For busy HOA board members, resources and time can be limited. Most of those who sit on the board are community volunteers. A board that works with a management company will have more time to focus on long-term strategies to improve their community. They can respond to requests and complaints from homeowners on time and ensure nothing is left undone. What the board has an HOA manager do depends on the community’s needs and the chosen company itself. If your association is ready to get in touch with a management company, here are the responsibilities the board can allow the manager to take on:
Improving Association Meetings
HOA meetings can take a lot of time, particularly when organizing what must be presented at yearly board meetings. Rather than organizing this themselves, the board can delegate meeting management to their association manager. An experienced manager can ensure an organized and productive meeting. They can schedule meetings, get the board’s message out to residents, as well as follow up on agenda issues and action items.
Homeowner Communication
Board members have lots of priorities and they have limited time. An HOA manager can communicate with the board and community residents to prevent misunderstanding and confusion. A great manager can bridge the gap between these parties. A reputable management company is good at processes and systems and communication is usually their specialty. With a good communicator in place, things will be more efficient and organized.
Accounting and Financial Support
Experienced HOA managers offer accurate and transparent accounting and financial services. They can collect and account for homeowners’ dues, handle violations, as well as ensure the community is running based on the HOA’s goals and priorities. The manager can solicit bids from contractors and vendors for work that must be done. They can make budget and reserve fund development recommendations.
Vendor Management
An HOA manager has strong relationships with vendors and contracts in an area. The HOA board does not have to waste their time asking for proposal requests. They can delegate this task to their management team. A reliable manager knows what services and providers to look for. Also, they can measure cost against services and value.
Rule and Regulation Enforcement
HOA rules must be enforced uniformly to avoid legal claims and lawsuits. By delegating enforcement to an HOA manager, liability can be reduced or eliminated. The community trusts the association to hold everybody accountable to similar requirements and standards. The board, having personal or emotional connections with the community, may tolerate some violations of regulations. But this can cause them to lose the trust of community members. Thankfully, things do not have to be this way if a manager is handling enforcement.
