When SB326 Works to Keep Our Residents Safe: A Case Study, illustrating that SB326 truly is a safety law that saves lives. Over the past five years since this law’s inception in late 2019, there has been much debate. Thankfully, many Associations throughout the state have engaged the appropriate engineering or architectural professionals to perform inspections of their Exterior Elevated Elements (“EEEs”), as required by the law.

If you have been one of the Associations that has complied with the SB326 requirements already, you should be pleased that you have done so.

An Association’s annual budget is an important tool for keeping an Association in Good Health. Within a good annual budget, there are both fixed and scheduled costs. Some of these are considered mandatory, and others are somewhat flexible in nature. Reserve Studies will many times identify annual maintenance items for components or systems that an Association should follow, and many are vital that need regular maintenance and are simple to predict as contracted ongoing servic

If your association has a solid, complete Maintenance Matrix and if it is followed and used religiously, chances are that your association is healthy and happy – physically, cosmetically, and financially. It draws a detailed roadmap to a well-kept and well-managed association, and shows visitors, buyers and appraisers alike that your homes are valuable and desirable.

If you are on an HOA board or are an association manager, it is possible, perhaps likely that you’ve heard the age-old adage that “the low bid is not always the best bid.” While many sayings like this can be considered overused and are sometimes “eye rollers,” it is hard to dispel the need to consider this concept when gathering bids and proposals for repairs and maintenance.

Over the past 5 years since the law’s inception, Coachella Valley has seen a good amount of compliance to the now-famous “Balcony Bill”, whose more formal name is California Civil Code 5551, Senate Bill 326, or “SB326” for short. Thankfully, many of our associations here in the Valley have engaged the appropriate un-conflicted engineering or architectural professionals to perform inspections of their exterior elevated elements (EEEs) as is required by the law.

The Coachella Valley has a wealth of charities that support important community causes. Fundraising events happen throughout the year, but many are held during the holiday season. CAI-CV business partners have a long history of generously supporting community charities.

Reserve studies are not just another annual disclosure and not just another set of numbers in your annual budgets. They are a particularly important tool that should be used to maintain the overall health of your community and its financial condition.

From an early age, we’re taught by our parents to “take care of our things.” As owners and residents in an HOA, nothing has changed. We still need to take care of our stuff! But what are we responsible for taking care of at our home when we are members of an association? There are usually clear lines that are drawn as to what the HOA is responsible for, and what the owners need to maintain. These dividing lines are normally outlined in an important part of CC&Rs, our governin

Keeping our communities in the Coachella Valley lush, well manicured and beautiful is important but challenging on many levels. Water reduction efforts, like desert landscaping, clearly benefit conservation efforts, but there is another benefit to consider. Water damage to HOA buildings from overspray and poorly maintained sprinklers can be devastating to our budgets. Desert landscape can cure this common problem.

The Coachella Valley is rich in its history – from Hollywood’s influence in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, to today’s diverse, sometimes sprawling destination communities and tourist attractions. Over the past four to five decades, common interest developments have filled the Valley stretching from Palm Springs to Indio, making multi-family living the most popular method of home ownership throughout the Valley today.

Maintenance is not an exciting topic, but it can save associations loads of money, and certainly a lot of time and aggravation. Every association has different needs, but all of them need to develop a “key components” list of items that should be tended to on a regular, semi-regular, or annual basis.

The current insurance markets are grappling with reinsurance issues, which are frequently discussed within the insurance industry but often overlooked in the community association sector, including by our managers, boards, and community members.

One of the most difficult challenges facing HOAs is the policing of nuisances such as the attachment of exterior wall art or other homeowner beautifications. Whether it be at an entry, a balcony or patio, if it can be seen by other residents or is on common property, it’s probably not allowed by the association. But alas, HOA rules don’t always get followed. It’s left to the dedicated volunteers and management to maintain the rules and uniformity of the association’s homes.

Staying involved in the upkeep and beauty of a community can be incredibly rewarding; the excitement, the crowdsourcing of ideas and the victories of the spoils are what great communities thrive on. The experience of serving on a committee can be incredibly satisfying.

If your association has already complied with the SB 326 requirements, you should be pleased. Many associations are just now starting the process. As we come into the final year and a half of the law’s timeline for compliance, inspection companies of various types and levels of experience are actively soliciting this mandated work.

One of the most important amenities that many communities have are their swimming pools and spas. These are typically places where residents find socialization, rest, and a place to cool off during the hot summer. Having a well-maintained pool and recreational space is important for home values and serves as an attractive feature for anyone living or vacationing in the Coachella Valley.

In October and November of 2021, CAI-CV’s Quorum magazine (now HOA Living) published articles to address the varying personalities of balconies and other types of exterior elevated elements (EEEs), and the common challenges that are being faced following the enactment of the “Balcony Bill.” In February of this year, CAI-CV’s Educational Lunch Program addressed this nagging topic even further, to demystify the process and help to set our Valley’s HOAs on solid ground.

As we approach the holiday season and the end of year two of the Balcony Bill compliance window that ends on December 31, 2024, many of our Chapter’s associations have explored compliance, and educated themselves on Senate Bill 326’s requirements. Reserve Analysts have wisely counseled their clients to add a new budget line item and to make sure it is funded.

he Coachella Valley is not only rich in its diversity and history, but also richly populated with many diverse homeowners associations. Driving from Palm Springs to Indio you will see the multitudes of common interest developments with different architectural styles, ranging from mid-century to modern.