Taking the Headache out of HOA Management.

The day to day responsibilities of running a homeowners' association (HOA) can be quite challenging. This is especially true for large to mid-sized communities. If you are weighing the pros and cons of hiring a community management company, here are some points to consider.

• Management Experience - A community management company such as Alaska Management Group will help you more clearly define the rules and regulations of your HOA for the homeowner. They can assist your homeowners’ association in deciding the most effective policies and procedures and can assist you in the implementation of guidelines, regulations and how to efficiently communicate any changes to the members of your community.
• Community rule enforcement – The most successful HOA’s are consistent in how they enforce the rules and regulations. A community management company will help to define and enforce the rules and help the HOA make decisions if issues arise. Additionally, they can help to enforce rules in a timely and efficient manner holding all members of the community to the same expectations.
• Legal understanding -  Knowing the day-to-day functions of an HOA is crucial to creating regulations that are legally enforceable. A community management company has a clear understanding of not only what is fair and reasonable for an HOA but also a knowledge of local and state laws. They also are able to keep HOA board members up-to-date on any changes to ordinances that might impact the decisions they make.
• Experience – Partnering with a community management company brings a full range of experience to your HOA. They bring both oversight and administrative services, taking the hassle of dealing with the day-to-day issues out of your hands.
• Committed to excellent – At Alaska Management Group, we believe that we are only as good as the communities we serve. Because of this, we take our community management responsibilities very seriously and work to serve the best interests of both the HOA board members and the residents of the community.

Creating the best environment for homeowners starts with working with a reputable community management company. Alaska Management Group can provide your HOA expertise and knowledge as well as clarity and consistency both the development and enforcement of regulations set in place for your community. This will help to facilitate a  harmonious environment for every homeowner.

Alaskan Earthquakes: They’re Denali’s Fault

Did you know over 7 million earthquakes occur in the world each year? Many of these earthquakes are so small they go undetected. A few may knock over knickknacks or cause a picture to go crooked. According to USGS, only 152 of these 7 million earthquakes are considered “large” earthquakes. The Unites States has some of the strictest building standards and quickest emergency response times in the world. What you choose to do with the interior of your home is up to you. There are plenty of precautions that must be made to ensure a safe environment for your family. With 16 states in the earthquake danger zone, it is important to do this before a tragedy occurs.

Preparing your home for an earthquake is not something we always think of as homeowners. The biggest risk during an earthquake is being struck by a falling or broken object. This can be prevented with some simple precautions like

• Securing the water heater with an anchor kit
• Installing flexible pipe fitting so they will bend, not break
• Don’t skimp on latches! A good latch will keep your cabinets closed

Create an earthquake survival kit. These are items are in addition to the typical home safety kit:

• A shovel
• Fire extinguisher
• Rope
• A whistle
• Compass

The safest place to be during an earthquake? Outside! Unfortunately, earthquakes tend to happen with no warning. This means you may only have mere seconds to get to your established safe spot. Pick a place in your home without windows, glass, tall unsecured furniture, or overhead fixtures. Look for an area near interior walls with a nice sturdy table or desk to hide under. Being under this will keep you and your family safe from debris should the home crumble. If you feel the ground shake, get to your safety spot, drop, cover, and hold on!

What is the most earthquake prone state? Alaska. From all of us at Alaska Management Group, stay safe when you are in your home! Since 1978, we have strived to provide exceptional management services. It has always been our goal to ensure a safe and comfortable lifestyle in the community. To find out more, give us a call at (907) 333-1244 today.

Thanksgiving Home Safety Tips

This Thanksgiving, you plan to host friends, family, and their children for the annual feast. Your to-do list includes keeping your guests happy, staying on top of the mess, and cooking up a feast with all the fixings. You might feel overwhelmed and forget a few tasks that can put your guests in danger. Follow these tips to keep your family and home safe this Thanksgiving. 

Cooking a turkey is a science. This big bird can take up to 5 days to thaw so make sure you are prepared! Keep the turkey in the refrigerator until it is time to place in the oven. A turkey should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees to ensure the meal is safe from bacteria. Once dinner is over, make sure to put all leftovers in the refrigerator. All leftovers must be refrigerated within two hours of serving. 

The number of kitchen fires triples on Thanksgiving Day. Take some simple precautions to make sure your home doesn’t become part of this statistic. “Stand by your pan” encourages homeowners to never leave food, especially grease, cooking on the stove top unattended. Keep all pets and children away from hot stoves and pans. Make sure all handles are facing inwards so they are not knocked over by guests. If you have a grease fire, do NOT use water or a fire extinguisher to put it out. Turn off the heat source, cover the flames with a pot or pan if possible, and dump baking soda and/or salt on the flames. 

Clogged drains can be expensive, time consuming, and stinky for you and your guests! Once a drain is clogged, homeowners can either call a plumber or run to the store for a bottle of Drano. Proper drain maintenance can avoid clogs, here are a few easy steps! 

1.     Lift any pop-up stoppers in sinks, remove gunk that has collected around the stopper and place it in the trash. Rinse the stopper and place it back in the drain.

2.     Remove the shower drain and use a wire, a croquet hook, or a Zip-it to remove hair and other waste. Place the waste in the trash and rinse with hot water.

3.     Grind up a combination of ice and salt in your garbage disposal. This will help remove grease.  Once finished, rinse with cold water and grind up half a lemon or lime to leave it smelling fresh and clean.

Alaska Management Group provides management services and solutions as well as association-specific websites that can help companies share information and communicate effectively. Complete our management request form to find out how Alaska Management Group can assist you in maintaining the value and comfort of your home association. 

The Neon Pink House on the Block: The Benefits of Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) vs. Restrictions

“Why can’t I raise goats in my backyard?” “Turn the rooms of my home into an inn?” “Paint neon pink murals on my siding?” Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) can sometimes be viewed by the individual homeowner as stifling expression and creativity. In reality, the main goal of an HOA is to maximize property values and create a positive neighborhood environment based upon shared understanding.

An HOA is a community association that serves the greater interests of a neighborhood and its residents. As such, having an HOA can give a community more political advocacy and power, as well as be a collective force for maintaining stability in resale value, community, and structural integrity. Alaska Management Group has been working with and managing homeowners’ associations in the Anchorage area for decades, and as we say in our mission statement, the goal is to “ensure a safe and comfortable lifestyle while maintaining the value of the community for all residents.”

HOAs will have agreed-upon CC&R’s (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) to meet their goal of maintaining home values, neighborhood amenities, and property stability among their residents. These will usually include:

- Fees and membership dues.

- Ordinances and rules, such as architectural, usage, parking, and noise restrictions.
- Responsibilities of the homeowner and the association.

Although HOA’s will most likely put an added layer of restrictions on the individual homeowner, on top of the local government’s zoning and neighborhood ordinances, an HOA serves the collective interests of its community. HOAs can be a powerful voice for the greater interests of their residents, and allow homeowners to have access to amenities as a group that they would not be able to afford individually. Many homeowners appreciate the added stability and the financial protection of assets that an HOA provides. Finally, HOAs can create an added sense of community and neighborhood identity. For more benefits of an HOA, visit here.   

Alaska Management Group is the longest-running association management company serving communities in Anchorage, as well as surrounding cities such as Palmer, Wasilla, and Eagle River. We provide exceptional management services and association-specific websites that facilitate shared information, communication, and access between residents, Board members, and our team. We provide both full service and financial management as well as Board of Directors consultation services. Let us know if we can assist you in maintaining the value and comfort of your home and association by completing our management request form.