Ushering in the New Year in the HOA

As December winds to a close, everyone is ramping up for a new year. Just as businesses are preparing for January 1, HOAs should be too. There are many tasks that can be done to help get the new year off to a smoother start and keep forward momentum going. Don’t let the busyness of the holidays make HOA activities get pushed to the back burner.

Prepare for Celebrations

With so many homeowners living in the community, there are sure to be festivities happening on New Year’s Eve. Send out a quick email blast or other notification ahead of time politely reminding members of HOA rules and regulations. This could cover things such as parking, noise levels, fireworks, decorations, and basic safety. Giving homeowners a heads up can help curb issues.

Tie Up Loose Ends

Are there any outstanding issues the HOA still needs to resolve? Have new contracts been finalized for the start of the year? Was the budget approved? Try to wrap up as many things as possible so board members can focus on enjoying their holidays as well without stressing over association business. Make sure everything is set to jump right back in come January.

Plan Ahead

Organization is key for successful HOA operations. Look ahead to next year and start developing a calendar that includes important dates and deadlines. Schedule HOA meetings in advance so homeowners can plan to attend. If you know reports must be filed or taxes paid by a certain date, write it down. Is the newsletter distributed the first of the month? Add it to the calendar – along with article deadlines. A comprehensive calendar can keep tasks from being overlooked and give plenty of notice so the board isn’t waiting until the last minute.

Set Goals

Look back on the past year and think about what worked well and what did not. Are there areas the HOA could improve? Are there changes you want to make? Establish a few goals or resolutions for the association to work toward. They could include things such as:

  • Improving communication with members and among the board.
  • Increasing participation from homeowners for HOA meetings, committees, and activities.
  • Operating more efficiently and effectively whether through integrating new technology or partnering with a property management company.
  • Conducting a reserve study to better manage finances and prepare for the future.
  • Giving more recognition to volunteers throughout the year.

There are plenty of ways the HOA can continue evolving and improving how it operates. Gathering feedback from members about where they see areas for improvement or ideas they have for the future can be beneficial as well. When everyone works together, the end of the year can be a time for celebration and excitement heading into a new year.

Kuester works closely with HOAs to ensure that they have everything in place to meet deadlines and continue operating as effectively as possible not just come December 31, but throughout the entire year. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your HOA in 2020!

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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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