HOA Management Blog

The last time that you attended the HOA board meeting for your homeowners association the current board asked you and everyone present to consider volunteering for the board. These are the thoughts that went through your mind:

As an HOA board member, you should know what homeowners association documents your members are entitled to review. Association members are welcome to read official association documents. There’s nothing secret about the business of the association. In fact, you should already have copies of key documents like the bylaws or rules readily available.

Does your homeowners association pay or compensate the Board of Directors? I recently learned of an HOA that compensated its board members for “volunteering.” Each month the board members would receive a credit on their accounts for their monthly assessments. The Board collectively felt that it was doing all the work and that it should be compensated for the time.

As we close out 2014 we start to see top 10 lists, year in review videos, and resolutions being considered. As an HOA board member it’s the perfect time of year for you to sit back and reflect on what’s worked in your Association and what hasn’t. It’s also a good time to look ahead and start thinking about what you want to accomplish in 2015. We’ve made our own top 10 list based on what you and other HOA board members have been reading about in 2014. Take a look back at the most popular topics and give the posts a read if you missed them.

All meetings of the HOA board, excluding executive sessions, are open meetings. A required part of every homeowners association Board meeting is the homeowners forum (also referred to as “open forum” or “open comments to the Board”). Homeowner forums are typically held at the beginning or end of meetings, and any owner attending a meeting has the opportunity to address the Board and may do so during the homeowner forum portion of the meeting.

How often do you communicate with your residents? Does your homeowners association have a website or newsletter? Let’s assume you do! (If you don’t, you should make a resolution to start one this January). As another year begins HOA board members should consider offering some thoughts about how the Association can make the community an even better place to live in the New Year and beyond.

As a board member in your homeowners association, you probably hear your fair share of complaints against the rules in your Association. Not only that, but you also have to be a part of enforcing them for the good of the community. Even though you know they are there for a reason, more often then not, the homeowner doesn’t realize the purpose of the rule or isn’t informed on the actions they can take to have it changed if they feel it’s unfair. So what do you do when you come face to face with a homeowner who doesn’t like the rules, and insists they are invasive, unfair and just plain silly?

For homeowners associations with a January through December budget year, the time clock is ticking to develop a budget for the upcoming year and have the budget approved in time for the association’s year-end mailing. A budget committee can be comprised of HOA board members, members of your community association or a combination of both. How does the budget committee work and who serves on it? 

You live in a homeowners association and one of your favorite features in your home is the enclosed patio. It’s where you go every morning to sit and enjoy your cup of coffee before beginning the day. As you take a sip, today you notice the peeling paint, cracked concrete, and dying plants. The patio really could use an update. You decide to submit your maintenance request for some new paint, a trellis, small irrigation system, and definitely new concrete at the next HOA board meeting.

You have tossed your hat into the ring to become an HOA board Member for your Association. After all the ballots are counted, you are now a new board member. What are the responsibilities of a new board member to their community? You owe a duty of good faith and fidelity to the homeowners association. Make yourself familiar with the governing documents of the Association, the Association’s Reserve Study, if applicable, and the Community Association Status Book (Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act) to assist you in making educated decisions for your community.

What makes an average HOA board better and a good HOA board great? It can be summarized in one word: education. An educated board with committed members is the makings of a successfully run homeowners association. Add to the mix an invested property manager and you have a stellar combination.

As a new or current HOA board member you may often hear terms that you’re unfamiliar with. It’s important to ask questions and stay educated when something is unclear, and nothing can be more convoluted than financial jargon.