Your task force is very important to HOA homeowners in Colorado

I have owned homes in HOAs for 38 years because it has always been easy to sell a home in a well-run HOA when I have to relocate.

My experience with an HOA here in Colorado has been the best because we are managed by a professional company. The management company helps us follow all our documents, as well as Federal, State and County/City regulations and laws, estimate reserves needed, complete proactive maintenance, and get qualified contractors. They do the accounting, submit our registrations, and help make sure agendas, meetings and elections are done as required.

The homeowner meetings are held during business hours, but the advantage is the management company is present to make sure meetings are conducted properly. I have found the management company is impartial, so all homeowners get equal treatment, because we have a variety of owners–some are investors who rent their units. The company has a portal, so HOA documents and activities are available for review. The Board of Directors has an email alias, so they are available between meetings.

My experience is having written HOA policies and fines keeps everything fair and safe for all homeowners and guests. Rules on parking makes sure everyone has equal access to their unit, space for snow storage, and emergency vehicles can access the complex. Rules on use of common areas and owner modifications gives everyone reasonable privacy, quality of life, and maintains the complex’s appearance. My experience is our HOA is much more forgiving than any government agency when is comes to fines and late fees. My HOA will listen and try to solve issues without fines.

I have a concern about the new collections policy of an 18-month repayment period with a minimum of $25.00 a month. That policy treats an HOA like it is a business that has the ability to cut expenses, like lay people off, or stop services to stay solvent. In our HOA, I would be wondering how we are going to pay for snow plowing, roof repairs, insurance, accounting—basic operating expenses—if we do not have homeowners paying assessments on time.

Unlike an independent, non-HOA homeowner, my financial future and quality of life is connected to my fellow HOA owners. We all go up together or go down together. I ask your task force to please keep HOAs a reliable financial investment and quality of life option for Colorado residents.

Thank you.