As you may know, today’s depressed economy means increasing difficulty in trying to sell a home.  For those that must move without being able to do a timely sell of your property comes the realization that leasing out your home may be a necessity.  We are beginning to see more of this happening during recent months here in HeatherRidge.  What this means is that many more properties are being occupied by renters, if your governing documents allow.  What must also be realized is that, in many cases, a renter does not care for your property, or respect Association rules and neighborhood appearance, as much as an owner.  This is normal and true for most associations.  Sadly, many owners who have been purchasing homes strictly as an investment, or for fast profit, ignore their responsibilities to the community, and hardly know what their property even looks like.  They are biding their time when they can flip the property and walk away. However, if care isn’t taken by an owner in this scenario, there will be little increased value to them when sold. Typically,  a Management Company and a directing Board of an association does not, and should not, take up rules and violation issues with a renter.  It is always the owner that must take full responsibility of their renter’s association-related actions within the community, and any improper actions by a renter will always come back to the owner by way of violation, fines, and decreased value of the property as a whole.  Although each Association has their own rules governing the renting of units, all owners must remain keenly aware of these issues.  If the value of homes and desirability of HR is to remain at a decent level for this community, owners must be responsible for the people to whom they rent and the caveats put in place in the leases, and that reaches across to the Community as a whole.  In essence, always bear in mind that the community will thrive only if all residents, owners and renters alike, have respect for this community through their actions. In March, a general, joint meeting of all association representatives is being planned to discuss some of these community-wide issues of concern.

Auditor-requested fixed asset inventories, including more specific information concerning values and identification of equipment, will be physically conducted by our insurance agent and others during the week of February 23^rd.  Our current lists, along with golf management’s lists, will serve as basis for providing proper information to the auditors.  Completion of this project will allow release of our completed audit as a “final” instead of “conditional” draft.

Vendor bids have been submitted to TLLCISI concerning the renewal of most HUA general insurance policies, which will be presented and voted upon at the February meeting.

Proposals are being sought for the purchase of a replacement squad car for our Security Department.  Every other year, a new squad is purchased while good trade-in value can be realized from the old one.  Each year, close to 40,000 miles are put on the squad patrolling our streets of HeatherRidge.

Maintenance and Landscape personnel are still heavily involved in keeping our streets and sidewalks plowed, shoveled and salted.  So far, we are fairing well and hopefully we’ll be able to make it through the season with enough salt.  Please use caution when walking and driving as there are always places developing black ice or sudden patches of hazardous areas.

Our security system wiring and installation for CB, HH and Cabana pool areas are coming along on schedule, and we anticipate being able to begin new card production in March.

Our CRF director is busy booking parties and trying to keep a fine balance of programs for our senior citizen residents as well as the younger crowds.  HeatherRidge has a good mix of age groups and we urge all residents to support this fine amenity and program.

Bob Marcus, CMCA, AMS Community Manager