FAQ

Close All | Open All
  • chevron_rightWhat is the purpose of an HOA?
    A Homeowners Association (HOA) is responsible for community assets such as entrances, clubhouse and pool. An HOA helps maintain property values which are based partly on neighborhood condition.
  • chevron_rightWho is the Hermitage HOA?
    All owners of a lot or parcel situated within Hermitage subdivision in the County of Madison, Alabama are automatically members of the Hermitage Homeowners Association (HHOA).
  • chevron_rightWhat is the HHOA Board?
    Hermitage HOA leadership is provided by a Board of Directors. The HHOA Board of Directors is comprised of five HHOA members who are elected according to rules outlined in our governing documents. The Board must act in accordance with our governing documents and the law. Board members are expected to make all decisions with the interest of our community at heart. All Board members are volunteers and are not compensated for their time.
  • chevron_rightWho is Elite Housing Management?
    The Hermitage HOA employs Elite Housing Management (EHM) to facilitate the daily operations. Elite handles accounting services, architectural reviews, contractor management, covenant compliance, and neighborhood amenities.
  • chevron_rightHow much are HOA dues?
    HOA dues are currently $450 to be paid on or before January 1st for that year. Unpaid assessments begin to accrue late fees of $25/mo beginning February 1st.
     
    From our Covenants: "The Assessments are due on the first day of January each year; all of the Assessments should be paid in full by January 31st. However, if the Assessments are not paid by January 31st of each year, an additional $25.00 late charge per month will be added until the dues are paid in full for that year. All sums assessed against any lot pursuant to this Declaration, together with late charges, interest, costs and reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred, as provided herein, shall be secured by a Lien on such lot in favor of the Association."
     
  • chevron_rightAre there any additional HOA charges?
    In addition to the yearly dues,
    1. Fines may be imposed for violations of our Covenants, the purpose being to deter violations, not for profit or to create hardships for homeowners.
    2. Our Covenants permit additional assessments for special cases, but as long as the board continues to manage a proper reserve fund, this provision will hopefully never need to be exercised.
    3. As part of the home selling process, Elite Housing Management charges a Resale Fee typically paid by the Seller and a Transfer Fee typically paid by the Buyer. See below.
      When you decide to sell your home:
    Be sure to reach out to Elite as soon as possible to find out if anything could interfere with the sale. There could be a compliance issue that your real estate agent might need to resolve with your Buyer, or an unresolved violation or fine owed that could affect closing.
     
    Elite now uses HomeWise to supply the Resale Demand Package needed for closing. HomeWise requires at least 7 working days or they will charge a Rush Fee of around $100 as of April 1st, 2023. Be sure your closing attorney is aware of this.
     
    The primary piece of the Resale Demand Package is the Resale Demand/Estoppel Certificate. This discloses to the Buyer a property's standing with the HOA and the financial and operational state of the HOA.
  • chevron_rightWill HOA dues increase?
    Yes, HOA dues need to compensate for inflation and to account for increasing maintenance of aging HOA assets. We raised our 2024 dues $25 and may need to raise dues again in 2025 if inflation stays high.
  • chevron_rightHow are dues spent?
    The HHOA Board has a fiduciary duty to manage Hermitage HOA assets and funds. All dues are funneled into an operation fund and a reserve fund. The operation fund is used for common property maintenance, utilities, insurance, property taxes, and legal fees. Common property includes the clubhouse, pool, entrances, and the municipal right of way along Pettus and Harbin. The reserve fund is maintained to cover major expenses such replacing our clubhouse roof or fence as well as any unforeseen expenses. Financials.
  • chevron_rightHow are dues determined?
    Dues are assessed based on an estimate of the current year’s spending, plus an amount put into a reserve fund for future expenses. Hermitage HOA Board of Directors is responsible for setting our annual dues accordingly. They look at the overall operating expenses of the community - things like common property maintenance, utilities, insurance, property taxes, overhead costs, property management - as well as contributions to the reserve fund. Once they determine the required income, they divide it up equally among all homeowners, board members included. Financials.
  • chevron_rightCan we ban solicitors?
    We can’t prohibit solicitors since our roads are public roads and we are not a gated community. Signs at entrances to a neighborhood might discourage some solicitors, but most don't notice or care. Once they are on your property though, you can exercise your legal right to refuse uninvited visitors and convey your request to not be disturbed.
     
    While solicitors have the right to be in Hermitage, posting a sign on your individual property prevents them the right to knock on your door or ring your bell because you’ve posted an express desire that they are not welcome on your property for such purposes.
     
    So the best way our residents have found is to put a small sign on their front door, such as:
    NO SOLICITING
    email us instead at x@x.x
     
    While it may not seem like much, this is the best action that you can take to deter solicitors. Any solicitor refusing to leave your property once told verbally or with a visible sign on the property could be charged with trespassing. Please report any solicitor who refuses to leave your property to local authorities. But remember that non-profit groups and people doing surveys, polls, or campaigning are not commercial solicitors.
Community-Wide Standard
Financial
  • chevron_rightWhy do we pay a property management company?
    A property management company's contributions may not be obvious to someone who isn't on the Board, but they take a huge load off Board members by handling many of the daily operations. This allows the Board more time to spend communicating with residents and on overall community improvement. Most of the consistently nicer-looking communities have companies managing them.
     
    The Hermitage HOA employs Elite Housing Management (EHM) for this. Elite handles accounting services, architectural reviews, contractor management, covenant compliance, and access to neighborhood amenities. This includes monthly bills, dues, clubhouse reservations, pool keys, architectural reviews, neighborhood drive-thrus, fines for unkempt properties, and vendors like clubhouse cleaners and landscapers.
  • chevron_rightHas paying a property management company helped with compliance?
    There will always be a few unkept homes or yards. Consider that a family may just be neglecting maintenance due to a difficult life situation. The compliance process can't produce instant results. First the drive-thru agent observes the issue and sends a warning letter giving the homeowner a certain amount of time to fix the violation. If they drive through again and see that the violation hasn't been rectified, they send an escalating series of fines, and after reasonable notice may have the violation resolved at the homeowner's expense. If they refuse to reimburse our HOA, the Board will place a lien on the property. This process takes time if a homeowner is determined not to comply. But homeowners eventually pay our HOA for their refusal to abide by our Covenants we all agreed to when buying our home.
  • chevron_rightWhy are we paying for internet at the clubhouse?
    Internet connectivity is needed so that the Board and Safety Committee members can remotely review the pool access system and surveillance footage in a timely manner. It also allows for clubhouse security, temperature, and water sensor alerts as well as guest WiFi access.