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Bah Humbug! What to Do if an HOA Board Member is a Scrooge

December 21, 2018 / by HOA Manager

There seems to be one in every homeowners association. That one HOA board member that consistently disagrees, goes against the majority, or at the very least enjoys playing devil’s advocate. Do you have a Scrooge – a mean spirited, miserly person – on your Board? There are ways you can deal with them.

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How to Prepare for Your Annual HOA Board Meeting

December 12, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Now is a good time to set a date for your annual HOA board meeting if you haven’t already done so. Annual meetings are a common best practice to keep members informed and get them involved. You may be thinking that it’s going to be a waste of time because the majority of members don’t come to any meetings. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most challenging parts of planning the meeting, but there are ways to encourage members to attend.

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Steps to Take When HOA Board Members Can’t Make Decisions

September 14, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Some HOA boards have the need to discuss things ad nauseum and yet never come to a decision. It can be extremely frustrating when the same topic comes up on the agenda month, after month, after month, and after hours of discussion, nobody's willing to say either yes or no. They either need more information, want to hear from so-and-so who's not there, or avoid the topic altogether. So how can decision-making be improved for your Board?

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What is an Official Meeting: In 200 Words or Less

August 24, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Board meetings, executive sessions, and membership meetings are the most common in an HOA. They require a quorum to be present to qualify as an official meeting. The governing documents for each association define a quorum, typically in the Bylaws.

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Why HOA Boards Must Hold Regular Scheduled Meetings

August 21, 2018 / by HOA Manager

One of the first things you learn as you enter the world of homeowner’s association management is all items must be discussed at a board meeting and all decisions must be made in a meeting. In my eight years as an HOA Portfolio Manager, I’ve never had a Board who hasn’t met on a regular scheduled date, until recently. I took over an association and they haven’t had a meeting in over a year! That’s just crazy! Let me explain the importance for you.

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HOA Board Voting 101: How to Start a Motion

May 25, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Sometimes what seems like a simple item on the agenda that will receive an overwhelming vote can end up taking the whole meeting because Board members and homeowners keep hashing out the same issue over and over again.

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5 Tips for Addressing the HOA Board at Open Meetings

May 23, 2018 / by HOA Manager

man-presenting-at-a-meetingAll meetings of the homeowners association Board of Directors are open meetings. Residents are encouraged to observe meetings and read approved minutes. Residents who wish to address the HOA board are welcome to do so during the forum conducted at the beginning of each business meeting.

Here are a few tips for participating:

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Can an HOA Board Make Important Decisions without Homeowners?

March 7, 2018 / by HOA Manager

More precisely, does an HOA’s Board of Directors have authority to make important decisions for the community without seeking input from their homeowners – either informal consultation, a survey or a formal vote?

The short answer to the question is “Yes.”  The HOA board is established to oversee the governance of the association on behalf of the homeowners/members.  While HOAs are quasi-governmental in nature, they are not pure democracies in which members vote on every issue. The long answer to the question is more complicated.

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Ways to Encourage Members to Attend HOA Board Meetings

February 14, 2018 / by HOA Manager

Successful communities, governed by successful Home Owners’ Associations (HOAs), typically have strong, effective boards of directors.  An effective HOA board of directors conducts their HOA’s business in a professional manner, including having regularly scheduled meetings.  Problems can arise, however, when one or more directors fail to attend those meetings consistently.

Sometimes, a director is absent frequently because of medical or family emergency issues.  In the short term, these can be tolerated or special arrangements (like attending by speaker phone) can be made.  In the longer term, when the director’s absence impacts major decisions such as budget-setting or major projects or legal matters, it may be necessary to ask the director to step down.

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How to Actually Get Things Accomplished at Your HOA Board Meeting

January 31, 2018 / by HOA Manager

It’s a new year, and that means a new round of board meetings.  Since the Davis-Stirling act requires that HOA board meetings take place, you might as well take part in achieving the best and most successful meeting possible.

HOA board meetings are a golden opportunity for community members to know the issues that impact one of their most treasured investments…their home.  The following six tips for meetings can help. 

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