Many homeowner associations have common facilities to share. Some are extensive and some are modest. Some enjoy beautifully appointed clubhouses with pools, exercise equipment, kitchens, big screen TVs, saunas and other amenities just waiting to be enjoyed. They are made possible by each owner contributing a small part of the total cost to support them.

Each HOA that has these assets is challenged to make good use of them. Most distribute keys and lay out the ground rules for use. The facilities get used from time to time but usually sit vacant, quietly becoming obsolete. As years pass, light use doesn’t wear out the carpet, furniture, paint colors, light fixtures and drapes. They just take on that “nightmare from a bygone era” look and get less and less use as time pass. How can the HOA justify updating the place when so few use it?

These common amenities should be a source of pride and a value builder for the owners’ home prices. Instead, outdated facilities cause an embarrassment and home value reduction. May it never be! Protecting, polishing and promoting the HOA facilities serves a number of worthy purposes:

Published: June 4, 2003

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Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues. Regenesis publishes The Regenesis Report, a monthly newsletter for HOA boards, developers and managers. To subscribe, go to Regenesis.net. He can be contacted by email at .