It’s that time of the year, when the weather’s getting warmer and you’re itching to do some spring cleaning. While that applies to pretty much all of us, it’s also the perfect time of the year for your homeowners association to make sure everything is in order for 2016.
Among the many items HOA boards should be working on is their annual financial audit or review process. Most HOAs operate on the calendar year so they’ve closed their financials and filed their tax return for the previous year and now they’ve probably got their independent CPA working on an audit or review.
It’s the perfect time to clean up your files from 2015 and get all your statements, bills and deposit slips in order. Hopefully the association has kept meticulous records from each proceeding year and they’re all organized into appropriate files. Your auditor will thank you if you have everything ready so they can dive in and get the job completed quickly and efficiently.
It’s also a great time to walk through the community and take notes. Is the landscape up to par? Do any plants need to be replaced? Are there any potholes that need to attention? Are concrete and asphalt driveways in need of sprucing up? What kind of painting is needed? After winter all sorts of issues can arise so if you can, spring is the best time for a thorough review.
When preparing your list don’t forget your gutters, gutters need to be checked and regularly cleared of all debris.
If your community has a pool have it checked too. Pipes and waterlines need to be evaluated to make sure there aren’t any leaks and decks more than likely will need to be pressure washed and sealed. Check the filter too and also make sure there aren’t any loose tiles or other issues.
To get your community members on board with the spring cleanup, you might also want to send out a newsletter encouraging them to do a bit of maintenance checkup too. This is a great way to get everyone motivated and moving towards the same goal!
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Wise Property Solutions is East Tennessee’s only Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC®). As the region’s leader in community association management, the firm is committed to the industry’s best practices and continuing professional development. Wise Property Solutions’ certified and highly trained property managers empower well-organized and efficient communities. The firm maintains offices in both Knoxville and the Tri-Cities.