According to The Foundation for Community Association Research, around a third of Washington's homes are in homeowners associations. But how many of these homeowners are actually happy with their HOAs?
All over the country, homeowners report widespread HOA mismanagement. An association is only as effective as the people running it, so if you aren't getting what you want out of your HOA, it might be time to change some strategies.
In today's post, we'll go over some of the top strategies for association management group success in Vancouver. With the right HOA management techniques and association leadership strategies, there's no telling where your HOA could go from here. Keep reading and get the effective community management you've always wanted.
Strong Communication
At the heart of all good homeowners associations is communication between management and homeowners. If you don't have open lines of communication, management will make decisions that aren't always in the best interest of homeowners.
The best way to get everyone on the same page is through HOA meetings. If you can keep meetings organized, you'll hear from homeowners on all of the most important issues. Once you have their opinions, you can make informed decisions about how to proceed with running the HOA.
Prompt Fee Collection and Accounting
HOA fees pay for everything the community needs. If you don't have a strong collection process, you won't just lack funds, you'll also confuse homeowners. You should collect fees at the same time each month and deal with missed payments promptly.
Once you've got the money, you'll need good accounting methods to ensure you're maximizing it. Mishandling money will result in having to raise fee amounts, which will only frustrate homeowners who are on a budget. Take fee collection, bookkeeping, and budgeting seriously and you'll use the money wisely.
Adherence to Rules
The governing documents of an HOA tell homeowners how to act. When you've got upwards of 50 homeowners living under a set of rules, rule breakers become commonplace. It's how you deal with them that sends a message to the larger community.
When you're a volunteer HOA board member, it's tricky to issue penalties to your neighbors. If you fail to deal with bad actors, however, you'll lose the faith of community members who follow the rules. Don't be afraid to issue fines and penalties to set a precedent of compliance in your HOA.
Regular Maintenance
One of the biggest joys of living in an HOA should be the community itself. If it's well-maintained, safe, and comfortable for homeowners, they'll feel as though they're experiencing the best of HOA living.
When you fail to take HOA maintenance seriously, it can get out of control quickly. You need to keep local vendors on a regular schedule, whether it's garbage pickup or landscaping.
An Association Management Group Can Help
Running an HOA is a complex and all-consuming task. It's no wonder that so many associations are frustrating their homeowners. If you follow these tips, yours can be as effective as any in the state.
Of course, the other option is to hire an association management group to help. At Invest West Management, we're Vancouver's top option for HOA management, offering all of the services mentioned here and more. Contact us today to learn how we can turn your community into a success story.
