Association Management Improves Security in Non-Gated Communities

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Association Management Improves Security in
Non-Gated Communities
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Association Management

• Vigilant association management can help address
  the security requirements of all neighborhoods,
  especially non-gated communities.
• By creating awareness, developing programs and
  bringing neighbors together, management companies
  and homeowner association (HOA) boards have taken
  the necessary first step in recognizing crime
  happens everywhere.
• No community, regardless of location, is immune.
• Community association management companies can
  assist HOA boards and members in protecting
  themselves and their personal property.

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Association Management

• The community should never let its guard down.
• In some ways, a non-gated community may cause
  members to be more watchful. Sometimes, gated
  communities create a false sense of security
  among residents.
• Association management companies and board
  members need to encourage the community never to
  take a laissez faire attitude when it comes to
  security.
• Getting a gate code is pretty easy.
• Think about all the service personnel coming into
  and out of the neighborhood pizza deliveries,
  home repairs, housekeepers and more.
• Even if a security guard is present around the
  clock, preventing unauthorized access isnt
  guaranteed.
• Therefore everyone in the community needs to stay
  alert and report any strange activity to law
  enforcement.

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Association Management

• Association management companies and HOA boards
  must stress good homeowner and community security
  practices.
• Burglaries are common crimes in communities
  across the country.
• According to the National Crime Prevention
  Council, 60 of all burglaries committed are done
  through unlocked doors and windows.  
• Therefore homeowners must continually be reminded
  to lock all accesses to their homes. In fact,
  some insurance companies may not cover losses if
  the burglar broke in through an unlocked entry.
  This simple measure can help prevent a potential
  crime.
• What about landscaping? Are common grounds
  landscaped carefully so it would be difficult to
  hide an intruder? Have guidelines been developed
  for homeowners so they can create landscaping
  with safety in mind?
• What about lighting? Same as with landscaping,
  both common grounds and individual properties
  should consider lighting dark areas.

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Association Management

• Association management companies and HOA boards
  must stress good homeowner and community security
  practices.
• The association management company can set up
  communication vehicles so all members remain in
  the loop regarding community security.
• A website and newsletter, for example, can keep
  homeowners up-to-date on the latest best
  practices for safety.

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Association Management

• Association management companies and HOA boards
  should offer homeowners advice on what to do when
  theyre on vacation.
• Leaving a home vacant for any length of time can
  make it a target for burglars.
• However, homeowners can take some measures to
  thwart potential break-ins while theyre away.
• Publishing suggestions can help reduce risk and
  put homeowners minds at ease.
• For example, homeowners should use light timers
  and vary the light locations during the night.
  They should not put vacation holds on any
  deliveries, but have a neighbor pick up mail and
  deliveries instead.
• The association management and board can offer
  materials on a variety of topics, including crime
  prevention and personal safety. They can also
  refer members to educational sources.

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Association Management

• The association management company and HOA board
  may consider surveillance and monitoring
  equipment, if economical.
• Costs for video and wireless technologies have
  been coming down recently.
• As a result, this form of protection has become a
  viable option for many non-gated communities.
• In addition to the HOA using it for the
  community, homeowners can buy systems for their
  residences and watch surveillance footage on
  their televisions.
• Security alarms are common systems today.
• Although they may be a lower priority for law
  enforcements response, they can act as a
  deterrent.
• Anything that can give a homeowner an edge
  against crime should be considered.

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Association Management

• The association management company and HOA board
  may consider surveillance and monitoring
  equipment, if economical.
• Some of these systems offer medical alerts as
  well, a potentially life-saving feature for
  elderly homeowners.
• Finally, a non-gated community may opt to hire a
  security company that has guards patrol the
  neighborhood during regular intervals.
• These guards may be armed, unarmed or be
  accompanied by dogs.
• The HOAs budget will determine what security
  measures are affordable.

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Association Management

• The association management company can help the
  community establish a neighborhood watch program.
  
• Criminals certainly dont want to have hundreds
  of eyes watching them.
• And thats just what a watch program does.
• Neighborhood watch programs are cost effective
  ways to cut crime.
• They also help neighbors get to know each other
  so strangers will be more easily identified.
• Law enforcement can be invited to community
  meetings to help provide expertise.
• They can discuss security issues specific to a
  particular community, as well as recommended
  solutions.

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Association Management

• The absolute best way to prevent crime in any
  community is for members to always be aware of
  whats happening around them.
• Homeowners need to be proactive and never become
  lax about safety issues.
• Association management companies and boards must
  continually remind HOA members that crime has no
  boundaries and can happen anywhere and to anyone.
•  
• AAM works with many of the largest homebuilding
  and community development companies in the United
  States such as Del Webb/Pulte, Shea Homes and
  Meritage Homes.
• Founded in 1990, the company employs 370 people
  and manages over 400 communities in the United
  States.
• AAM is dedicated to delivering total peace of
  mind to the Boards of Directors and homeowners in
  the communities it manages.

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About the Author
Susan Williams is the Vice President, Business
Development and Marketing at AAM Community
Management, a community management firm that does
business in Arizona, New Mexico and Florida.
Learn more about Association Management by
visiting http//www.AssociatedAsset.com.