When you need to switch your HOA property management company in Phoenix, AZ, finding the right fit is key. You need an HOA management company that shares your association’s values, whether that’s paying more attention to legal issues and HOA violations, keeping your community areas pristine, a company that values its residents’ opinions and more. As fall approaches, many HOA management contracts are up for renewal. Here’s what to look for in your new HOA management firm:

• Knowledge and experience: Naturally, you want a management company that has a wide variety of experience in HOA management, from working with vendors to handling resident disputes. Even if a company hasn’t dealt with a specific problem before, how they address research and new situations will tell you a lot about their management values. You should also look for experience that supports the management style you want—when interviewing companies, ask how they will be able to support your HOA’s key values.
• Association financials: This is the bulk of what a management company will take care of, so pay special attention to the management company’s skills in this area. HOA finances can be complex and are often incredibly time-consuming, so getting a management company that knows how to handle various types of association financials is important. This could be anything from fining a delinquent resident to putting together the yearly budget—ask to see samples of their reports and how consistently they can meet deadlines.
• Maintenance is a must: One of the best parts about having an HOA management company in Phoenix, AZ is that they often already have relationships with maintenance and repair vendors, saving you the time and trouble of finding a company to work with. Choose a company that has experience managing communities of your general size and maintenance level—sometimes larger communities require much more maintenance work than some companies are able to handle. Since it’s your responsibility to ensure that the community grounds are safe and attractive, give this plenty of consideration when interviewing HOA management companies.
• Consistent community management: Finally, you need a company that can consistently and fairly manage your HOA. When residents have a dispute or the board needs to make a decision, you want someone who can apply the rules reliably every time. They also need to be able to handle any sometimes-heated interpersonal interactions in a productive manner, so look for a company with plenty of dispute resolution experience.

When you’re researching HOA property management companies in Phoenix, AZ, try to interview residents and board members who are managed by that company. There’s no better way to find out how effective a business is than by talking to the people they serve.

Need to hire an HOA management company? Thrive Community Management is here to help your community run smoothly. We offer property management for everything from neighborhoods of single-family homes to condominium associations, and pride ourselves on fostering stable, happy communities across the Phoenix metropolitan area. Call us today to get started.

Homeowners associations can govern several different types of residences, and each organization’s structure is bound to be different. If you’re moving from a single-family home HOA in Phoenix, AZ to a condominium association, for example, it may be run much differently from what you’re used to. Generally, this is due to the differences in what kind of upkeep an HOA member is responsible for, as opposed to the HOA itself. The following is an overview of the main types of HOA communities and what to expect from each.

Single-family home HOAs

Single-family home HOAs in Phoenix, AZ have the least amount of responsibility for repairs and maintenance. Homeowners take care of their own home and yard maintenance, but the HOA covers shared spaces like clubhouses, pools, parks and other neighborhood amenities.
The HOA may not play a major part in a homeowner’s daily life, other than keeping yards and exteriors up to the HOA’s standards—that’s part of an effort to maintain the community’s property values, so the HOA has authority.

If you prefer owning a home with some community standards, but without the level of involvement you’d see from a condo or townhome HOA, a single-family home might be right for you. However, be sure to read the covenants carefully to ensure you’re willing to undertake the maintenance and exterior requirements you do have. For many, the benefits of an HOA outweigh the rules, but some owners prefer to have total control over their property.

Condominium and townhome HOAs

Condominium and townhome HOAs are much more involved, largely due to the nature of their structures. Condos and townhomes often share walls, roofs and yards as well as common areas. The HOA fees cover maintenance and repair to these shared spaces—for example, your dues will pay the landscapers to mow the lawn regularly, or to repair the roof if it springs a leak. That’s important to keep the building and grounds in good shape, and it divides the cost among residents.

The idea behind this type of HOA is to evenly distribute costs that you’d have to manage if you lived in a single-family home, while ensuring equal rights for each resident. HOAs can regulate many shared interests, such as garbage collection, pet policies, new construction and renovations and even elevator maintenance. Nearly every condominium or townhome you buy will be part of a homeowners association, whereas there are plenty of single-family neighborhoods without this kind of governance.

HOAs typically enforce rules with fines and other penalties, while unpaid dues may result in serious consequences such as a lien placed on the property. If you’re unsure about what to expect from a potential homeowners association, be sure to visit their website in Phoenix, AZ to check out the rules and restrictions.
Are you in need of an experienced team to manage your homeowners association? Thrive Community Management wants to help you build a happy and stable community. Reach out today to get started or learn more about our services.

We’ve been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for the last three months—and in some areas, even longer—which has placed a great strain on morale, community, the economy and, of course, our health. Staying at home more than usual can be difficult for many, and downright dangerous for vulnerable populations. Many people enjoy giving back to their community in Phoenix, AZ during times of national stress—but how can you do so safely when there’s a virus in the air?

Here are some easy, safe ways to give back to your own community in Phoenix, AZ:

• Focus on food: With millions of Americans out of work during the pandemic and having difficulty receiving unemployment benefits, food is a good place to start helping. Whether it’s bringing dinner to the neighbor who just lost their job (safely and abiding by social distancing guidelines, of course) or donating to your local food bank, everyone deserves a healthy meal. You can also buy delivery service gift cards for people, order food for them and donate to other food-related relief funds. Local food banks may be looking for volunteers, but expect to follow strict CDC health guidelines.
• Support local businesses: Local businesses have been some of the hardest-hit during the pandemic, and are the most likely to go out of business as a result. Try to support them as much as you can. If they’re open, take advantage of curbside pickup and online ordering options, or buy gift cards to use when they can reopen. Also, remember that if you’re having difficulty tracking down toilet paper, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, flour and yeast—some of the most sought-after products during the pandemic—local grocery stores and corner stores often have a supply, and won’t be as crowded as big box stores. Plus, you’re bound to receive more personalized attention and build better relationships.
• Donate blood and plasma: The American Red Cross and other health organizations are encouraging Americans to continue to give blood if possible, while researchers are interested in plasma donations from people who have had and recovered from COVID-19. They’re looking at the antibodies that were created to fight off the virus in order to make a vaccine and other treatment options. If you’re eligible to donate blood and you are not in an at-risk group, this is a great way to give back to the community and the world.
• Check in with your neighbors: Finally, it’s important that you check in with family, friends and neighbors during the pandemic, especially if they’re at risk of COVID-19 complications, depression or isolation. As states reopen, it may be possible to hold a socially-distanced visit from across the front yard, or you could offer to pick up some groceries next time you’re going to the store.

However you choose to give back to your community in Phoenix, AZ, make sure you follow CDC health guidelines.

Thrive Community Management is dedicated to creating happy communities—call us today to learn more about our HOA management experience.

Summer is Arizona monsoon season, which brings dramatic storms, dust and wind, including heavy rains and hail. Getting through monsoon season unscathed requires a little preparation, no matter how old or new your home is—forewarned is forearmed.

Monsoons are a weather phenomenon that occurs when there’s a shift in wind direction. They can be wet summer monsoons, or bring dry weather in the winter. Arizona has wet summer monsoons, which blow from the cold to warm regions. The season runs from mid-June to late September, and typically brings about 40 to 50 percent of the state’s annual rainfall. It’s not always wet, however—the 2019 Arizona monsoon season was commonly referred to as the “non-soon,” thanks to the lack of precipitation.

Here are some recommendations on how to prepare for a monsoon in Phoenix, AZ:

• Prepare trees and plants for heavy storms: Trees and plants can break or be uprooted during heavy rains, which loosen the soil and damage weak branches. Trim your trees and stake any new plants so they won’t be damaged in wind and rain.
• Check roofs for leaks: Roofs are another likely source of damage—check them to look for leaks, as well as missing or damaged shingles. You may want to have a professional evaluate your roof, as the last thing you want is to deal with a leak during a huge storm.
• Clean out your gutters and downspouts: While you’re checking the roof, take the opportunity to clean out your gutters and downspouts. If your drainage is poor, water can build up and flood the roof or soak into the foundation, causing structural damage, mold and other unpleasant issues.
• Seal openings: Take a look around your home and evaluate the openings. Do your windows leak? Is there a draft coming in from your front door? These are all places where water can get in, so replace your weatherstripping if you’re noticing a problem.
• Look for drainage issues: Have you noticed water puddling on your lawn or around your property? Talking to a landscape professional can help you develop a plan to eliminate drainage issues so they won’t cause disruption when the rain starts to fall.
• Know where your electrical panel is located: Power outages are common during monsoon season, so make sure you know where your electrical panel is located and how to flip the breakers if there’s a problem.
• Clean out storage areas: Finally, cleaning out your storage areas, such as garages and sheds, is a good idea to prepare for the season. Flooding is common, so try to store everything off the ground in case water comes into your storage rooms. Try to store your car in the garage whenever possible, as branches and other flying debris often damage cars during monsoon season.

Sharing these tips for monsoon season in Phoenix, AZ will help your community stay safe and keep their homes undamaged this summer.

When you need a professional, experienced HOA management company, work with Thrive Community Management. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

If your home has suffered damage from fire, storms or another disaster, you’re probably eager to file a home insurance claim as soon as possible. Getting back to normal—without fronting the entire bill yourself—means dealing with your home insurance company as soon as possible.

How the claims process works

When you’ve never had to deal with an insurance company for a claim, the process can seem intimidating or confusing. Here’s how a home or property insurance claims process works in Phoenix, AZ, and tips to make it go as smoothly as possible:

1. File your claim: This usually involves calling your insurance company and telling them who you are, where you live and what happened to your property. The insurance company will assign a claims professional to your case, who will be with you throughout the process.
2. Talk to your claims professional: Next, your new claims professional will make contact with you to talk about what happened to your home. They’ll let you know more about your coverage, any limitations and how they intend to handle the claim.
3. Property evaluation: Next, the claims professional will investigate the issue, inspect the damage and, if necessary, talk to witnesses. This confirms what you’ve already told them, but could also give them some ideas about how to handle the problem.
4. Resolution: After the evaluation, your payment will arrive. In complex cases, this could be the first of several, but for simple claims, you might get a single check for the full amount.
5. Closing: After your final payment is received, the claim is closed.

What you need to know

If you’ve just received a check that is far too small to cover the damage you’ve suffered, don’t panic. That check may simply be the first of several payments, or an advance against the total amount. However, if you accept an on-the-spot settlement, you will likely only receive one settlement check. If you find additional damage after that, you usually have about a year to reopen the claim and ask for additional compensation.

Your insurance company may pay your mortgage lender or condominium association in part or in full, depending on their terms and conditions, or they may pay your contractor directly. Ask to make sure you know who gets the payments, when and why. However, your additional living expenses (ALE) check should be made out directly to you.

If any of your personal items were damaged, your insurance company will either pay the replacement value (requiring you to actually replace them) or a depreciated cash value based on what they’re worth. It’s smart to have a written home inventory available, backed up and stored in the cloud as well as in writing. This will help you keep track of what you own during a stressful time and make it easier to recoup the maximum amount possible.

Understanding the home insurance claims process in Phoenix, AZ is easier when your HOA is there to help. For professional and experienced HOA management services, contact Thrive Community Management today.

Compliance

Nobody likes to receive violation letters but if you live in an HOA, it is a fact of life and you will probably receive one in your lifetime. Did you know that sending violations is not the highlight of your community management company’s job either? It is something that the management company is contractually obligated to do. When buying a home in a community governed by CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions), homeowners agree to read and abide by the governing documents for the community. When there is an infraction of those documents, a letter is sent.

I would like to take a moment to break down some of the most common violations sent and how to avoid receiving them.

Trash Cans

If a trash or recycling bin is left out where it is visible on a non-trash day, it usually will receive a violation. While there are always exceptions, typically trash/recycle bins can be placed out at the curb the night before pick-up and must be returned to a secured area the day of pick-up. If you know you are going to be out of town, or have an issue that will prevent you from keeping this time frame? Contact your community manager or your management company’s compliance department. They would be happy to place a note on your account to prevent the letter from being sent.

Weeds

Let’s face it. Weeds are an annoyance to everyone! We don’t like the looks of them, and we certainly do not like the job of picking them. Every spring they will begin to emerge in every community. Our rule of thumb is to send a letter when the weeds in the yard could fill a grocery bag. If weeds are not addressed when they first pop up, they can overtake a yard quickly. Since we only inspect once every couple of weeks, we want to be sure to get the weeds in the beginning, and before your neighbor complains about your yard. To help combat weeds from even starting, there are several pest control companies in the valley that will spray the yard and provide a guarantee that you will not have any weeds for 6 months or they will come back out and spray for free. It is a small price to pay to ensure no weed letters.

Street Parking

Not all communities have street parking regulations. In Arizona, any community built after 2014 cannot regulate on-street parking. For the communities with parking regulations, these were included in your governing documents for various reasons. The streets may be very narrow. When vehicles are parked on both sides of the street, they cannot pass easily down the street. Parked vehicles also provide cover for small children who may be playing in the neighborhood. Statistically, homes in neighborhoods with fewer vehicles on the street actually sell homes faster and for a higher price.

House Painting

Many homeowners think about painting the exterior only when they receive a compliance notice. Due to the extreme heat and constant sun, homes in Arizona need to be painted at least every 5 –7 years. We know, at Thrive, that house painting is a big-ticket item, and not everyone has the money available. When we send a letter, we provide 6 months after the initial letter is sent to paint the home. During those six months, an architectural application should be submitted for approval to the Architectural Committee (if required by your documents). If you cannot meet the deadline, call your community manager and ask for additional time. We usually can provide an extension of 3-6 months if necessary.

At Thrive Community Management, we are committed to enhancing the community’s property values and adhering to the standards and expectations as set by the Board while working with homeowners and residents to ensure they are happy in their homeowner’s association.

If you have questions regarding compliance in your community or are looking for a management company, contact us today at Thrive Community Management (602) 358-0220.