Nextdoor is a private social network for you, your neighbors and your community. It's the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online and make all of your lives better in the real world. And it's free.

Nextdoor uses the power of technology to help build stronger and safer communities by allowing communities to easily create their own private network to facilitate communication among neighbors and build stronger neighborhoods. Thousands of neighborhoods across the U.S. are already using Nextdoor to build happier, safer places to call home. People are using Nextdoor to:

• Quickly get the word out about a break-in
• Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group
• Track down a trustworthy babysitter
• Find out who does the best paint job in town
• Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog
• Find a new home for an outgrown bike
• Finally be able to call your neighbor by their first name
• Alerts of upcoming meetings
• Coordination and notification of events and activities

The Rosebrook Homeowners Association has created a private network for our association at Nextdoor.com called RosebrookHOA. Many homeowners have already taken advantage of the free membership. We encourage all adults in every household to join. You may join and utilize the website, Nextdoor.com to access our network. Or to ensure receiving real-time updates on the go, download the Nextdoor app.

To join Nextdoor on a web browser:
 

• Visit nextdoor.com, enter your email address, street address*, and zip code, and click GET STARTED -- IT'S FREE. If there is already a Nextdoor website for your neighborhood, you will automatically be directed to that neighborhood. If not, you'll be given the option to create one. 
• If you already have an invitation to join Nextdoor, follow the special link on your invitation to create your account. You may also send an email to RosebrookHOA@gmail.com to request an invitation from our Nextdoor network to be sent to you. Then you may simply follow the link to join. (If choosing this option be sure to include your address in the body of the request. This will assist in the verification process).

​*NOTE: Nextdoor does not support the use of P.O. Boxes. Members must join using their physical address. If you don't receive mail at your physical address, Nextdoor does offer alternative options for verifying your address.

​For steps on joining Nextdoor using Nextdoor for iPhone, click here. 

You've searched and researched for the perfect location to raise your family. You've found the perfect neighborhood. Your new home meets all of your goals relating to location, amenities and conveniences. The excitement has peaked, the moment is surreal, and you waste no time adding a few warming touches. First, you paint the front door a pastel to give a welcoming glow and blend with the garden-like setting of your yard, then you add a new wreath to the door. Next you plant your flowerbed with a variety of shrubs and multi-colored flowers, finally adding that personal touch of lamp-bearing statues to compliment the front. You find it most impressive how much more welcoming your home now appears. 


Days letter you're excited to receive what you believe to be a welcome letter from your association only to find it stating that your home is “in violation” of the covenants & restrictions! The letter states that the color of your door and the newly-mounted wreath are non-compliant and the garden in which you placed your statues is actually something called the common area and must be removed! When you call the number on the letter, the customer service specialist reminds you that you have purchased a home in a covenant-restricted community association. A bell goes off as you remember the large paperwork you received in your closing papers entitled Homeowners Association Covenants & Restrictions. You easily locate it among the closing documents and begin reading it and quickly realize that it may have been a mistake not to review the information prior to settlement and/or remodeling.

Sound familiar? It happens more often than you know. Purchasing a home in a community association has many benefits, including deed restrictions that govern the community with which every owner should be familiar. It is a lifestyle choice that should be taken seriously when considering this home purchase option. A little preparation can ensure that you make a well informed decision.

Here are a few things you need to consider:

• Governing Documents (Articles of Incorporation, Declaration, Bylaws, etc.) These are documents that determine how the association is organized and operated. They include helpful information about definitions, governance, budget, preparation, maintenance, and use restrictions.

• Rules & Regulations and Architectural Guidelines. These are usually more specific than the general provisions in the above-described documents.

• Assessments. These are fees that must be paid to the association to cover common interest expenses. All assessments, also called dues, are mandatory. The realtor and/or title company should clarify this fact at the closing. A person automatically becomes a member of an association by taking title to their home and is bound by the dedicatory documents of the association.

• Board of Directors. The association has a governing body referred to as the board of directors who are usually volunteers appointed or elected to govern the affairs o the community. Or, it could be composed of developer representatives, or some developer representatives and some homeowners, if the community is still under development.

• Management Company. Most community associations are managed by a professional management company, the responsibility for which is to manage the day-to-day operations of the association. The manager and management staff can be very beneficial in helping you understand association living.

• Get Involved. There are many opportunities for you to volunteer and participate in operation of the association. Make it a point to attend board meetings and volunteer when possible. The more productive and cooperative volunteers an association has, the more successful it is.

Community association living offers a wonderful lifestyle. Being an informed association member can make it an even more enjoyable and rewarding experience for you.

Although a generic article in nature, the above-referenced documents for the Rosebrook Homeowners Association can be found in the Documents Library of the Members Area at RosebrookHOA.com.  Information referencing the management company can be found in the FAQ and Contact Us sections of the website.


Source: http://hoamanagement.com/blog/help-homeowners-new-association-living/

The annual meeting – the most important meeting of the year – is approaching.  Often the annual meeting is one of the only times the community gathers.  As president of your community association, what can you do to get the most out of the annual meeting, make it positive for the community and as stress-free as possible?

Parliamentary Tips:  

The following 10 tips will help you run a fun, energizing and meaningful annual meeting with confidence:

1. Prepare and use key meeting management tools:  a timed agenda, a form of minutes and a script. 
2. Prepare your meeting script as if you’re talking to a new homeowner – explain everything, especially any unique traditions your association follows. 
3. Build in enough time on the agenda for the owner’s forum.  Let everyone have their say, but be prepared to graciously and firmly move the agenda along.
4. Review your conduct of meetings policy well ahead of time so the board can update it if necessary.  Have copies available at the registration table.
5. Review methods of voting, including how to run an election.  Be ready to handle votes on unexpected motions, too.
6. Thank staff, board and volunteers – especially outgoing board members – early and often.  Consider giving detailed introductions of everyone with a role in the meeting, by reciting their past service to the association, specifically acknowledging and thanking them for their recent accomplishments. 
7. Encourage as many people as possible to have a role in the meeting.  For example, give committee chairs the opportunity to both give a brief report AND recruit new members.
8. Welcome new owners.  If your meeting is small enough, give them the opportunity to say a few words about themselves.
9. Give a brief but substantive president’s report, which covers:
1. what the Association accomplished over the past year
2. your goals for next year, and
3. what is great about your community
10. Enjoy yourself!

Source: http://www.hindmansanchez.com/resources/newsletter/meeting-moment-top-annual-meeting-tips

Fall means more than changing leaves and colder weather; it’s also a signal to do routine gutter maintenance to ward off the potentially damaging effects of winter. It is important to keep up with gutter maintenance because a leak, crack or blocked downspout can lead to big problems and costly repairs down the line. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you avoid headaches this season courtesy of your gutters.

1. Safety first — If you are handling the maintenance yourself, it is essential that you take time to ensure safety. This means choosing a sturdy, standalone ladder that won’t require you to lean it against the house. Thick gloves and protective eyewear are also a must.
2. Clean out debris – The most basic gutter care tip can also be the hardest to follow! Remove leaves, sticks and anything else that may have found its way into your gutters using a garden trowel or gloved hand. In addition, check for blockages in the downspout openings. Blocked gutters or downspouts can lead to water and eventually ice buildup during the winter, which can contribute to shingle damage and interior leaks.
3. Rinse to check for leaks – After you’ve removed all visible debris, rinse the gutter and downspout with a garden hose to remove all residual material and check for leaks. . Make sure to rinse in the direction of the downspout in order to keep excess water away from your home.
4. Fix any leaks – If you do find a leak, it’s important to fix it as soon as possible. There are a variety of options to choose from depending on the severity. Note: silicone sealer and patch kits are available at your local hardware store.
5. Consider a pro — If you’re time crunched or do not feel comfortable doing the job yourself, , consider calling a professional to take care of the job. There are reviews available online of specialty gutter and roofing companies in your area. It’s a smart option to avoid any injury and to ensure the job is done right.

Source: http://hoamanagement.com/5-tips-for-proper-gutter-care/

In today’s world, time is at a premium for most of us. That’s why efficient, results-oriented HOA Board meetings are essential.  The leader makes a huge difference in the Board’s productivity.  As with anything, leading a meeting takes skill and experience. It takes leadership, organization and setting clear expectations. If you’re looking to make your HOA board meetings run more efficiently, here are some ways that you can maximize the Board’s time and productivity.

Being prepared is the foundation of a well-run meeting.  An agenda and pre-meeting information should be sent to other Board members at least two days before the meeting is scheduled.  When there are potentially controversial issues on the agenda, the leader can facilitate a more effective discussion when he or she knows the opinions of all the Board members. 

Most Boards use Robert’s Rules of Order to guide their procedures. Whether you are an experienced leader of meetings or someone who is new to the Board, you’ll find that following Robert’s Rules help your meetings run more smoothly.

Focusing on the agenda items is the best way to keep the meeting moving forward. Even when items are clearly listed, people will stray from the topic. It’s human nature.  Get the meeting back on track by saying, “We are getting off topic and need to get back to ABC.” 

Cultivate a board culture of disciplined decision makers. When the Board comes to a decision, restate and summarize the discussion and final action.  This helps to ensure that all members hear the same thing. Clarification at this point can prevent problems later. For projects that involve multiple people, it helps to specify who does what by when. Document all decisions and action items for future reference.

As the meeting winds down, ask for agenda items for the next meeting. When other Board members have an opportunity to help form the agenda, they are more likely to follow up on action items and participate in meetings.

Be reflective about your HOA Board meetings. Inquire as to what worked well and what could be better? Making continuous improvements will help your Board conduct more efficient, results-oriented meetings, and that’s a benefit to all members.

Source: http://wisepropertysolutions.com/efficient-results-oriented-hoa-meetings/