Individuals aren’t the only ones who can benefit from making resolutions for the New Year. HOAs can also enact positive change by setting goals they’d like to reach or new initiatives they’d like to implement. These aren’t necessarily issues that need to be voted on by the homeowners either – they’re simply ways the HOA wants to improve how it operates for the betterment of the community.
- Improve Communication.
Good communication is essential in the HOA. How well does your association do with keeping members informed? Could your website stand to be updated? Should your newsletter be revamped to make it more engaging and informative? Find out areas where members feel like there’s a disconnect and take steps to make change. Use available resources such as email, social media, the community website, postal mail, community bulletin boards, and more to keep members up-to-date with what they need to know. Also, check the governing documents to ensure that you’re in compliance with advanced notice for meetings.
- Increase Involvement.
Some communities have a very active membership, whereas others are struggling to get people involved. How does your HOA measure up? Create more opportunities for members to get involved in different capacities. Not everyone wants to be on the board, so make sure there are a variety of committees and volunteer opportunities where homeowners can pitch in. Also – make sure they understand what is involved. Some people shy away from volunteering because they’re concerned about the time commitment. Explain not only what opportunities are available, but what each position entails as well so that members can pick what fits best for their interests, abilities, and schedule.
- Start a Welcome Committee.
Take steps to make new homeowners feel more welcome in the neighborhood. Having a welcome committee not only provides a personal connection, it also ensures that new members have all necessary HOA documents, can ask questions about different issues or where to find more information, and can learn more about the community. Make their first experience a positive one.
- Manage Expenses.
The New Year is a great time to look for opportunities to be more fiscally responsible. Consider the previous year’s budget and expenses and where costs could potentially have been avoided. Review contracts and see if they’re still meeting the community’s needs, or if new terms could be negotiated. Comparing costs between vendors can also help to find the most cost-effective deals and reduce expenses for the upcoming year.
- Work More Efficiently.
Efficiency is something many HOAs struggle with. It always seems like there are more tasks to tend to than time in the day. Hiring a property management company such as Kuester can help HOAs better manage their responsibilities. Property managers can handle many day-to-day operations leaving the board to focus on more pressing issues. Knowing that rules will be consistently enforced, dues collected, and meetings planned can help the association boost its effectiveness. Discuss with members why partnering with a property management company is in the community’s best interest.
Now is the time to create positive change in the HOA and ensure that the community is living up to its mission and goals.
