FAQ's
Slatter Management Services, Inc. has been established for 20 years. Slatter consists of four departments; Homeowner Association Management, New Business Development, Accounting and Field Operations. Services offered by us vary from Accounting Only, Full Management and a Hybrid service.
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding Slatter Management Services and homeowner associations.
Why have a Homeowners Association?
Associations are created for two reasons; to protect itself and its common area and to preserve the property values of the homes within it. Through the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for your Association and a Property Management company, the Association is ensuring that your home, your neighbor’s homes, and your community will remain in the condition it was intended.
How does an Association operate?
The Association is a non-profit corporation and is run by a Board of Directors who are elected by the Association membership (the Board of Directors for developing communities is the builder/developer until turnover to the membership). The Board of Directors operates under the legally bound and recorded Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions. The By-Laws of the Association dictate how the Board of Directors and the Association function.
The Governing Documents/Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for your Association can be found on your county’s Register of Deeds. These documents, along with the Rules and Regulations and Architectural Guidelines and related forms for the Association, can also be found on your Association’s website or by contacting Slatter Management. Please review the Governing Documents and Rules and Regulations for your community. Your home and property must be maintained according to the Governing Documents and established rules for your Association.
Who are the Board members for my Association and where can I find their contact information?
Your Association and Board of Directors are listed on the Association’s website under Directory. Each year, they are updated and posted to the website. If applicable, the NC Planned Community requires that all Board members be public information to the community.
When are my Association’s meetings?
The Bylaws for each Association state the frequency of Board meetings and membership meetings specific to each community. The Board reserves the right to meet more than what the Bylaws require but not less than. Contact your Community Manager to obtain the meeting schedule for your Association.
I want to be a Board member; how do I go about this?
Reach out to your Community Manager and request to be on the ballot for the next Annual Meeting. These meeting notices will be sent to the community in advance of the meetings and will also request Board member nominations.
I want to make an exterior change to my home; how do I do submit a request and how long will it take for a decision?
Exterior changes and/or improvements require an Architectural Review Application; please reference the Rules and Regulations and Architectural Guidelines document posted on the Association’s website. Please wait for written approval before making any improvements. Improvements and changes typically include sheds, fences, pools, playground equipment, paint colors, door styles, landscaping, and mailboxes.
Please login to your Association’s website to submit an ACC change under My Profile, then Homeowner ACC Request to fill out an online request.
The timeframe for obtaining a decision is specific to your Association. Please refer to your Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.
It is my home, why can’t I change the appearance or structure of my home without HOA approval?
While we understand it can be frustrating when changes you wish to make are prohibited in your community, the bases behind this are to protect YOUR property values. When the Association’s homes maintain a high level of appearance and create a uniform presence, the values of all homes within the neighborhood increase. These guidelines are there to facilitate this process.
I have repairs that need to be performed on my townhome/condo, how do I submit a work order?
While living in a townhome or condo, there are repairs that the Association is responsible for. To submit these repairs, please login to your Association’s website. You will then select Work Order under the My Profile tab and click “Add Work Order”. This is where you can also view previous work orders. You can also call 336-272-0641 or email info@slatterinc.com.
If I have an emergency and your office is closed, who do I call? Also, what constitutes an emergency?
Slatter Management provides a 24-hour service for emergency maintenance issues. Our normal hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm, and Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm.
If there is an emergency outside of this window, please contact our office number at (336) 272-0641. Please listen to the prompt when calling in which will provide an afterhours line to speak with one of our associates.
Why don’t homeowners have a vote on what contractors or management company my HOA uses?
The Board of Directors have a greater insight into the legal, financial and physical needs of the community. They are provided with training, education and information that it would be impossible to provide to the entire membership. The Board are elected to make decisions for the community, in the best interests of the community.
I have been sent a non-compliance notice, what does this mean?
Non-compliance means there is something that is not in keeping with the Association’s Governing Documents. This can vary for each Association’s Documents. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to complete/facilitate the needed correction. These notices typically come with a “complete by” date where a follow up inspection will take place.
Does the HOA play a role in crime prevention?
The role of the HOA is to protect its assets. The HOA is not responsible, nor authorized to protect the members or the homes from criminal activity. If an HOA puts themselves in this position by providing the membership with crime alerts the HOA and the Board could be liable if something happened, and they did not notify the community. The correct way for members to receive crime alerts is through the services provided by their local law enforcement. Websites such as https://www.crimemapping.com/ provide local information that owners can register to receive.
What is the difference between living on a public or a private street?
Public streets are maintained by the local municipalities including repairs and snow plowing. While this does save the Association funds, it does mean it may take longer for the streets to be plowed after a snow/ice storm. It also means, the Association is unable to tag/remove cars parked on the street if public.
Private streets are maintained and funded by the Association. This includes crack repairs and snow plowing. This will be funded by the Community. On private streets the Association does have authority to tag and tow vehicles that appear abandoned or inoperable.