Find everything from tips on buying a car to building a good credit rating in the 2009 Consumer Action Handbook available for free from the Federal Citizen Information Center. The handbook is available online at www.consumeraction.gov. A Spanish-language version is available at www.consumidor.gov.
To order a free copy, visit www.consumeraction.gov and click on “Order Handbook,” or send your name and address to Handbook, Pueblo, CO 81009. Or you may call toll free (888) 878-3256.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
National Neighbor Day
Today is National Neighbor Day. Thats a great excuse to get out and meet some of your neighbors. Meeting people now is a great way to build community at your HOA/condo. It also helps with any future problems- its easier to ask someone you know to quiet their dog, rather than turning a stranger into to management for a noise violation. Happy Neighboring!
Reduce Home Energy Bills
U.S. homeowners can lower home energy bills, lower federal income taxes and increase home comfort by making energy efficiency home improvements that qualify for up to $1,500 in federal income tax credits.
Consumers who make energy-efficient upgrades can also reduce their personal carbon footprint because using less energy at home means emitting less pollution too.
The federal income tax credits for specific home improvements are available now through 2010, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
While the tax credits are similar to those in effect a few years ago, consumers should be aware of some changes, according to Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Consumers must install the specific products and equipment that qualify for the 2009-10 tax credits. Some important details on the home improvement tax credits include:
· For each type of qualifying equipment, the credit is for 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500.
· It is a one-time tax credit that can be claimed in part or in whole for tax year 2009 and/or tax year 2010.
· Homeowners who claimed the $500 credit available in 2006-7 can claim the remaining $1,000 credit for additional products bought and installed in 2009 and/or 2010.
· There are two basic categories of qualifying equipment—“building envelope” products and heating and cooling equipment.
· Building envelope products are replacement windows (including storm windows, storm doors, and skylights), certain ENERGY STAR asphalt and metal roofs, insulation and other sealing products.
· Heating and cooling equipment includes furnaces, boilers, ground source or geothermal heat pumps, gas or propane water heaters, central air conditioning systems (but not window air conditioner units) and biomass stoves.
· Installation costs are not covered for building envelope products.
· Installation costs are covered for heating and cooling equipment.
· For some products, the qualifying criteria are more stringent than they were in prior years. For example, all ENERGY STAR windows no longer qualify.
For detailed information on what qualifies, visit www.energytaxincentives.org.
Consumers who make energy-efficient upgrades can also reduce their personal carbon footprint because using less energy at home means emitting less pollution too.
The federal income tax credits for specific home improvements are available now through 2010, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
While the tax credits are similar to those in effect a few years ago, consumers should be aware of some changes, according to Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Consumers must install the specific products and equipment that qualify for the 2009-10 tax credits. Some important details on the home improvement tax credits include:
· For each type of qualifying equipment, the credit is for 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500.
· It is a one-time tax credit that can be claimed in part or in whole for tax year 2009 and/or tax year 2010.
· Homeowners who claimed the $500 credit available in 2006-7 can claim the remaining $1,000 credit for additional products bought and installed in 2009 and/or 2010.
· There are two basic categories of qualifying equipment—“building envelope” products and heating and cooling equipment.
· Building envelope products are replacement windows (including storm windows, storm doors, and skylights), certain ENERGY STAR asphalt and metal roofs, insulation and other sealing products.
· Heating and cooling equipment includes furnaces, boilers, ground source or geothermal heat pumps, gas or propane water heaters, central air conditioning systems (but not window air conditioner units) and biomass stoves.
· Installation costs are not covered for building envelope products.
· Installation costs are covered for heating and cooling equipment.
· For some products, the qualifying criteria are more stringent than they were in prior years. For example, all ENERGY STAR windows no longer qualify.
For detailed information on what qualifies, visit www.energytaxincentives.org.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Bats, Be Gone
The Washington Post offers a look at the increasing number of bats in Northern Virginia that are testing positive for rabies. Click here to read the article.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Important Information for Landlords
If you are an owner who leases your unit, we’d like to make the leasing experience successful and positive for everyone by informing you of your responsibilities. This will help preserve your property value specifically and maintain the association’s property value in general.
Your tenants may not be familiar with common-interest community living. Please take a few minutes to explain to them that living in a community association is very different from living in a rental apartment community. Specifically, your tenants, like all residents, are subject to the rules and regulations of the association, and it’s up to you to educate them and see that they comply. The association will assist you in this area, but the responsibility lies with you. We recommend you provide your tenants with written copies of all policies and rules and advise them on the proper use of the association’s facilities. You can obtain copies of these and other useful documents from the manager.
We strongly recommend that you have a written lease agreement with your tenant. As a lessor (landlord) of a home in a community association, the lease you use must require tenants to comply with the association’s governing documents. In the event your tenant fails to comply with these documents, including the bylaws, or its rules and regulations, a representative of the association will first contact your tenants in an attempt to remedy the problem. The association will send you a copy of any notice sent to your tenant.
If the tenant does not correct the violation, the association will contact you and expect you to remedy the violation using the recourse available to you through your lease agreement. If you are unable to correct the violation, the association may pursue appropriate legal action against the tenant, and possibly against you.
The association asks that you provide the manager with the names and contact information of your tenants. The association will add your tenants to its mailing list, and they will receive the newsletter, invitations to participate on committees, notices of social activities and general association-related information. This information will also be used in case of emergency.
Follow these simple steps and you, the tenants and the association will all have a positive community association living experience:
· Provide your tenants with copies of association rules.
· Educate tenants about the need to follow association rules, and see that they comply.
· Advise tenants on the proper use of association facilities.
· Use a written lease agreement.
· Make sure your lease requires tenants to comply with all association governing documents.
· Provide the association with contact information for your tenants.
Renters: If you don’t have a copy of the association rules or you’d like more information about the association, please contact a board member or manager.
Your tenants may not be familiar with common-interest community living. Please take a few minutes to explain to them that living in a community association is very different from living in a rental apartment community. Specifically, your tenants, like all residents, are subject to the rules and regulations of the association, and it’s up to you to educate them and see that they comply. The association will assist you in this area, but the responsibility lies with you. We recommend you provide your tenants with written copies of all policies and rules and advise them on the proper use of the association’s facilities. You can obtain copies of these and other useful documents from the manager.
We strongly recommend that you have a written lease agreement with your tenant. As a lessor (landlord) of a home in a community association, the lease you use must require tenants to comply with the association’s governing documents. In the event your tenant fails to comply with these documents, including the bylaws, or its rules and regulations, a representative of the association will first contact your tenants in an attempt to remedy the problem. The association will send you a copy of any notice sent to your tenant.
If the tenant does not correct the violation, the association will contact you and expect you to remedy the violation using the recourse available to you through your lease agreement. If you are unable to correct the violation, the association may pursue appropriate legal action against the tenant, and possibly against you.
The association asks that you provide the manager with the names and contact information of your tenants. The association will add your tenants to its mailing list, and they will receive the newsletter, invitations to participate on committees, notices of social activities and general association-related information. This information will also be used in case of emergency.
Follow these simple steps and you, the tenants and the association will all have a positive community association living experience:
· Provide your tenants with copies of association rules.
· Educate tenants about the need to follow association rules, and see that they comply.
· Advise tenants on the proper use of association facilities.
· Use a written lease agreement.
· Make sure your lease requires tenants to comply with all association governing documents.
· Provide the association with contact information for your tenants.
Renters: If you don’t have a copy of the association rules or you’d like more information about the association, please contact a board member or manager.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
HOA Litigation article
Realty Times has posted a good article on the litigation home owner associations deal with in this economy. Check it out here.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wild Dues Chase
Great article about collection efforts and dealing with the effects of the economy. The article discusses:
- Collection of assessments
- IOUs
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Debt collector rules for operating
- Handling disputes
- Violations of federal law
It is important to collect monies owed to associations, but doing so correctly will save you from potential fines and damages. Wild Dues Chase is worth reading.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Fall Maintenance Tip: Leaves
As leaves pile up in front yards, don't forget that you can compost your leaves! Here are a few links that will help you master the process.
How to Compost Leaves
Making Mulch from Leaves
Composting Leaves Without a Bin
How to Compost Leaves
Making Mulch from Leaves
Composting Leaves Without a Bin
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
In recognition of October’s designation as National Pharmacy Month, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will host a free open house on Saturday, October 3. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Apothecary Museum will offer free admission, tours, and hands-on activities. Visitors will learn about the special curative properties of plants in their own backyard, while discovering the important role the apothecary played in early Alexandria.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is noted for its outstanding collection of shop furnishings, apothecary bottles and equipment, many still in their original location. It also has a spectacular collection of archival materials, including journals, letter and diaries, prescription and formula books, ledgers, orders and invoices. The names of famous customers appear in the documents, including Martha Washington, James Monroe, Nelly Custis and Robert E. Lee.
The Apothecary Museum is located at 105-107 South Fairfax Street in Alexandria. Its hours through October are Sunday and Monday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winter hours (November 1 through March 31) are Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Monday and Tuesday.
For more information, please call 703.838.3852 or visit www.apothecarymuseum.org.
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is noted for its outstanding collection of shop furnishings, apothecary bottles and equipment, many still in their original location. It also has a spectacular collection of archival materials, including journals, letter and diaries, prescription and formula books, ledgers, orders and invoices. The names of famous customers appear in the documents, including Martha Washington, James Monroe, Nelly Custis and Robert E. Lee.
The Apothecary Museum is located at 105-107 South Fairfax Street in Alexandria. Its hours through October are Sunday and Monday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winter hours (November 1 through March 31) are Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Monday and Tuesday.
For more information, please call 703.838.3852 or visit www.apothecarymuseum.org.
Friday, September 11, 2009
CAI Launches Board Member Education Initiative
Board members and other community association homeowner volunteer leaders can now take advantage of a free, online education unit to get the guidance and perspective they need to govern their communities effectively and responsibly. CAI’s new initiative, Board Member Basics, consists of six online elements, each applicable to leaders in virtually any common-interest community. Developed under the auspices of CAI’s Center for Community Association Volunteers (CCAV), the curriculum includes a Model Code of Ethics for Community Association Board Members, a new CAI resource that addresses board authority, decision-making, conflicts of interest, elections, confidentiality, professional relationships, harassment and more.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tips for Writing Community Newsletters
Community newsletters can take on different outlooks and speak the voice of the association. With that in mind, it is important to decide as a group what will be the focus of the Board's newsletter. Come to an agreement and make sure all Board members are aware of the decision. If the volunteer heading up the newsletter is not a Board member, spend time with that person to ensure they have a complete understanding of the Board's goals.
With that in mind, a few tips:
With that in mind, a few tips:
- Decide if the newsletter with have an editorial aspect or if it will be facts about the community.
- Plan on regular intervals for publishing. Seasonal, monthly or in conjunction with condo/HOA payments.
- Give writers who want to contribute guidelines. What is an acceptable piece?
- Who has final say? Does the Board need to vote on the newsletter? Can the President make changes?
- What are the costs associated with the newsletter? Will you send it out with an already planned mailing, post it in the mailroom, deliver door to door, send out electronically or snail mail it?
With good planning and consistency, residents will appreciate and use the information in your newsletter.
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