Preventing Common HOA Issues
Being a homeowner is an amazing thing and a dream for many of us. For some people, that means joining a homeowners association. The entire reason a homeowners association even exists is just to make a community better. Their role is pretty significant and HOA boards/managers wear many hats to oversee the smooth functioning of the organization. Maintaining common assets and areas, figuring out rules that will work for the entire community, and helping the neighborhood conform to established standards/values are all integral parts of an HOA’s job. As with many things in life, there are many pros and cons to being part of an HOA. Sometimes it can seem a little bit obstructive, other times it can seem quite convenient. But being involved with the homeowners association doesn’t have to be a scary or terrible thing. And HOA exists to benefit the collective interests of the owners. So how does one prevent some of the more common issues in an HOA? Through hard work, dedication, and a little help from powerful tracking software. Here are a few common HOA concerns and how to help prevent them.
Common Area Concerns
Many areas that have an HOA also have a common area. In condominiums, for instance, the common area is jointly owned by homeowners. Therefore everyone has a share of the responsibility of keeping it up and maintaining it. Common area assessment fees come into play here. So, addressing common area concerns becomes an essential part of an HOA manager’s job. Concerns within the common area can be as varied as noise complaints, cleanliness, and pets to much-needed repairs. Managing these concerns and their resolutions can be challenging at times. Luckily, using some HOA management software can take some of the legwork out of it to streamline making everyone happy by addressing concerns promptly.
Repairs
Property values and living standards tie into keeping everything clean, in good working order, and well maintained. But sometimes things break or become damaged. When it comes to maintenance and repairs, ask yourself this question: would you rather do it yourself or have a vendor come out and perform the service at a reasonable cost? Depending on the answer, being part of the HOA can be a boon to you and your family. Part of your HOA dues go-to word paying for these maintenance situations and possible repairs. Sometimes accidents and emergencies happen and something needs to be fixed. Instead of paying for that out of pocket, the HOA can help figure out a way to address the issue. Of course, there are some things that fall outside the bailiwick of the HOA. So, residents need to be sure they understand what’s in the charter and what’s covered. Using powerful HOA management software can help managers stay abreast of everything from emergency repairs and keeping tabs on repair limits to everything involved with vendor management.
Payments
Just like many other things in life, everybody has to pay their dues in an HOA. Managing, processing, and proctoring payments is something that needs to be done right. Dues go toward building the reserve fund, repairs, buying new things for common areas, keeping things maintained, and generally creating a better environment for everyone. Using HOA management software to budget, manage repairs is great, but it can be so much more. Homeowners can use it to make payments electronically, automate payments, and even scan paper checks to pay their dues. It can also keep a ledger of payments due and received, eventually allowing for batch processing of payments both from homeowners and out to vendors. The reserve fund is also something that needs plenty of attention, which your software can aptly provide.
Pets
Although pet owners love their furry little friends, occasionally pets are not allowed (or at least governed by certain rules) throughout an HOA. Sometimes, HOA’s don’t allow pets. The Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions document might limit or prohibit owning pets entirely. This might not always be a popular choice among residents, but luckily dogs are allowed in most HOA’s. Cats aren’t always. The pet provisions in the document are intended to promote safety within the community. On the homeowner side of things, pets should be registered, cleaned up after, and follow the guidelines. Managers should enforce these rules carefully. Be fair and reasonable with them. They also need to treat all pet issues evenly, otherwise, it can lead to significant issues down the line. If everyone follows established guidelines, the community will be better off for it.
Violations and Feedback
Feedback can be an incredibly important tool when you’re running any kind of organization. It becomes especially prevalent and essential when it comes to listening to and validating homeowners’ needs. A good HOA manager should be interested in soliciting feedback from homeowners’ within the organization itself. Any leader—regardless of what or whom they manage—can benefit from high-quality feedback. It’s also important to keep track of violations and issues that may need to be addressed. Your HOA management software can help in this regard as well. A software solution can help compile feedback and give managers a way to readily address it in a timely manner. Managers can also track ownership transfers, check financial statements, and automate things to ensure violations aren’t happening across the board.
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