Roof Rats – Article by Jim Fontaine

What caused the hole in this wood shake roof? Tornado? Hurricane? Vandalism? Satellite Dish Installer? Lightening? Meteor? Gremlins? Block of ice from an airliner’s bathroom (yuk!)? No! Believe it or not, raccoons, opossums and large rodents are usually the culprits. One would think that in urban Southern California this couldn’t be possible, but that is … Continue reading

LIFETIME TILE ROOFS, FACT OR FICTION? – Article by Carl A. Brown, RCI, RRO

The world of roofing is very competitive, causing product manufacturers to seek ways to separate themselves by offering more and more. The latest marketing trend is to advertise “lifetime” tile roofs. These “tile” roof products can be made of a variety of materials including concrete, clay and even steel. They are sold in a variety … Continue reading

Preparing for the rainy season – Article by Kim Province

It is nearing that time of the year again when the summer sun starts to play hide and seek with the clouds.  Southern California is expecting normal rainfall with January and February predicted to be the wettest months this season. This gives you time to prepare your communities for the rain. If a property isn’t … Continue reading

“Rooftop Repercussions from Rudolph” – Protecting Your Roofs from Damage Caused by Holiday Lighting – Article by Charles Antis

The winter holidays are a favorite time of year for many who live in your communities.  In fact, most of us get so excited that we decorate our homes with Christmas lights to spread our feelings of cheer.  This enthusiasm sometimes results in damage to the weather-protective system that covers you.  Damages include but are … Continue reading

Is my house poisoning my family? – Article by www.homeownerqna.com

The life threatening consequnces of excesive carbon monoxide exposure has been widely documented and a nuber of detection devises have flooded the market in the past decade. Although the popularity of carbon monoxide sensors is growing, it has been estimated that less than 20% of homes in the U.S. are are equipted with the proper sensors. Ironicaly, most homes … Continue reading

A Landscape Survey Can Save Water & Money – Article by WaterWise Consulting Inc

Unless a HOA property started out with a landscape design of plants native to the area, there is the potential to save money on HOA water bills and have healthier plants by watering the landscape more efficiently. Most gardeners or landscapers don’t do it, because they don’t know what to do, and may not realize … Continue reading

The importance of having assessments – Article by By Doug Ward, CCAM, CMCA, AMS of Amber Property Management

Assessments are a necessity for common interest developments to conduct business.  Simply put, without the assessments, the community cannot operate. Assessments, commonly improperly referred to as dues, are generally collected on a monthly basis by either a monthly billing reminder or a coupon book provided by the community’s management company. These amounts vary from community … Continue reading

Should an HOA Risk Accepting the Low Bidder?? The answer is Maybe – Article by Carl A. Brown, RCI, RRO

The purpose of soliciting bids from contractors is, of course, to get the best price or Lowest Bid. All association directors want the best price and all have learned the “three bid rule”. Is the lowest bid always in the best interest of the association? Is the association required to accept the lowest bid? (Answer … Continue reading

Not All Lighting Is Security Lighting: 6 Points for Added Safety – Article by Kim Weiss

There is little doubt that good lighting makes community residents feel more secure at night. Nevertheless, developing an effective security lighting plan can be challenging. The planner must build a strategy that serves the specific needs of the community, accommodates the obstructions on the property, and does not create a nuisance for neighbors.   Crime … Continue reading

Have a “Q”? Because we have your “A” – An amazing complied list of HOA Q & A – Article by hoaqanda.com

    JUSTIFIED EXPENDITURES Q.  Can the board of directors of our association spend association funds on what amounts to a political issue? The board wants to spend funds to stop a nearby development, based on the belief that it will harm the value of homes in our community. A.  Absent a prohibition in the … Continue reading

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    Amber Property Management 27261 Las Ramblas, Suite 100 Mission Viejo, CA 92691 General email mark@amberpm.com and or tracey@amberpm.com Office (949) 429-5831 Fax (949) 429-5933