Tips for an Effective HOA Neighborhood Watch

Tips for an Effective HOA Neighborhood Watch

We have said more than once on this blog that the primary task of an HOA board is to ensure that the property values of the community are maintained—something that involves proper maintenance, the implementation of certain standards, and more. It also involves security. It goes without saying that, if your community becomes known as a hotbed of crime, or if vandalism becomes a major problem, your property values are likely to plummet. Plus, property values won’t mean much if everyone in the area is too frightened to live in the community. That’s why a good HOA board pays attention to matters of neighborhood security.

In some cases, that means starting a HOA Neighborhood Watch group. Obviously, this isn’t for every community. If you live in a relatively small residential area, where volunteerism is in short supply, a Neighborhood Watch might not be practical. But for some communities, a Neighborhood Watch is both a great, simple security measure and a great way to shore up some community solidarity.

But what are the foundational things to remember before organizing something like this? The most crucial point, actually, is simply this: You must get to know your neighbors. Kick off your HOA Neighborhood Watch program with a meeting or social function that will allow you to get closer with your neighbors. This matters, for starters, because you’re going to be relying on each other to keep your community safe and secure. More directly, though, knowing about your neighbors’ lifestyles and basic schedules will help you to identify abnormalities and potential security risks in your neighborhood—for instance, a strange truck parked outside a neighbor’s house.

The other important thing to consider is that you really need to publicize your HOA Neighborhood Watch. It’s remarkable how many HOA Neighborhood Watch groups don’t post signs throughout their community; by alerting potential criminals that you’ve taken security precautions, you can eliminate a lot of your threats right off the bat. Neighborhood Watch signs are some of the best preventative security measures out there!

For further details about organizing an effective HOA Neighborhood Watch program, you might contact your local police, who typically have informational packets they can offer to proactive communities. This is certainly a security program worth considering, and, in some cases, implementing as soon as possible.

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Bryan Kuester

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.

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