Celebrating the 4th of July might look different this year. If you were planning on traveling to visit friends and family, taking a vacation, or hosting you're annual block party plans may have been canceled. But that doesn't mean you can't stick close to home and still barbecue, set up some water play for the kids, and re-imagine fun activities instead of fireworks in your homeowners association - all why practicing safe social distancing of course! If you’re an HOA board member, remind residents of the following information.
This is a guest post by: Drew Smithfield, a freelance safety and security writer.
Some of the best security advocates you can find are just yards away from your home – they're your neighbors. Introducing yourself to your neighbors and establishing a relationship with them not only helps deepen your ties to your homeowners association community but also helps increase the security of your family and home.
Social media has many benefits. It allows you to maintain connections with friends and neighbors in your homeowners association, make new contacts, build support networks, express yourself, and share your interests. However, information should be shared with caution to protect yourself and your family. Learn more in the tips below.
Within homeowners associations throughout the United States, residents are becoming more aware not only of their community’s surroundings but also of the persons who live in their community.
Does your homeowners association have a neighborhood watch in effect? A common concern in any neighborhood is safety. Association members tend to look out for each other, and there are things you should pay attention to as an HOA board member that signal it’s time to take action.
Some associations have extra space for various amenities. Some have parks, tennis courts, or even lakes and water features. One amenity that’s a feature in some associations is playgrounds for children. There are many different types of playgrounds and play apparatus for associations to choose from. Whether your association has had a playground from the beginning or it’s considering the addition as a capital expenditure, there are certain things an HOA board should keep in mind.
If your homeowners association property has been damaged in a natural disaster—hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake or fire — there are some important steps you can take in the immediate aftermath to ensure your safety and minimize financial loss.
When you think of staying safe in your neighborhood, what comes to mind? You probably lock your doors at night, keep a porch light on, communicate with neighbors if something or someone seems suspicious, maybe even have a guard dog to alert you of anything out of the ordinary. Generally, safety in a neighborhood means lighted streets, low crime, kids at play signs, a neighborhood watch, or even a security patrol. Safety in a homeowners association neighborhood isn’t all that different, but with recent budget cuts to public safety departments and less enforcement, proactive safety is crucial.
Does providing security measures, such as cameras, security guards or security companies, make the association liable for security breaches that cause harm to others? Is there a price for your safety? Many homeowner’s associations hire private security patrol or contract with the city they live in.
Do the residents in your homeowners association take actions to discourage burglars?
Sometimes the slightest door rattle or creek from the wind can put someone on edge. When it comes to home security, anxiousness is understandable because illegal home entries do happen from time to time. As a Board member in your homeowners association, you should make every effort to help residents learn how to maintain a secure environment in your community.
