brokers, agents or property managers.RCC
encourages the self-regulation of the community
management profession through professional
certification and designation programmes
developed by industry professionals, for the
profession.
13.Aesthetics, architectural
and building guidelines
common interest community when compared
with properties not located within such a
community. In order to maintain an attractive
and valuable “curb-side appeal,” common
interest communities must control aesthetic
interests of the development. Aesthetic control
extends to the design and maintenance of all
improvements existing on the footprint of the
development, including, but not limited to:
siding, fences, landscaping, lighting and even
buildings, where applicable, all of which are
visible throughout the community. Governing
documents obligate the association to
“maintain” the property. Sometimes governing
documents also expressly provide aesthetic
controls within the rules, restricting fence styles
or paint colour choices. Where governing
documents are generalised or even silent on
aesthetics, many communities craft policy
resolutions to address details and procedures
relating to the architecture, landscaping and
other aesthetic interests. When communities fail
to construct or consistently enforce aesthetic
policy, the result is usually property that lacks
visual coherence due to poorly contemplated
and executed aesthetic schemes. The results
can be devastating for owner lifestyle and
property value.
The background
The policy
The overall appearance of any common
interest community has an economic impact
on property values. When communities look
old, poorly maintained or without a unified
scheme in architecture, colour or landscaping,
property values of individual owners’ properties
as well as the whole community suffer. When
aesthetics of any one development look clean,
well maintained, properly proportioned and
part of an overall design or compatible colour
scheme, owner expectations are met and
property values are sustained and improved.
In fact, independent studies have shown that
real estate values generally appreciate in a
RCC opposes any and all attempts at national
and local levels to enact laws or regulations
that ignore or negate the economic importance
of aesthetic controls.
RCC endorses credentials for individual
community managers provided by CAISA and
CAIUSA and includes:
•Certified Manager of Community Associations®
(CMCA) administered by the National Board of
Certification for Community Association Managers
(NBC-CAM)
• Association Management Specialist® (AMS)
•Professional Community Association Manager®
(PCAM)
RCC endorses the qualification requirements
for community managers with an objective
examination that tests community association
management knowledge, continuing education
requirements and professional and ethical
Conduct and Disciplinary Authority.
RCC strongly supports community-drafted
aesthetic controls, in accordance with
governing documents or supplemental
thereto, and opposes any and all attempts
by local government to interfere, ignore or
negate the contractual obligation between
associations and its members permitting
and requiring the association to maintain
aesthetics that meet lifestyle expectations of
the collective ownership, match a standard of
cleanliness and maintenance and are part of a
larger, unified aesthetic scheme. Architectural
or design review committees should include
professionals or seek advice from business
partners on a regular basis.
14.Conservation,
sustainability and the
environment
The background
Community Associations are the outgrowth
of smart land use planning. Community
associations, which represent a comprehensive
approach to housing that encompasses
individual homes as well as common areas
such as parks, conservation/natural habitats
and parks and recreational facilities. These
amenities usually are supported and maintained
by the residents of the commu