Manuals for neighborhood

Does anyone have a manual that is given to all residents? If so, what information is necessary to have in it? Or-are you using the internet for this purpose?

Thanks-Setena

In our handbooks for our communities, we try to make them HO friendly by also adding helpful information such as where their kids will attend school in your area from nursey schools to K-12th grade. Along with where to shop such as food stores, banks and local churches.

Since many HO are new to the area they may not know that Harris Teeter is a food store, since up in the North they are called names like Shop-Rite.

Remember that when doing a handbook you cannot change the CCR's (that would be an amendment) the handbook should be an interpretation of the CCR's, making the governing documents more HO friendly.

Mike,

Who is handling your re-sale documents (the CC&R's, statement that dues are paid up, etc)? If its the PM, the have them add a pre-paid postcard to the pile asking for names and move-in dates. If it's a third-party company that specializes in re-sales via the internet. I think you can get them to include something similar in the document package delivery. Have the postcard addressed to whoever is handling the "welcome packages". Doesn't work all of the time, but it should help.

Joe

Two items - first I was trying to help Mike with his problem about getting notified when a new owner moved in. Second - as to re-sale documents or packages, we are probably just dealing with semantics. They are whatever has to be or should turned over to a buyer. Closing agents don't know if there are unpaid dues or fines unless the association (or through its PM) provide a statement to that effect. Not all uncollected assessments have been perfected into a lien that would show up in a title search. It may only be a month or two. Re-sale packages should include the current budget, most recent year-end audited financial statement, all documents, rules, etc., a statement of the status of the specific account, plus whatever state law requires. I guess in FL under 720.401 that would be the Disclosure Summary. Even though the selling owner is supposed to provide it, the association often does this.

IMO it should also include the status of reserves, and a statement from the board as to whether the association is involved in, or contemplating any litigation, or additional/special assessment. However, unless requested by the seller, or unless state law requires it, I wouldn't include the last two. Without state law or CC&R's requiring it, it could be construed as "interference with a sale" if a purchaser backs out as a result of receiving information from the association either not required nor requested by the seller.

Joe