According to the Foundation for Community Association Research around 29% of the US population lives in a HOA community. Understanding community association management and how to work with the HOA board is a crucial property management skill. Primary the HOA is concerned with maintaining local property values, but their responsibilities are broad and diverse.
Are you interested in learning more about working with effective communication managers? Read on for important information about working with a managed community.
Understand the Role of Community Association Management
Association managers act as a central point of contact between HOA and residents. Residents pay their HOA dues and follow the rules, and in return, they expect management to keep them in the loop.
They also expect to get value for money. The HOA is responsible for things like:
- Maintenance schedules
- Vendor coordination
- Constructing local amenities
- Maintaining digital portals for residents
Gaining the trust of the community is vital, so HOAs need to be transparent and fair at all times. By understanding the role of communication association managers, you'll be able to work with them effectively.
Establish Clear and Effective Communication
Poor communication within a HOA could cause a crisis of confidence. In some cases, local residents might even vote to remove the HOA board. To avoid this, HOA management needs to:
- Schedule regular meetings
- Publish newsletters to keep the community updated
- Use digital technology like email and tenant portals to reach out to people
- Have clearly defined points of central contact
A HOA manager has a lot of responsibilities. With poor communication, wires get crossed and things get confusing, so always establish clear communication channels.
Ensure Financial Transparency
When working with an association manager, ensure they're keeping clear and transparent financial records. Trust is crucial, and nothing erodes trust like unaccountable funds. A good HOA manager should meticulously track expenses and ensure the HOA stays financially healthy.
Remember that meticulous accounting doesn't mean much to residents if they're not in the loop. Clear financial records should be easily available for any resident who wants to see them.
Establish Your Expectations
HOA management is a broad field and many HOA managers are specialists in certain areas. Before working with an association manager, always establish the full scope of their responsibilities. Some managers might excel at handling neighborhood disputes, but that skillset wouldn't be particularly useful in a peaceful neighborhood with crumbling amenities.
In such a neighborhood, you'd want to work with community association management pros with property maintenance experience and an address book full of local contractors and vendors. If you don't establish your expectations early on, you could end up with a manager who lacks the right skill set.
Find the Best Local Managers
Effective management can make or break your HOA. The best community association management combines local knowledge and tried-and-tested experience. Don't rush into hiring a manager, you need to find someone with a matching skill set.
PMI All American is here to help you find your ideal HOA management partner. We'll pair you with a local property management professional who can leverage their local knowledge and professional skills to boost your HOA. Contact us today and let's talk about your community.
