Blog

Strong communities do not happen by chance. They are built through thoughtful planning, responsible financial stewardship, and a commitment to preserving the safety, value, and longevity of the association. One of the most important responsibilities of a board of directors is to ensure the community has a long-term funding strategy to address the inevitable repair and replacement of common elements.

Homeowners Associations (HOAs) rely heavily on outside vendors to maintain property values, ensure safety, and keep communities running smoothly. From roofing companies and electricians to power washing crews, pavers, and especially landscape partners, vendor relationships often determine whether an HOA feels well-managed or constantly reactive.

Building strong, professional relationships with vendors isn’t just about hiring the lowest bidder—it’s about creating a structure for accountability, communication, and long-term reliability.

From managing communities to supporting them, my journey to Tidewater Roofing has been shaped by years on the front lines of HOA and condominium management. I spent most of my career overseeing a diverse portfolio of communities, each with their own personalities, priorities, and challenges. Day to day, I balanced board meetings, vendor coordination, budgets, resident concerns, and long-term planning. Some days ran smoothly; others were far more complex — especially when a roofing issue arose.

Strong vendor relationships are not built solely through contracts and proposals. They require consistent, professional communication during both smooth operations and difficult moments. One of the more damaging habits within association management is only contacting vendors when something has gone wrong. Over time, that pattern conditions every interaction to feel adversarial.

Writing about relationships and communication between managers and vendors feels especially timely because it remains one of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of successful community management. Throughout our industry, several themes consistently emerge: relationship investment matters, partnerships outperform transactions, assumptions create problems, and education should be shared openly.

A developer’s relationship with a community management company is one of the most influential factors in determining whether a neighborhood will simply function, or truly thrive. While much attention is often placed on site plans, home design, and sales pace, the long-term success of a community depends heavily on the strength of the partnership established behind the scenes. When developers and management companies work in alignment from the beginning, they lay the groundwork for a stable, well-maintained, and financially secure community.

The ability to understand the difference and work with a developer is essential. A strong, collaborative relationship between an association management company and a developer is one of the most important factors in the long-term success of a new residential community. While the developer focuses on vision, construction, and marketability, the management company plays a critical role in ensuring that the community is financially stable, operationally efficient, and positioned for sustainability from day one.

If you’ve ever looked around your neighborhood and thought, “Everything here just works,”—you’re not wrong.
But it’s not automatic. Behind every well-run community is a group of volunteers making it happen.

This National Volunteer Month, we celebrate the dedicated board members and committee volunteers who help our communities thrive. Your time, leadership, and commitment, both seen and behind the scenes, make a lasting impact. Thank you for all that you do to keep your communities strong, organized, and welcoming.

In Part 3 of our series, we examine Form 1120 in more detail. Some associations either choose — or benefit from — filing Form 1120 instead of Form 1120-H.

In Part 2 of our series, we take a closer look at Form 1120-H. Most condominium and homeowners associations elect to file Form 1120-H each year. Why? Because it is simpler and provides a relatively low-risk filing structure.

Income taxes can be a confusing topic for association boards. In this three-part blog series, we’ll provide an overview of association taxation and take a closer look at each federal filing option. In Virginia, the vast majority of associations are formed as nonstock corporations. As nonstock corporations, they are required to file annual federal income tax returns. Fortunately, through the choice of filing method and applicable IRS regulations, associations can significantly limit their income tax burden.