Melissa Esham is the Community Association Advisor for Deeley Insurance Group. She has eight years of experience specializing in the needs of community associations and 17 years of community management experience. Melissa grew up in Ocean Pines, MD and now resides in a condominium association in Berlin.

Maryland Reserve Studies and Your Association

The Maryland Condominium Act and Maryland Homeowners Association Act require associations to undertake a reserve study at least once every five years. Delaware and Virginia already required reserve studies, but all 50 states are developing similar requirements as a response to the tragic collapse of the Champlain Tower South condominium in Surfside, Florida. Maryland Reserve…

Water Wise: Prevent Damage & Claims

Water Damage Is The Most Common Claim, But There Are Simple Ways You Can Prevent Losses.  Water damage is more than a ‘frozen pipes problem.’ It’s a real concern that many homeowners overlook. Refrigerator icemaker failures. Leaky toilets. Dry-rotted washing machine hoses. HVAC condensation. Little drips over time that can deteriorate drywall.  In a strange…

How Association Documents Affect Virtual Meetings

During the pandemic we saw associations move to virtual meetings and electronic voting. Some association documents require in-person meetings and include specific language on how the voting process should work. In Delaware, the state statute governing Community Associations allows for remote or virtual meetings. As state statute supersedes the governing documents, associations may hold virtual meetings.…

Directors & Officers Liability – Common HOA Claims

Most HOA Boards are made up of volunteers, and homeowner volunteer decisions are protected by the Directors & Officers insurance policy. These are the most common claims facing associations’ Boards of Directors. Violation of the Governing Documents Rules should be enforceable and enforced Meetings should be held per the documents Architectural Guidelines should be followed…