How To Improve Relations With Your Community As A Board Member
Homeowners associations (HOAs) are more than just a middle man between board members and landlords. They are meant to connect people who share the same concerns and interests.
Still, every homeowner’s association brings together a unique group of individuals from various backgrounds and has diverse requirements.
Many HOAs have specific rules and regulations that need to be followed, but it can be challenging to please everyone all the time.
HOA board members need to interact with many people to get their job done without losing friends or gaining enemies. This can be hard since working as a board member won’t always put you on the same side as other people.
Below are some strategies and tips on how to improve relations with your HOA community.
Encourage Responsibility, Participation, and Accountability
Identify Responsibilities
It is critical that homeowners understand what their responsibilities are. Each homeowner should observe the rules and hold themselves accountable. HOA board members must be responsible and have specific duties as well.
As a board member, you should cooperate in creating the agreements and share your insights besides fulfilling your responsibilities.
Generally speaking, association boards have three primary responsibilities, such as:
Complying and enforcing with governing documents
Managing budgets, and
Maintaining common areas
As you already know, there are several tasks within these three categories.
Encourage Participation
Every homeowner should share the consequences and rewards of the HOA’s actions. Both the community old-timers and newcomers must get a chance to participate. That will make them feel involved and valued.
They all need to participate in the planning, organizing, performing, and deciding on different community activities. While taking these actions and working together, new members will be able to meet long-standing residents. Getting to know each other better is very important for every community.
Hold Annual Meetings and Start Committees
It is a good idea to hold annual meetings. That will allow you to gauge the interest levels of the community members and gather some ideas.
Furthermore, you can start a few committees. It is a great way to get more people involved while sharing some responsibilities. Here are some committees you could set up:
Social and Event Committee
Neighborhood Welcome Committee
Finance and Budget Committee
Architectural Control Committee
Education Committee
Landscape Committee
Have Fun Together by Hosting Celebrations and Events
Most people in your neighborhood want to break free from stress at school or work. This is where celebrations and events come in. In addition to making great memories, it can help relieve stress and anxiety.
Organize events that homeowners would like to attend and schedule them on weekends. That will make more people come and have fun with neighbors no matter how preoccupied or hectic their life is. As more members get out, community participation will rise.
Don’t create and plan events on your own. Instead, invite HOA board members to brainstorm and formulate your plans. Make sure the events make sense for the community. They need to be friendly and suitable for all ages.
There are different ways to entertain community members. Do you need some ideas? Here are some events and celebrations you can host:
Founding anniversary of your HOA
Outdoor/indoor movie nights
Holiday decorating parties
Crafts and arts events for kids
BBQ parties
Cooking competitions and recipe exchange
Karaoke and talent shows
Try to find amenities in your neighborhood that can accommodate these community events. Consider places like indoor courts, gardens, and event halls.
Maintain Transparency All the Time
Enhance interaction between residents and HOA board members by maintaining transparency in information and communication. The HOA should inform the homeowners of any decision the board makes to build trust in their relationship.
Just because the board has the authority to decide on some things doesn’t mean citizens shouldn’t know what happens in their neighborhood. There are different ways of maintaining good communication between residents and board members, including:
Weekly and monthly meetings
Emails
Social media groups
Newsletters
Use communication tools and strategies that can make the process more transparent. They should allow residents to stay up to date and quickly find the information they’re looking for.
Recognize Volunteers in Your Community
Once you’ve increased participation, you should recognize community volunteers and acknowledge their efforts in public. Take time to thank volunteers and committees for their commitment and efforts highlighting the best achievements.
This is an excellent way to increase gratitude and engagement across the community.
Educate and Welcome Newcomers
As an HOA board member, you need to ensure that new homeowners are valued and educated. So welcome newcomers and teach them about the community rules, spirit, and organization. This will help them get a better idea of the neighborhood vibe and local life.
You know, most people want to live in planned communities. That said, take the time to educate newcomers on the advantages of belonging to a homeowners association and the benefits of living in your particular neighborhood.
They are usually excited about moving into a new house, and it is an ideal time for getting them involved. Once new homeowners realize how the HOA can affect the value of their properties, they’ll become more active and interested in protecting their investment through the association.
Keep People Connected Using Technology
Technology tends to change the way people interact. Your HOA community is no exception. Don’t fight against digital social interactions. Embrace new technologies.
Use them to increase the connection between members of your homeowner’s association. They need to keep up with new technology solutions and use them to maintain their relationships and stay connected.
Communication and social media platforms are very beneficial during challenging times, such as the coronavirus pandemic. They have replaced physical communications with online connections, allowing people to stay in touch with their neighbors and friends.
Take advantage of these platforms to gather the community members and keep them connected online. It would help if you also considered building a website designed specifically for your homeowner’s association.
Publish everything homeowners want to know. Inform them of the new projects, latest news, meetings, celebrations, community events, scheduled maintenance, and so on.
Conclusion
Homeowner associations are an inevitable part of living in neighborhoods with multiple residences and establishing a thriving community. As a board member, you will want to have most of the community on the same page as you while running your HOA successfully.
In addition to following these tips on improving relations with your community, you should also hire someone with experience in community management. We specialize in community management for HOAs and are here for you every step of the way!
If you have any questions or need assistance with your HOA— contact us today to set up a meeting to discuss your needs.
