Most of us know that it’s important to visit our physician for a routine check-up from time to time—ensuring we are healthy, and addressing any problems that might have emerged since our last visit. In much the same way, it is important for the members of an HOA board to pause and take the temperature from time to time, assessing the overall health of the organization.
Knowing the overall healthiness of your HOA is important. You may be surprised to find that your organization has some problems, some concerns to address. The good news is that, even if your board is in poor shape, there is plenty that can be done to restore it to full, robust health!
The first step, however, is to perform the diagnosis. As you think about the overall condition of your community association, discuss the following questions with your fellow board members:
- Are your board meetings open to all community members? Are the meetings publicized so that members know when they are taking place, and that they are welcome?
- Are all of your rules necessary, fair, consistently enforced, and open to an appeals process?
- Are board meeting minutes made available to all community members within the span of a couple weeks?
- Are there informational packets provided to all new community members when they move in?
- Does the board have a reserve study?
- Does your board have a knowledgeable association attorney? Do you consult with that attorney when needed?
- Are there measures in place to recruit new volunteers for the HOA board?
- Are regular financial statements both reviewed by board members and then made visible to community members?
- Do you communicate with all community members—via a newsletter, social media, or e-mail lists?
The answers to all of these questions should be yes, of course—so if they’re not, then you know what you steps need to be taken for a healthy HOA!
