Homeowners within the HOA are highly encouraged to attend
meetings and to speak up with any issues that are on their minds—but it’s
important to remember that there are right and wrong ways to go about this.
In this post, we’ll outline some basic tips to make sure
your voice is heard, and that you’re able to have a constructive exchange with
the rest of the folks at the meeting.
Have Your Voice Heard at the
Next HOA Meeting
1. Remember to be
professional.
At the meeting, you’ll see a number of people who are your
friends and close neighbors. It’s okay to be friendly and warm, but also
remember to be professional. After all, the HOA meeting is a business meeting, and it’s important to
maintain a certain decorum.
2. Don’t forget to
sign in.
When you arrive at the meeting, you should see an area where
you can sign in. This is an important step for a couple of reasons. One, it
simply lets the Board know that you’re present and wish to speak; they’ll call
homeowners to speak in the order they sign in. And two, signing in allows the
Board to get back in touch with you if they wish to follow up on your concerns.
3. Bring a solution.
It’s okay to come to the Board with a problem—but try to
also bring a solution. Again, it’s a business meeting, not just a place to
share complaints. It’s always best to be constructive.
4. Be respectful of
others.
Remember that many people at the meeting will want their
turn to speak. When someone else has the floor, make sure you yield your full
attention to them.
5. Be brief.
While different HOA Boards may impose different time limits,
the norm is five minutes. Try to keep
your remarks within that window, getting straight to the point and being
respectful of everyone’s time.
Bring Your Concerns to the
HOA Board
These tips are meant to help your presentation to the HOA
Board go smoothly—not to scare you off! The HOA Board really does want to hear
from homeowners, and we strongly encourage you to show up to meetings with any
issues you feel warrant discussion.
To learn more about the best ways to conduct yourself in an
HOA meeting, contact Kuester
Management Group.
5 Ways to Have Your Voice Heard at the Next HOA Meeting
Homeowners within the HOA are highly encouraged to attend meetings and to speak up with any issues that are on their minds—but it’s important to remember that there are right and wrong ways to go about this.
In this post, we’ll outline some basic tips to make sure your voice is heard, and that you’re able to have a constructive exchange with the rest of the folks at the meeting.
Have Your Voice Heard at the Next HOA Meeting
1. Remember to be professional.
At the meeting, you’ll see a number of people who are your friends and close neighbors. It’s okay to be friendly and warm, but also remember to be professional. After all, the HOA meeting is a business meeting, and it’s important to maintain a certain decorum.
2. Don’t forget to sign in.
When you arrive at the meeting, you should see an area where you can sign in. This is an important step for a couple of reasons. One, it simply lets the Board know that you’re present and wish to speak; they’ll call homeowners to speak in the order they sign in. And two, signing in allows the Board to get back in touch with you if they wish to follow up on your concerns.
3. Bring a solution.
It’s okay to come to the Board with a problem—but try to also bring a solution. Again, it’s a business meeting, not just a place to share complaints. It’s always best to be constructive.
4. Be respectful of others.
Remember that many people at the meeting will want their turn to speak. When someone else has the floor, make sure you yield your full attention to them.
5. Be brief.
While different HOA Boards may impose different time limits, the norm is five minutes. Try to keep your remarks within that window, getting straight to the point and being respectful of everyone’s time.
Bring Your Concerns to the HOA Board
These tips are meant to help your presentation to the HOA Board go smoothly—not to scare you off! The HOA Board really does want to hear from homeowners, and we strongly encourage you to show up to meetings with any issues you feel warrant discussion.
To learn more about the best ways to conduct yourself in an HOA meeting, contact Kuester Management Group.
Bryan Kuester
Bryan is the CEO of Kuester Management Group. He has over 15 years of managing community associations throughout North and South Carolina.
His specialties include Community Association Management - maintenance, budgeting for operational and reserve funding, long-range planning, covenant enforcement, amenity management, onsite management, large scale management.