Our online technology, SourceLink, is a management system that can dramatically improve association management. Information is available with the click of a mouse, day or night. You can look up property regulations, view financials, see archived minutes and newsletters, and much more.
At Comsource we pride ourselves in managing your community in an environmentally sound way. Our SourceLink system provides the platform that allows us to reduce the use of both hard and soft resources. The SourceLink system also provides access to information online, reducing paper use, postage and delivery time. Our managers save time, fuel and are much more efficient due to their 24/7 access to functions and information. They spend significantly less time in their cars burning time and fuel.
Three features make community association homes different from traditional forms of homeownership.
1) You share ownership of common land and have access to facilities such as swimming pools that often are not affordable any other way.
2) You automatically become a member of a community association and typically must abide by covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs).
3) You will pay an "assessment" (a regular fee, often monthly, that is used for the upkeep of the common areas and other services and amenities).
There are many advantages to living in this kind of development. The community usually features attractive combinations of well-designed homes and landscaped open spaces. The houses may even cost less than traditional housing due to more efficient use of land. Parks, pools and other amenities, often too expensive for you to own alone, can be yours through shared ownership. So now you have a chance to own and enjoy the pool, tennis court, or other recreational facilities that may have been unaffordable previously. What's more, you won't have direct responsibility for maintenance, so you won't have to clean the pool, fix the tennis nets, and you may not even have to mow your lawn. But that doesn't mean you'll never have to think about it.
The community association operates and maintains these shared facilities. Of course, you'll pay your share of the expenses and, as an association member, you'll have a voice in the association's decisions.
The Bylaws are the guidelines for the operation of the non-profit corporation. The Bylaws define the duties of the various offices of the Board of Directors, the terms of the Directors, the membership's voting rights, required meetings and notices of meetings, and the principal office of the Association, as well as other specific items that are necessary to run the Association as a business.
The Condominium Association or Homeowner Association again is a corporation and therefore a governing body that is required to oversee its business. The Board of Directors is elected by the homeowners, or as otherwise specified in the bylaws. The limitation and restrictions of the powers of the Board of Directors is outlined in the Association governing documents.
Yes. Notice of the time and place of any regular Board meeting will be noted in the community newsletter, posted each month within your community, or accessed online on the Calendar page.
Most associations have developed Rules and Regulations as provided for in the Policy Resolutions and adopted by the Board of Directors. Rules are established to provide direction to the homeowners for common courtesies with regard to parking, vehicles, pets, and pool use hours, etc. In addition, your Association will adopt Architectural Guidelines with procedures for submitting requests to make exterior changes to your home. Such changes may include patio covers, decks, landscaping, exterior color changes or extensive interior changes and additions.
These rules and guidelines are set up to maintain the aesthetic value and integrity of the community on behalf of all owners, and hopefully protect the market value of your investment as well. Violations of these rules may result in action by the Board of Directors and a fine. In addition, if you proceed with an exterior improvement or change without written approval of the Board of Directors or Architectural Committee you may be required to remove or correct the alteration and/or be fined for the violation.
The cost of management services is based on the level of service that the Board of Directors wants and contracts for. The cost will be based on size of community, services rendered, number of meetings, etc. The management fee is negotiated between Comsource Management and the Board of Directors.
A management company is paid for the experience, knowledge, and understanding of the inner workings of a homeowner association. Also for providing critical resources to associations that promote the preservation of the property and the hassel-free lifestyle of the homeowners. On a day-to-day basis the management company is responsible to maintain the on-going administration of the operations of the property owned by the association and provide financial and administrative services.
Your association dues (sometimes referred to as "assessments" or "fees") are based on an annual operating budget for the association and set by the Board of Directors based on that budget. The fees cover the annual operating expenses as well as long-range expenses. The operating budget includes items such as lawn care, snow removal, insurance, taxes, utilities, management fees, maintenance and much more.
The role of the Board of Directors is dictated in your governing documents. The officers have specific responsibilities as the president, treasurer and secretary specifically. With respect to the management company, the Board of Directors interacts with the association manager on a regular basis; presides over all meetings; and most importantly retains decision-making control.
Assessments are the funds paid by the association owners to operate the community.
Your assessment pays for all of the operation costs of your community, which are outlined in your association’s annual operating budget.
Your assessment is due in accordance with your association’s governing documents and rules and regulations.
There are several options to pay your monthly assessment. You may:
Authorize Comsource to utilize a direct debit from your bank account.
Use your bank’s bill pay options.
Send a check or money order with a payment coupon.
Make a payment with a credit card.
If your assessment payment is late, your association will follow the procedure that is outlined in its governing documents and statutes to address and pursue any outstanding fees.
Each year, the association’s board of directors will adopt the operating budget that your assessment is based on. This budget determines the amount of your assessment and whether or not it increases.
Your association is governed by a board of directors. You may direct any concerns about the association in writing to your community manager at Comsource, who will then submit the information to your association’s board.
Any modification to the exterior (and some interior modifications) of your property will require approval by the board of directors or an architectural review committee. Your community manager can assist you in obtaining the appropriate application to complete and submit for approval.
You may obtain the necessary documents for the resale of your property by going to www.homewisedocs.comand ordering a “Resale Package.” You will need your association’s name and your address to complete this process.
You may submit a maintenance request through your association’s SourceLink portal.
If you have any questions concerning your community, you may direct them to your community manager.
You may reach your community manager by telephone at the Comsource office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also email your community manager directly or send a message through SourceLink.
Anything that is a threat to life or property is considered an emergency. If you feel that there is an emergency to report after hours, simply call the Comsource main number at (301) 924-7355 and follow the voice prompts to access our 24-hour answering service.
Any properly licensed and insured contractor is eligible to perform services at your property.
Comsource’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Your association's board of directors is typically elected at the annual meeting and always in accordance with the governing documents of your association.
Association bylaws and rules exist to provide governance of the association’s common elements and to allow for the harmonious regulation of activities within the community.
Your association’s governing documents and rules and regulations were given to you when you joined the community—most often at the time of purchase. They are also available for your review on your association’s SourceLink page.
CC&R stands for Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. This document is also referred to as the Declaration of Covenants. This is a document recorded in the county land records where your association is located and is the contract that binds you to the association’s regulations.
You may contact your board of directors through your community manager.
To place an item on the board’s meeting agenda, submit the information in writing to your community manager who will then direct it to the secretary of the board.
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