Living in an HOA community has its pros and cons. While there are some restrictions on what you can do with your home, there are several measures in place to ensure the community is safe, well-maintained, and aesthetically pleasing. One important part of keeping a community looking its best is HOA inspections. Today, we’ll go over what an HOA inspection entails and why they’re necessary for successful HOA communities.
Contents of This Article:
- What Is an HOA Inspection?
- Who Performs an HOA Inspection?
- Why Are HOA Inspections Necessary
- What Do Inspectors Look For?
- Ensure Compliance in Your HOA Community
What Is an HOA Inspection?
An HOA inspection is a thorough evaluation of an HOA community. Inspectors look to ensure that common areas and homes are in proper condition and that homeowners are in compliance with HOA rules and regulations. During an inspection, an inspector focuses on preventative maintenance, facility maintenance, and compliance with the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs).
Not every state requires HOA inspections. However, that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Whether your state requires them or not, it’s important to at least perform an annual inspection. Some communities may also do seasonal or routine inspections every few months to ensure community members adhere to HOA rules and keep the neighborhood well-maintained.
Whether you’re a homeowner, board member, or Philadelphia HOA manager, it’s important to know why inspections are necessary and what an inspector looks for during one. Before we get into that, let’s review who performs an HOA inspection.
Who Performs an HOA Inspection?
The people who do the inspections may differ depending on the size of your HOA, the annual budget, and decisions made by the Board of Directors. For instance, it could be the HOA board officers, an HOA community manager, or a third-party HOA inspection service.
While HOA board members can conduct inspections themselves, allowing a community manager or inspection service to perform the review may be more efficient. After all, your community manager knows exactly what to look for during a site inspection, and they’re familiar with your community’s governing documents.
On the other hand, hiring a third-party inspection service gives you a professional, unbiased perspective. Additionally, professional HOA inspectors have established processes that provide consistency, accuracy, and detailed results.
Why Are HOA Inspections Necessary
HOA inspections are important for several different reasons. After all, most HOAs have rules and regulations for homeowners and community members to follow, and it’s important that everyone adheres to them. Here are some of the main reasons why HOA inspections are so important for community upkeep.
- Maintaining Community Standards
- Preserving Property Values
- Identifying Safety Concerns
- Ensuring Compliance
- Preventative Maintenance
Maintaining Community Standards
Regular inspections help ensure properties and common areas within the community adhere to the established rules and standards. Most HOAs have rules and regulations regarding landscaping and yard maintenance, parking rules and guidelines, noise restrictions, pet regulations, trash and recycling, exterior decorations, and more.
Preserving Property Values
Curb appeal is important for property values in an HOA. After all, when prospective buyers come to visit your community, the first thing they’ll notice is how well the properties are maintained. As such, if the complex or community is not appealing, it shows that the board isn’t doing its job of enforcing HOA rules, and something has to change.
Identifying Safety Concerns
Inspections can identify potential safety hazards like cracked sidewalks or walking paths, inadequate lighting, or unsafe playground equipment. Regularly inspecting and addressing potential safety hazards promptly helps keep everyone safe.
Ensuring Compliance
HOAs have special rules called the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that homeowners and community members must follow. That said, inspections help ensure compliance with these rules, preventing unauthorized modifications or activities that may disrupt the community.
Preventative Maintenance
Identifying and addressing maintenance issues early on can prevent more significant and costly problems in the future. Using inspections as a proactive approach helps the HOA manage its resources more effectively. After all, finding an area that needs maintenance in advance reduces the risk of unpredicted costly repairs.
What Do Inspectors Look For?
HOA inspectors look for several things as they walk through the neighborhood. Ultimately, they focus on preventative maintenance, structural integrity, necessary repairs, and compliance with the CC&Rs. Here are the main areas they’ll pay attention to.
Exteriors
One part of an HOA inspection includes examining the outer elements of the community’s homes and common area structures. For instance, they’ll look at the foundations, walls, and roofs. Additionally, they’ll check the stairs, railings, and gutters of common areas. Finally, they’ll look at driveways, windows, and doors to ensure everything is in working order.
Interiors
Not all HOAs have interiors that need to be inspected. However, if it’s an apartment, condo, or townhome community, an inspector may look at hallways, stairways, floors, and ceilings to ensure everything is in good shape.
Common Areas
Shared community areas are a huge focus during HOA inspections. While every HOA is different, some common areas may include the following.
- Parking Lots
- Swimming Pools
- Fitness Centers
- Clubhouses
- Sidewalks and Walking Paths
- Playgrounds or Parks
Utilities
While homeowners are responsible for utilities in their homes, inspectors still check utilities in common areas. For instance, they’ll examine electrical, water, gas, and phone lines. Additionally, they’ll inspect sewer and HVAC systems to ensure the proper filters are changed and everything is in working order.
Ensure Compliance in Your HOA Community
HOA inspections are an important part of keeping an association community running smoothly. That said, homeowners, board members, and property managers must follow HOA rules and keep up with regular maintenance to pass inspections each time they happen.
If you’re looking for a team of professionals to manage your HOA community, look no further than Bay Property Management Group. Our team of experienced property managers can help you with the most tedious tasks, including budget planning, meeting coordination, property inspections, and more. Contact us today to learn more about our HOA management services!
