Summer’s here, and that means your HOA is busy preparing another set of guidelines for COVID-19. Sounds like fun, right? Knowing how to prepare for these changes can be challenging at times, but we’re here to give you some HOA summer guidance. Think of this as your go-to guide to safe summer fun, post-COVID.
From fun outdoor events to virtual meetings, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about your homeowner’s association this summer.
Is COVID-19 Still a Concern?
The quick answer is yes. The virus didn’t magically disappear, despite the vaccine roll-outs.
Almost half of the adult population in the US has received their first dose. With that, people are now comfortable getting out of the house and gathering socially again. HOA summers are some of the best times. With community events, pools, and fitness centers opening again, residents are starting to enjoy these amenities.
But! Do not let your guard down.
Even if many of your residents got the jab, it doesn’t mean COVID went away. It’s still there, lying in wait to infect unvaccinated people and very small children, like the snake that it is. For everyone’s health and safety, you should still follow federal and local regulations regarding health protocol.
This doesn’t mean you should continue quarantining, no. You can have awesome summer gatherings and restart your social life.
Over Communicate With Your Community
COVID-19 is still evolving, and there’s no way to say when another outbreak happens again. So it’s smart to stay in touch with your homeowner’s association. Keep everyone in the loop re: the latest developments and COVID guidelines.
Again, practice social distancing and wear a mask in common areas. Think of these as protection from yourself and others from the virus because they are. If there are new sets of COVID guidelines, spread the word about them, so everyone’s informed right away. You can email the guidelines to residents, post them on bulletin boards in common areas, etc. be sure that people can see these changes. You can also hire a professional management company to streamline the communication process if you can’t do it on your own.
The goal here is to give as much information as possible so that people will know what they can and cannot do during this transition. Also, the health protocols and guidelines change all the time, and you want your residents and association to keep up.
Hosting Virtual or Outdoor Homeowners Association Events
Summer’s all about BBQs and lazing poolside, but 2020 changed all that. With the lockdowns of last spring and summer now a distant memory, people are starting to spend more time outdoors.
Small summer events and gatherings are allowed in some areas. Hosting a virtual event isn’t nearly as fun as going out but do it to avoid large, unmasked crowds.
This summer, you can host a few outdoor community events like pool parties, grill-outs, and outdoor movies. Picnics are also perfect for getting people together outdoors. Of course, you’ll still want people to protect themselves and others to avoid a potential outbreak.
Managing HOA Crowds
When it comes to meetings and association events, the thing to remember is to keep the gathering small, and masks should be required. Stick to virtual meetings when you can. If the weather is good, you can host outdoor meetings as long as everyone keeps a safe distance from each other. Everyone could use the fresh air and sunshine, TBH.
Don’t hold meetings in cramped places with poor ventilation. That’s how reinfection happens. For indoor events, keep everyone six feet apart by spacing out the chairs. Everyone should wear masks, avoid touching surfaces — the whole nine yards.
For events held in pools and fitness centers, ask for reservations to control the crowd. Always follow the state and local regulations about the size of social gatherings and remind residents of the rules for their safety.
Keeping Up With Sanitization Efforts
A massive chunk of your budget should be reserved for sanitation because sanitizing indoor and outdoor spaces can be expensive.
Even if your entire community has been vaccinated, you need to keep every common area safe from the virus. This may include hiring a professional maintenance team to sanitize the common areas regularly. They’ll have all the cleaning supplies and equipment needed to rid any space of the COVID-19 virus. We can help you find the perfect team for the job!
Help Residents Keep Spaces Clean
COVID-19 spreads like nobody’s business in dirty common areas. Apart from sanitizing common areas regularly, you need to remind residents to wash their hands, avoid touching surfaces, and keep a bottle of antibacterial wipes on hand.
To make it easier for residents to clean their hands, add sanitation stations in community areas. Make antibacterial wipes available all the time. Place signs around common spaces to remind residents about cleanliness for good measure.
Places like patios, grills, community eating areas, even the mailroom should have sanitation stations. Extra sanitation efforts should be focused on fitness centers, pools, recreation rooms, and community rooms.
How to Prepare Your HOA for Summer
Preparing your HOA for a safe yet fun summer is quite the feat; no thanks to the pandemic, but hey, you’re still making great memories for your community. With the vaccination rollout in full swing, we can all expect a better summer this 2021.
But remember, prevention is always better than the cure. It sounds cliche, but these wise words are worth remembering to avoid spending the rest of your summer sick and stuck in your hospital bed!
Remind everyone to wear masks, practice social distancing, and keep hands clean at all times. Use every platform necessary to keep everyone informed of local guidelines and changes for your HOA this summer — email, texts, social media, messaging boards, even old-school bulletin boards.
The safety of your residents should be a top priority. And you’ll need all the help you can get. If you’re looking for property management services in California, fill out this contact form for a free proposal.
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