I’ve been managing Central Ohio communities for 16 years, and I’ll tell you a secret: No one actually hates the rules. They hate the ambiguity. Here is how we fixed the 'violation drama' for good...https://www.cpscolumbus.com/post/blog-hoa-compliance-season-central-ohio

We are writing to share some significant news regarding utility submetering in Ohio. Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a unanimous and long-awaited decision that officially classifies submetering companies as "public utilities." For those in our industry, this is a major milestone. This issue has been a point of contention for nearly 16 years, as submetered residents often faced higher rates and fewer protections than those served directly by traditional utility providers. What This Means for Your Community By classifying these companies as public utilities, the court has opened the door for PUCO to implement: - Price Controls: Ensuring residents aren't overcharged compared to standard utility rates. - Consumer Protections: Providing rights regarding service disconnections and billing disputes. - Greater Oversight: Requiring submetering companies to "play by the rules" that govern all other essential electric and water services in the state. Next steps at this time, there is no specific action required from your Board or your residents. The ruling has been remanded to the PUCO to determine the exact regulatory framework and registration requirements for these companies moving forward. We look forward to seeing how this plays out and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure our communities benefit from these new protections. We believe this is a "big win" for fairness and transparency in community living. Feel free to share this update with your community members. As always, thank you for your partnership. Best regards, Arnold Barzak Managing Partner Capital Property Solutions

We had a great discussion at our last meeting about something that is quietly draining association budgets across Columbus: Water Submetering. It’s one of those topics that feels confusing, so most boards just hope their provider is handling it correctly. But here’s the reality we see often: - Unpaid move-out balances are being written off without the board even knowing. - Failed meters are "hidden" as minimum usage. - Transparency is so low that you can't actually see if you're getting what's owed to the community. We just posted a deep dive on our blog about how we found a $100,000 gap in one association's water revenue—and more importantly, the specific reports you should be demanding to make sure it doesn't happen to you. If your water income doesn't closely track your expense, or if you haven't seen a unit-level delinquency report lately, give this a read. https://www.cpscolumbus.com/post/reclaiming-lost-water-revenue-in-columbus-hoas-what-boards-are-missing-about-submetering Has anyone else noticed a gap in their water billing lately? Let’s talk about it in the comments. #HOAManagement #ColumbusRealEstate #WaterSubmetering #AssociationAdvocacy

Stop comparing "apples to oranges" when it comes to contractor pricing. In this latest edition of the KnowYourHome Newsletter, Adam Rich breaks down why renovation quotes are often tens of thousands of dollars apart and how you can use a professional "Bid Form" approach to get true transparency. https://knowyourhome.beehiiv.com/

Read our recent blog which highlights a financial newsletter that is certain to build confidence in your community: https://www.cpscolumbus.com/post/financial-clarity-in-community-management-why-your-board-needs-a-proactive-approach