HOA Boards Need to Prepare for Snowbird Departures

Fall has arrived and many Gig Harbor residents are packing up and heading south for the winter. 

But have they made arrangements to maintain their property in compliance with HOA bylaws? Will their obvious absence attract unwanted attention from potential burglars? 

As a Board Member of your Homeowners Association, will YOU be the one who picks up the phone to hear complaints about landscapers failing to keep up with the yard maintenance, or snow not getting shoveled off neighborhood sidewalks?

If residents have expressed concerns to you about homes being left vacant for months at a time – whether by Snowbirds or by empty houses for sale – then there are steps you can take to ensure that homeowners are prepared to maintain their property even when out of town.

And there are good reasons to do this.  Neighborhoods with numerous unattended houses can attract attention from potential burglars. Although the owner of the burglarized home suffers the brunt of the trauma, it also creates fear and stress for the neighbors who have remained in their homes.

In addition, when homes go without regular landscaping and maintenance for long periods of time, it is obvious to everyone – including potential buyers in the neighborhood. Home values can suffer, and relations between neighbors can become strained.

HOA Board Members can take several steps to communicate with residents about expectations.  Posting notices on your HOA website, emailing residents and mailing out newsletters are a great first step in reminding homeowners about their responsibilities for maintaining their property during an absence.

But you can also encourage homeowners to rely on Home Management experts for inspections and maintenance during extended absences.

Gig Harbor Home Management provides Snowbird Home Watch Services to residents who leave their homes for the winter. We provide regular home inspections, set light timers and adjust window coverings, and ensure that landscaping requirements are met during their absence.

We also offer services for Vacant Homes on the Market, ensuring that each property is maintained, remains attractive to buyers, and doesn’t appear to be vacant although the owners have already moved away.

Gig Harbor residents deserve to have Peace of Mind when leaving their homes for extended periods. And by encouraging homeowners to utilize Home Watch Services, HOA Board Members will find Gig Harbor Home Management to be a reliable and trustworthy partner in maintaining the high standards of the neighborhood.

For more information on how to prepare your HOA for Snowbird absences, or to arrange a short presentation at your next HOA meeting, please contact me directly at Sarah@GigHarborHomeManagement.com or find me at www.Facebook.com/GigHarborHomeManagement