HOA of the Future
You’ve heard them before—HOA horror stories that scare the living daylights out of you. From unheard of special assessment fees to paid parking spaces for compact cars only to common facilities being foreclosed on, HOA living isn’t always what homeowners expect it to be. The most common complaint of HOA living in North America? Communication. Harmonious co-existence is important in any community, but especially within an HOA-managed one. How an HOA decides to communicate with their residents is crucial in today’s real estate market. Here are four ways to revamp an HOA with minimal effort.
Hold everyone to the same standards
Rules need to be enforced in an HOA to keep it running smoothly, and they should always be enforced to the same degree for identical infractions. When a resident gets a letter from the HOA telling them their flowerboxes aren’t an approved addition to the architectural design, it’s easy for them to feel like they’re being singled out. Keep rules transparent and hold everyone to the same standards. Never be selective with enforcement or give a resident special treatment.
Get online
Speaking of infringement letters, how you communicate with your residents is just as important as what you say. Snail mail letters and hand-written meeting minutes can be hard to disseminate. It’s time your HOA gets online and join the modern world! Create a private community your entire HOA can join on GetAssist, and post any relevant information there. Another benefit of going digital? The residents will have a chance to comment and post in your online community as well, enabling them to join the discussion and strengthen their bonds with one another.
Be willing to listen
You may have had a valid reason to change vendors for your community’s landscaping needs, but if you receive an uproar of complaints from residents that the weeds are neglected or the trees aren’t trimmed, it’s a good idea to listen. HOAs have a reputation for being endlessly frustrating, so prove everyone wrong! Even if you have the authority to make the final decision, staying open to hearing the residents’ concerns will help develop trust, understanding and good vibes. An HOA should never have communication just from the top down.
Appoint a point person
Most HOAs are formed because community members want to better their surroundings. Many board members are simply neighborhood volunteers who dedicate their extra time to the HOA. For this reason, all HOAs need a community association manager who can manage the day-to-day happenings. If your HOA does not have a dedicated leader, it’s time to make a change. Appoint a manager and let them know their responsibility as a liaison. Have them claim their community’s profile on GetAssist and become the page’s moderator. Having a point person residents can easily contact will make all the difference in satisfaction.
