these probabilities were being carefully watched by Community Association Institute (CAI) chapters across the US, because the way North Carolina handled the issue could inspire similar action–and set a precedent–around the nation.
Thanks to the efforts of the NC Legislative Action Committee (NC LAC) and a team of volunteer stakeholders over the last two years, NC Senate Bill 278 was recently signed into law by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (now enacted Session Law 2022-12). The new law specifically excepts planned community and condominium covenants from invalidation under North Carolina’s Marketable Title Act – put another way, it prevents homeowner and condo associations from losing the governance and decision-making rights they have been granted for decades.
According to Weldon Jones, CAI lobbyist and attorney practicing HOA and condo law with Jordan Price in Raleigh, NC, it’s a big win for all involved. He’s been in the trenches on this issue since 2019. “Owners can now feel confident that what they bought into, believe in, and love will remain,” he said. “And on the flip side, HOA and condo volunteer boards can be confident that owners must honor their commitments, per the covenants.”
It all began with two 2021 NC Court of Appeals opinions, one on the Marketable Title Act (MTA), a law from the early 1970s intended to limit how far into the past real estate title searches had to go. The MTA states that all restrictions beyond a property’s residential status are eliminated after thirty years if they aren’t specifically written into each deed. While the court cases involved old restrictive covenants that did not apply to community associations, the broad language wiping out all old restrictions suddenly left associations created before 1991 in doubt, opening them up to undesirable changes in their communities and hampering the ability of volunteer boards to accomplish goals, from enforcing architectural control, to collecting assessments, to maintaining the property. The problem wasn’t just that the new ruling might invalidate an association itself. It was the more subtle, confusing issue of removing restrictions from some homeowner lots, depending on the language written into the individual deeds. Bottom line: According to the court rulings, existing association documents and governance might not be enforceable for some of their owners. In a word: chaos.
At the same time, another case cast doubt on whether older condominiums were able to use collection methods from the Condominium Act of 1986. It was clear that legislative solutions were required, since these rulings contradicted long-standing practice and legislative intentions for association governance, as outlined in the Condominium Act of 1986 and the Planned Community Act of 1999.
Complicating the NC LAC’s efforts to protect association rights were many competing interests regarding changes to the MTA. It was hard for commercial real estate attorneys, title insurance professionals, realtors, closing attorneys, association managers, and homeowners to envision–much less achieve–a solution that would work for all. NC LAC chair Paul Mengert, founder and CEO of Association Management Group, Inc. (AMG), made it his priority to bring everyone and their disparate opinions to the table with a common purpose to preserve the full governance rights of associations. It worked. The NC LAC partnered with stakeholders and North Carolina legislators to prevent the covenants of homeowner and condo associations from being invalidated under the MTA.
The team also inserted changes into 47C of the 1986 Condominium Act to ensure provisions apply to condos built before then, regardless of their declarations, enabling them to collect assessments in the same manner as newer communities. Mengert believes an important factor in achieving a positive outcome was reaching across the table to work with the NC Association of Realtors. “I have known Kelly Marks, 2021 president of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, for many years and worked with him throughout my career,” Mengert noted. “Kelly quickly understood the dire ramifications to community associations and those homeowners. He helped us form an alliance with the Realtors and get their powerful legal lobbying teams to work with us on solving the possible consequences of the recent court cases.”
Cynthia Jones, an attorney with Sellers, Ayers, Dortch, and Lyons, P.A. in Charlotte and President of the North Carolina chapter of CAI, believes such coalition-building and collaboration were critical to the success of the new bill. As chair of the Business Partner Council of national CAI, and a member of the national CAI Board of Trustees, Jones understands the power of teamwork and commitment. “This was a huge deal and extremely important to our CAI membership in a real rubber-hits-the-road way,” she said. “We attorneys understood the implications and did our best to convey our concerns to others. We knew if we didn’t fix it, it would be a massive issue for all North Carolina associations.”
Mengert’s long tenure as NC LAC chair, along with his decades in the association management business, gave him a unique perspective on what was happening. He understood how dire the court ruling could be for associations and how big a difference advocacy could make, despite the diverse viewpoints within the legal and real estate industry. “While our group shares fundamental goals, opinions on how to accomplish the goals often differ,” Mengert pointed out. “It’s hard enough to convince everyone within our industry to come together on solutions for matters ranging from solar panels to virtual meetings, to title restrictions, to collection procedures. Imagine how hard it is to convince those outside our industry. For this recent legislation, I believe it was a successful combining of everybody’s desires: trying to get people much of what they wanted without too much of what they didn’t want. It was really quite remarkable that our LAC was able to align with the North Carolina Association of Realtors, the title insurance industry, and the NC Bar Association to quickly and effectively pass legislation to protect North Carolina associations.”
Cynthia Jones notes that meaningful change only happens when knowledgeable, dedicated people are willing to come together–and work together. “When this issue arose, the fact that we could all quickly put our heads together to brainstorm solutions to resolve this problem and work with legislators was just amazing. The NC LAC was instrumental throughout the entire process, giving countless hours to think about what was needed, revise the bill’s language, and talk with legislators. It would not have happened without our NC LAC.”
Lobbyist Weldon Jones also believes the expansion of the NC LAC to include an impressive stakeholder team was essential to success. “Two heads are better than one,” he stated. “The more people you have advocating for an issue, the better. Along with national CAI, we were aligning with some powerful entities: NC Realtors Association and NC Bar Association are significant lobbying groups in the state. CAI gets a lot of respect for being able to leverage all of these relationships into partnerships to raise awareness about this issue. The number of people working on this had an enormous impact across industries.”
Tim Sellers, founding member of Sellers, Ayers, Dortch, and Lyons P.A. and NC LAC member, concurs. “When you have so many competing interests on a significant issue, it is very rare that there is a legislative solution, that the General Assembly will come together and agree to pass something,” he observed. “Controversial things are hard to pass; cooperation and consensus are much easier to pass. The tension was to try and negotiate a solution that could be supported by everyone on our team. It took a lot of conversation and word changes, negotiation and arguments–all behind the scenes–to arrive at this language of cooperation and consensus that was ultimately supported by everyone. That’s what we accomplished, and we did it in relatively short order.”
But collaboration doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes strong leadership, says attorney Jim Slaughter, President of Law Firm Carolinas and another key participant in the new legislation. “The NC Legislative Action Committee and various interest groups were vital to this process, but NC LAC Chair Paul Mengert deserves specific recognition,” he commented. “Paul personally acted to bring certain stakeholders to the table, reached out to legislators of influence directly, and repeatedly pushed to get the proposal acted on during this two-year legislative cycle. He continued to seek passage of the bill even as it got moved from committee to committee, was not adopted in 2021, and the language was removed from one (unrelated) bill and attached to another (unrelated) bill. Senate Bill 278 would not have been enacted without CAI leaders like Paul and others, whose relentless efforts made it happen.”
Cynthia Jones believes the same kind of team effort that pushed through Senate Bill 278 can work on the neighborhood level. “HOAs struggle with finding residents willing to engage, step in, and assist,” she stated. “It’s hard to fill these unpaid volunteer positions, which can often take up a lot of time, depending on the issues the association faces. This recent legislative success shows that collaboration is vital, whether it’s figuring out new rules for the swimming pool, deciding to allow trampolines, designating green space use, or setting up a social committee to plan an event. Boards can form committees to research issues, poll residents, and promote changes, so the board doesn’t have to do everything themselves. Many hands make light work–and a huge difference in community governance and activities. We need each other.”
Paul Mengert agrees. “It is hard for us to be successful in advocating for legislation that supports associations if we can’t express a unified position. While CAI’s basic public policy position is that associations should govern themselves, there are times we need to work together to ensure the appropriate governmental framework. It was an honor to bring people together to accomplish collective goals.”
In the case of Senate Bill 278, the collective goals were huge and the two-year journey was arduous, but the pay-off was priceless–and lasting, Jim Slaughter concluded. “People buy into associations because they like the service provided and expect everyone to follow certain clear rules. The 2021 appellate decisions cast those expectations into doubt and might have resulted in your (or worse, your neighbor’s) lot suddenly not being required to pay assessments or no longer bound by the same restrictions as everyone else. The recent MTA fix we achieved brings consistency to everyone in an association, regardless of when it was created, and helps fulfill the expectations of those who choose to live there.”
North Carolina is a model for how to get things done on the legislative stage that is both strategic and inclusive. Dawn Bauman, CAE, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for national CAI in Virginia, noted “CAI favors legislation that clearly supports the continuing and perpetual enforceability of such restrictions unless and until amended by the property owners subject to them, especially the governing documents of community associations. The amendments to the Marketable Record Title statute in North Carolina through SB 278, while technical, were important clarifying language. Often these technical corrections create concern among other stakeholders.
“The CAI North Carolina Legislative Action Committee is particularly good at working with stakeholders to allow a process of dialogue to discuss and understand implications of legislation and address concerns. CAI is proud of our work and proud of the CAI North Carolina Chapter for their exemplary professional approach, collaboration, and transparency.”
Courtesy of NC Community Association Institute.
Trea Donohoe wrote: …the HOA refused to cut the grass around their pond… a homeowner went out and took it upon themselves to do it… and that’s how it happened. Follow the link below to read more.
Summer is here. It’s time to welcome longer days and warmer temperatures. With the heat rising, it’s also time to start thinking about ways to keep your house cool and ready for the long, hot days ahead. Follow these tips on how to stay cool in extreme heat, both before summer hits and in the middle of a hot spell.
𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆
When no one is home, set the air conditioner or heat pump thermostat a few degrees higher than normal. When you are home set the thermostat to help you feel cooler without using too much energy. Check the system air filter regularly and change it when it looks dirty. A dirty filter makes the system work less efficiently and reduces airflow. Make sure all vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet floors, walls and ceilings.
𝐏𝐀𝐘 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
Switch off the lights in unoccupied rooms. This is always a good idea because it helps conserve energy and lower electric costs. It also helps keep your house cooler. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient and can become quite hot. As a result, you will have warmer indoor temperatures. Aside from turning off unnecessary lights, consider using cooler, energy-efficient bulbs instead.
𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃
As simple as this tip may seem, 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. In other words, closing the blinds essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse.
𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐘
If you live in an area with dry heat your body perspires, your sweat evaporates, and you cool off – just the way nature intended. If you live in an area with lots of humidity (which I do) you sweat and it doesn't evaporate. Instead it soaks your clothes leaving you feeling hot, wet, sticky, and miserable.
𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐋
Weather stripping is in the same category as insulation: it’s thought of as a winter measure, but is equally helpful in summer, as it keeps cool air from escaping through doors and windows. Weather stripping is very inexpensive and doesn’t take much time to install; you can strip the area around a door in less than half an hour.
Nothing says summer like food seared on a grill to tasty perfection; just ask the seven out of ten US adults with a grill or smoker. Unfortunately, nothing else says summer like grill fires. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), July is the peak month for grill fires, followed by June, May, and August, resulting in approximately 10,600 home fires annually and costing an average $149 million in property damage every year. From 2014 to 2018, close to 20,000 people go to the ER every year with injuries caused by grills–nearly half with contact burns. Don’t be fooled: All grills–from large pig-cookers to small hibachis–deserve respect.
Want to make sure the only thing getting burned by your grill this summer is food? Follow these tips.
General
* A clean grill is a safe grill. Remove grease from the grates and trays before using it.
* Grill outside only, away from the house, deck benches and railings, balcony overhangs, and tree branches.
* Keep it stable. Make sure your grill is in a flat area and won’t tip over.
* Set boundaries: no children or pets within three feet of grills (many grill injuries are caused by running and playing too close to the cooking action).
* Dress for success. Beware of long sleeves, dangling shirt tails, and apron strings around flames.
* Gear up. Invest in grilling gloves and tools (tongs, spatula, etc.) that protect you from fire and high heat.
* Be ready to douse a fire. Use baking soda on a grease fire, and a fire extinguisher or bucket of sand on other fires.
*Make sure your grill complies with the rules of your community association and municipality.
Gas Grills
*Annually check for gas grill leaks by drizzling lightly soapy water onto the hose–a gas leak will bubble. If there’s a leak and no flame, turn off the grill and gas and call a pro for repairs. If the leak doesn’t stop after turning off the grill or you smell gas while grilling, call the fire department.
* Always open a gas grill lid to light it.
* Wait to relight a gas grill if the flame goes out: Try again after five minutes.
Charcoal Grills
* Consider charcoal chimney starters–both those that use newspaper and electric.
* Use only charcoal starter fluid if using a liquid lighter. Never squirt charcoal fluid or other flammable liquids onto a fire. Keep all containers of lighter fluids away from a hot grill.
Under new rules instituted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the wake of the collapse of Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla., last year, condo boards or property managers are required to answer a 12-question form about the structural integrity of the building and the financial health of the association for the transaction to proceed
Source Washington Post
Recently, the Supreme Court of North Carolina handed down a decision (in Belmont Association, Inc. v. Farwig) which greatly affects the ability of planned communities to regulate the location and placement of solar panels on lots within the community. The ruling does not affect condominium communities created under Chapter 47A or Chapter 47C of the North Carolina General Statutes. The ruling does, however, potentially affect all planned communities with restrictions recorded on or after October 1, 2007 (the effective date of N.C.G.S. § 22B-20).
In Belmont, the Farwigs installed solar panels on the front of their home without architectural approval. When they subsequently applied for approval, they were denied and told to remove the front-facing solar panels as they were only permitted on the rear roofs in the community.
The Declaration didn’t expressly address the issue of solar panels, but they were considered an “improvement” under the architectural provisions of the Declaration. The court held that the architectural provisions contained in the Declaration (as applied to the Farwigs’ solar panels) had the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors under 22B-20(b) and were invalid since, in the Court’s judgment, neither of the two exceptions contained subsections (c) and (d) of the statute applied.
In analyzing the two exceptions contained in the statute, the Court first concluded that 22B-20(c) provides an exception for a deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement that does not have the effect of preventing the “reasonable use” of a solar collector. Second, 22B-20(d), provides another exception which permits a deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement that runs with the land that would prohibit the location of solar collectors that are visible by a person on the ground in three specific locations described in the statute.
The Belmont Court concluded (without significant explanation) that the restriction in the case prevented the reasonable use of solar panels and, therefore, the exception in subsection (c) did not apply. The Court then held that the exception in subsection (d) did not apply either because the restriction at issue here did not expressly prohibit the installation of solar panels in the relevant location(s) – rather the restriction only had the “effect” of prohibiting the installation of the solar panels by leaving that decision up to the architectural reviewer. In other words, the Court was careful to distinguish language “having the effect of prohibiting solar panels” from language that actually and expressly prohibits them. Ultimately, having determined that neither exception applies, the Court ruled in favor of the Farwigs and found that the restrictions, as applied to their solar application, were invalid under 22B-20(b).
This is an important decision for many of our association clients as it indicates a very narrow reading of the statute regarding solar panels. When making a decision regarding solar panels and the location thereof in the community, it will be important for Association’s to review the relevant Declaration provisions, likely with the assistance of counsel, to determine if one of the exceptions to the statute applies.
If your Declaration contains an express prohibition that is consistent with the language of subsection (d), you should still be able to deny solar installations based on that express restriction. If you do not already have an express prohibition in place, however, there is no one-size-fits-all answer and we recommend that you consult your association’s attorney to discuss potential strategies in light of the Belmont decision.
If you have any questions about this decision or other community association matters please reach out to one of our community association attorneys.
Source and Credits:
Sellers, Ayers, Dortch & Lyons, PA
704-377-5050
Read the full article: https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/business/2022/06/03/tips-negotiating-condo-association-landscaping-contract/7487787001/
GREENSBORO, N.C. (PRWEB) JUNE 08, 2022
Volunteers from Association Management Group (AMG), one of the Carolinas’ largest professional homeowner association managers representing more than 30,000 property owners, constructed a custom backyard playset on June 3 for six-year-old Jenifer Maria Sanchez of Winston-Salem, a pediatric cancer patient in treatment for leukemia. Sanchez is the recipient of the free playset thanks to AMG and Roc Solid Foundation (RSF), a Virginia-based nonprofit that works with hospitals, organizations, and volunteers to Play It Forward and build hope for children and families fighting pediatric cancer. The team of twenty-five AMG staff worked from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. on Friday with tools, instruction, and guidance from an RSF project leader to create the playscape, which featured swings, a tree house, a slide, and a climbing area. “Thank you so much, volunteers, for this hard labor and for helping us create happy memories, even when our world is upside-down. Jenifer appreciates everyone taking time out of their lives to build her playset in her own yard. This is something Jenifer needs in her life right now. Our hearts are so full with love for this organization,” said mother Jenifer Ocampo.
It takes a team effort to restore hope to young cancer patients, according to Ashley Martin, Roc Solid Foundation Director of Marketing. “AMG's support not only allows us to make a big impact on a family during an extremely difficult time in their lives, but it also shows that family they are not alone on the journey of fighting pediatric cancer. Seeing the community surround them with support provides a feeling of hope that will stay with them far beyond build day.” Winston Salem Mayor Alan Joines participated in the dedication of the new playset. “It’s great to see organizations like AMG go beyond good corporate citizenship," he said. "For this family and so many others, they are good neighbors making a difference in our communities."
Though it was a long morning of measuring and lifting, drilling and hammering in the warm June sunshine, the expression on Jenifer’s face when she saw the new playscape, complete with signed best wishes from each member of the AMG construction team, made all the effort worthwhile, said Paul Mengert, AMG founder and CEO. “AMG specializes in supporting communities. In the business of managing community associations (HOAs) and condominiums, helping one’s neighbor is an important–and inspiring–responsibility. We have a decades-old culture of giving back to the Triad community, with both money and volunteer hours. It’s gratifying to do our part to help restore fun and play to the life of a little girl experiencing cancer.” AMG President Dacy Cavicchia agreed. “For us, this was a team-building exercise in caring for our community, something we enjoy and believe in. According to Roc Solid foundation, sixteen thousand US children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Of course, treatment is critical, but so is having a happy, normal life. It feels good to be a part of providing this family with a wonderful playspace they can enjoy for years.” AMG hopes to participate in another Roc Solid playset project soon with its Charlotte, NC team.
For details on Roc Solid Foundation or to learn how you can Play It Forward for pediatric cancer patients, visit: https://rocsolidfoundation.org/
To learn about AMG, visit: AMGworld.com/.
About AMG: AMG is a professional community association management company dedicated to building effective community associations. AMG guides and assists executive boards to help protect the association's interests, enhance the lives of community members and improve the property values in the community. With offices throughout the Carolinas in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC, AMG is a knowledgeable partner in enforcing community governing documents with a proven set of processes and techniques, and supporting communities with a broad range of services which can be tailored to individual community needs. Association Management Group, Inc. is a locally Accredited Business by the BBB and is a nationally Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) by the Community Associations Institute. For more about AMG, visit AMGworld.com/.
A message from Paul Mengert, Association Management Group’s CEO
I want to thank the many Association Management Group employees and customers who participated in the 2022 PTI Run on the Runway event. Thanks in part to our team’s dedicated effort, more than $135,000 was raised for area food banks. They leverage the funds for each dollar raised into as many as seven meals for families in need.
It was great to see our employees and customers pitching in to support our community! It reflects the caring heart of the AMG family and our compassionate clients.
“Good morning waive from our youngest supporter!”
Spring is an exciting time. In the Carolinas, the weather is starting to warm up in spring. There may be rain, but it brings new life to our yards and forests. With all the renewal of spring, it makes sense that we want to clean up our homes as well. This is why spring cleaning is such a popular pastime.
When you live in a Carolina community, preparing your home for spring is important. It helps keep your residence in great condition and looking nice. Plus, it increases the overall appeal of the community. Spring cleaning is a win-win for everyone.
Even though it is important to prepare your home for spring, most people do not have a lot of time. We all have families, pets, and jobs to worry about. So, here are the top three ways to prepare your home for spring. If your spring cleaning time is limited this year, start here.
1) Clean your gutters.
Gutters tend to get clogged. Leaves, sticks, and other debris often fall in gutters throughout the spring and summer. The more stuff you have in your gutters, the greater the likelihood of clogged gutters in the spring.
Clogged gutters don’t drain appropriately. They can cause leaks, which damage your walls, ceiling, and foundations. The water has to go somewhere, and often it ends up in your basement. Your gutter may even end up breaking.
The best way to avoid clogged gutter problems is to clean out your gutters regularly. Start this process at the beginning of spring, so that your home will be ready for the rainy season.
2) Work on your lawn.
As the weather warms up, it is time for yard work. You may need to replace the mulch, plant new flowers, and start mowing your yard again. Yard work will vary from home to home. however, better-looking yards will increase the appeal of the entire community.
Your community may also offer yard services. However, this is something to ask your community organization about. If no services are offered, you will need to do this work yourself.
3) Repair your roof.
No, you don’t need a new roof every year. In fact, depending on the type of shingle, you will likely need to repair the roof every 12-30 years. Even if you do not need a new roof, that doesn’t mean there will be no damage.
Leaks often occur because of shingles or other damage to our roofs. Plus, hurricane season is from September to October in the Carolinas. Your home may have sustained damage in last year’s hurricanes that needs to be fixed this spring.
The best way to assess and repair any roof damage is to hire experts. Contractors can inspect and help you repair holes, damaged shingles, and other roof problems. The beginning of spring is the time to make an appointment with these companies, as they will get busier as the spring and summer progresses.
Spring is a great time to repair our homes and make them sparkle. By following the three tips in this article, your home and community will be a beautiful place to live this spring. If your community needs help preparing communal spaces for spring, contact Association Management Group (AMG). We are your Carolina source for amazing property management services.
The community is certainly nice. Many of the homes are big and beautiful. The only real problem is the roads, they're falling apart.
If you are new to HOA management, you likely have a lot of questions. Let us help you get started. Below are the top five HOA management questions and their answers.
Top 5 HOA Management Questions Answered
1) What is HOA Management?
Perhaps the most important question of this entire post is this one. What is HOA management? It is essential to know what something is before you hire someone.
Put simply, HOA management is something most home owner’s association (HOA) Boards do every day. It is the consistent management of all of the concerns of the HOA. These can range from management volunteers to maintaining common areas and planning meetings. Budgeting and other financial considerations are also included in HOA management.
For many HOA Boards, the day-to-day tasks of managing an HOA are too much to handle alone. They hire an HOA management company to take care of some or all of these tasks.
2) Why is HOA Management important?
HOA management is crucial because it keeps your community running smoothly. Without proper HOA management, your home’s value could plummet, and your community could be a much less nice place to live.
This is why it is so important to consider HOA management companies. No single Board can do everything. Boards consist of volunteers with their own lives and jobs after all. Instead, an HOA management company’s entire job is to see your community thrive. The Board will still maintain the decision-making power. But the competition of each task is the responsibility of the HOA management company. This frees up your Board members to make the important decisions that will result in a better community.
3) Will my HOA managers be part of the Board?
No. HOA management companies are not members of the Board. They will not have decision-making powers. The HOA manager will help and advise. But they cannot directly affect the direction or decisions of your community. Only the Board can do that.
4) What are some pros of hiring an HOA Management company?
There are a lot of positives to hiring an HOA management company. Here are a few of the most important.
They have years of experience helping communities succeed.
You will have access to people with expert financial and legal information.
They likely have long-term relationships with vendors.
They can facilitate communications among your Board and with the broader community.
They have advanced technological resources.
5) Do I need HOA Management?
Now we get to another crucial question about HOA management. Do you need it? The short answer: yes.
All communities need good HOA management. Whether this management is provided by your Board or an outside company is up to your community. We’d highly recommend outsourcing your HOA management tasks. The pros simply outweigh the cons.
In North and South Carolina, your source for the best HOA and condominium management is AMG (Association Management Group). We have physical offices throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today to learn more about we can help your community.
Property management companies can be a big help no matter what type of community you live in. Condominium associations, townhome HOAs, homeowner associations, life style communities, lake management, and office or retail spaces could all use property management.
Property management companies work with your Board to manage the day-to-day running of the community. There are many services that top property management companies offer. All can elevate common headaches for your Board members.
Top 8 Ways Property Management Companies Make Your Life Easier
The best property management companies can truly make your life easier. Here are eight ways they do so.
1) Save you money.
Probably the most important result of using a property management company is financial savings. This may seem impossible. You will be paying the property management company after all. However, property management companies streamline your communities and raise their overall value. Both will save you money in the long term.
2) Save you time.
Another big positive of using a property management company is the time savings. Your time is valuable too. Most Boards are comprised of volunteers who have their own lives and jobs. A property management company takes care of all the mundane, repetitive tasks, which keeps your Board free to make decisions and guide the community.
3) Save you worry.
When you have expert help, you don’t have to worry about making the right decisions. Property managers do not supersede your Board, but they can act as guides. Whether you are navigating a new regulation or planning next year’s budget, employing a property management company is a great way to reduce your concerns.
4) Make taxes a breeze.
Taxes are never fun. That statement is doubly true for community associations. Property management companies can help you with all your tax needs. Your manager will work with the Board to complete this year’s taxes and make a financial plan for the following year. You don’t need to be an accounting expert when you use a good property management company.
5) Help with communication.
Communication is always hard. It doesn’t matter what type of community you live in. Property managers are here to help with communication. They can facilitate better communication with your tenants or residents, develop efficient online communication tools, and even mediate disputes. Having a non-biased third party is always important when communicating with your community.
6) Connect you with the best vendors.
There are a lot of vendors available for hire. Not all vendors are the same, however. If you want the best vendors in your area, you need the help of a property management company. They will likely have an existing relationship with vendors. These can help guide your hiring process and potentially save you money.
7) Take care of maintenance tasks.
General maintenance is something no Board likes to deal with. It is one of the worst things about community management. However, with a property management company, you no longer have to be responsible for the maintenance of your community. The property management company can be in charge of that task.
8) Keep your residents happy and involved.
Finally, a major reason to choose a good property management company is that they will keep your residents happy. A better run and more communicative community mean happier residents. More satisfied residents are likely to be more involved in their community. It is a good, self-0sustaining cycle.
If you are looking for great property management in North and South Carolina, contact Association Management Group (AMG) today.
At Association Management Group (AMG), customer satisfaction is our #1 priority. Our professional community association management company is dedicated to providing superior service and cutting-edge solutions, supporting condominiums and homeowners association (HOA) communities with a broad range of services that can be tailored to individual community needs.
We’ve got the Carolinas covered. With physical offices in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, NC, and Greenville and Aiken, SC
AMG’s mission is to combine unparalleled expertise with outstanding property management service to create value for our client communities.
