Owner Survey 2019

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Sunland Division 17, January 2019

Beginning the conversation

The Sunland North Division 17 Board of Directors sent a survey invitation to association members in January. The survey was intended as one method of gathering information on what our members currently perceive as priorities for the HOA (Home Owners Association). It was not a vote, nor is it the only source of information the Board will use in planning.

The survey was conducted from January 17 to January 31, 2019. Owners were contacted via email, and participated voluntarily (and anonymously) through filling out an online form on the web (Google Forms). The results reflect the opinions of those who chose to respond. One response was requested per household.

There were 76 responses to the survey. Some survey questions permitted more than one response per question. “n=” indicates the number of responses to a question.

1. Are you a Sunland North home owner? And if yes, how long have you been a Sunland North owner?

More than half of respondents have been here three years or more. A large group have lived here more than five years. But another way to look at it: the majority of respondents have lived here less than five years.

• n=76
• 7=Less than one year
• 26=1 to 3 years
• 13=3 to 5 years
• 30=More than 5 years

2. Do you reside in Sunland North?

Our records show only a small number of homes are owned by non-residents, yet a much higher percentage of non-resident owners responded than resident owners.

• n=76
• 69=Yes
• 7=No

3. Have you ever lived in an HOA (Home Owners Association) before Sunland North? If yes, was that HOA responsible for exterior maintenance of your building?

Almost 80% of respondents have either never lived in a HOA, or never lived in one that provided external maintenance.

• n=76
• 16=Yes, I lived in an HOA that was responsible for exterior maintenance.
• 28=Yes, I lived in an HOA, but it was NOT responsible for exterior maintenance.
• 32=No, I have never lived in an HOA before this one

4. The rights and responsibilities of Division 17 owners to the Association, and the Association to the owners, are controlled by three documents: the CC&Rs (Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions), the Rules & Regulations, and the Bylaws. What could be done to help you personally understand these three important documents? (Check all that apply)

Even those who said they needed no more information suggested that one or more additional channels of assistance would be appreciated.

• n=199
• 44=I don’t need anything more, I feel I understand these fine already.
• 5=Advise me where to find these documents on the Division 17 website
• 27=Mail or hand-deliver to new owners a hard copy of these documents.
• 25=Annually send an emailed reminder about these documents and where to find them to each owner.
• 17=Provide quarterly presentations or workshops for owners to review these documents and answer questions.
• 38=Email periodic information highlighting various aspects of the governing documents, as a reminder to help focus on key portions.
• 29=Make it clearer how both Division 17 and SLOA (SunLand Owners Association) governing documents apply.
• 14=Modify the writing to make these documents more easily understood.

5. What else do you think would be helpful?

• n=12
• Four respondents stressed the need for good communication or more transparency.
• Three suggested executive summaries of governing documents, shorter version of documents, or explanations of how the three sets of documents differ.
• Two stated the Board needed to be more open-minded, or more responsive to owners.
• One suggested additional attention should be given to the fact that owners have responsibilities to the organization.
• Two suggested how presentations on documents should be scheduled.

6. The Sunland Division 17 homeowner association has goals and responsibilities that must be weighed against the available resources. As each goal has an effect on assessment levels, please rate each of the following HOA issues to your household (where “1” indicates least important to you, and “5” indicates the most important).

• Getting our Reserve Funds higher (closer to the level recommended by our past Reserve Studies), in order to reduce the need for special and/or larger assessment increases to address needs; average 3.4
• Maintaining unit exteriors, including roofs, to the current or higher standards; average 4.3
• Maintaining lawns and shrubbery to the current or higher standards; average 4.1
• Maintaining the green space (open meadow) that surrounds Division 17 homes (mowing the area, adding potential enhancements such as trees, weed control, etc.); average 3.6
• Removing and replacing landscape trees that are too old, unhealthy, or too large; average 3.6
• Bringing on paid staff to manage the HOA and the services it provides; average 2.1
• Having earthquake insurance (estimated to increase annual insurance premium by about $17,000 and require 10% deductible per affected building); average 2.6
• Updating and repairing our aging irrigation system; average 3.4
• Revising our CC&Rs and other governing documents to make them more easily understandable (by law, cannot change basic provisions); average 2.7
• Increasing assessments no more than 3-5% per year; average 3.8

Note: The figure $17,000per year for earthquake insurance was  used in the question on earthquake insurance, but past estimates actually ranged from $25,000 to $36,000/year. Apologies for the error.

Other goal (describe and rate):

• n=13
• One respondent expressed concern they would be priced out of their home.
• Two suggested continuing on current course.
• One suggested focusing on only “critical needs.”
• One rated resolving problems with water consumption metering as top priority.
• One rated resolving issue of Cascadia Loop as top priority.
• One suggested assessing viability of a solar array farm.
• One suggested filtering water system to protect home appliances and irrigation system.
• Two suggested modifications to how annual assessments are determined.
• One stressed the need for earthquake insurance.

7. Do you feel you are getting enough information about what’s going on in Sunland North? Current communication methods include monthly board meeting, a quarterly newsletter, an annual owners meeting, and the Sunland Division 17 Website, plus one can contact a board member directly. (Check as many as apply)

Even though the majority said they had enough information, most approved of additional channels of communication with owners.

• n=129
• 63=This is enough for me, thanks.
• 3=It’s too much information already.
• 23=I’d like more frequent information, such as emails with updates on what is going on.
• 36=I’d be willing to participate in future surveys.

4=Other:

• One respondent suggested a monthly update on anything new, including social news.
• One suggested more owners should attend Board meetings, both to make sure they understand issues and to make sure their voices are heard.
• One respondent said they never met with the greeting committee.
• One said they only wanted to hear about important matters.

8. Have you used the Sunland North Website? (https//:sunlandnorthownersassociation.com)

• n=76
• 45=Yes, a few times a year.
• 18=Yes, consult it regularly (at least once a month).
• 13=No

Comments on the website?

• n=17
• One suggested adoption of something like the “Let’s Communicate” messages from SLOA.
• One said they would prefer printed information in the mail.
• Two said the website was OK or fine.
• Thirteen said the website was good to excellent.

9. How many members of your household are currently working full-time outside the home?

Questions 9 and 10 strongly indicate that the vast majority of our owners are seniors, and retired.

• n=76
• 69=None working outside the home.
• 3=One household member working outside the home.
• 3=Two household members working outside the home.
• 0=Three or more household members working outside the home.
• 1=Prefer not to answer

10. Please indicate the average age for members of your household? (example: If one person is 65 and one person is 75, add the two ages together and divide by two: i.e., 65 + 75 = 140, divided by 2 = average age 70)

• n=76
• 71.9 years average (range was 45 to 87)

11. What other comments would you like to share?

• n=26
• One respondent said the HOA fees and water and sewer fees made the neighborhood too expensive to live here.
• One respondent said the future maintenance fees and water fees were too high.
• One respondent wanted to remove the deer and ban feeding all animals except hummingbirds.
• One respondent asked the board to resist spending money on the desires of new buyers.
• One respondent complained that the Board was allowing privatization of common property through allowing privacy fences.
• Two respondents thought a paid staff would reduce the burden on volunteers and increase corporate knowledge (versus the time spent educating new volunteers and Board members).
• One thought landscaping services were not provided equally.
• One thought the quality of pruning was inadequate.
• One thought exterior maintenance response was slow.
• One respondent requested HOA-secured earthquake insurance.
• Four respondents were concerned about the Cascadia Loop fire and critical of the amount of information provided on the event, and concerned about the costs.
• One respondent said they would have preferred a survey with four choices rather than five.
• Eleven respondents praised the board and volunteers for their work.

Thank you to all who participated.