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Living in an HOA or condo isn’t like living in any old neighborhood. There are rules to follow and meetings to attend, sure, but more than that, there is (hopefully) a sense of ease and camaraderie that comes with being part of a community association. The backbone of that harmonious lifestyle is the HOA’s board of directors. A volunteer-based group of homeowners in the community, these elected individuals put in enormous effort to ensure your neighborhood is well-maintained and operating efficiently at all times.
But anyone who has lived in an HOA knows there are always rumors and negativity around joining the board. This perception makes board involvement challenging and can hurt the community long-term.
The Truth About Your HOA’s Board of Directors
Forget all of the bad press you’ve probably heard about joining the board. Most of the time, it’s nothing more than stigma and harmful misconceptions. Your board is not raising rates to line their own pockets (remember they’re volunteers!), and they aren’t going around with a measuring tape checking your grass height, and they certainly aren’t denying landscaping requests for the fun of it. Are there bad eggs on some boards? Sure, maybe. But the majority of boards on the majority of days are working diligently to keep HOAs running smoothly and efficiently.
What Does Being on the Board Mean?
It certainly requires a fair amount of effort! The life of an HOA board member isn’t exactly glamorous, but it’s important volunteer work that makes a huge difference!
Board members typically attend (or even help facilitate and run) anywhere from 4 – 12 community meetings per year. They may also occasionally meet for a variety of committee meetings as needed as well.
Each board member is also expected to have some understanding of the community’s governing documents. If you’ve served on HOA boards in the past, this can help, but remember that no two governing documents are the same, and knowing community-specific rules and regulations will be vital. But don’t worry, these concepts can all be picked up along the way, and your management team is here to guide you. There’s no shortage of administrative duties, either, though some of those are handled outside of the board and with the help of a management company, so don’t let that intimidate you!
Though late-night work and the occasional managing of homeowner confrontation will exist from time to time, the benefits of being on your HOA’s Board of Directors far outweigh the few struggles. Overall, every association has safeguards in place to protect board members, such as board meeting standards, and setting the expectation that board members are only truly “board members” when the whole of the board is together and meeting with purpose. Your community manager is a great asset also, as they can act as a “middleman” in dicey situations.
The Benefits of Joining the HOA Board of Directors
- Facilitate Change. Every person in the community association has a voice, but as a member of the board, your input will carry additional weight, and your expertise will be better utilized. Maybe you’re a former accountant who can help dig into the financials, or maybe you come from a background in business management and can help identify inefficiencies. Maybe you’re just really great at working on a team toward a shared goal! No matter what your skill set is, your input will be valuable and utilized for the betterment of your home.
- Protect Your Investment. Buying in an HOA or condo community means you are investing in something grander than just the home you occupy. You’re now part of the coalition of individuals maintaining peace in the community and extending the value of the property you all share. As a member of the board, you are in a far stronger position to advocate for the tougher decisions that sometimes need to be made to protect (or even inflate) the value of your homes.
- Gain Knowledge. Part of being on the HOA board of directors will mean surrounding yourself with a wealth of knowledge. Everything from HOA or condo law to local policies and ordinances to general bookkeeping will be at your fingertips. Your job will be to absorb as much of that knowledge as possible so you can serve your community to the best of your abilities.
So, How Do You Do It?
Joining the board isn’t as simple as just showing up and adding your name to a list. You have to be voted into an open position. To do this, you’ll need to review and fill out your community’s “Board Candidate Application.” This form will give you the opportunity to explain why you feel you are a good fit for your community’s leadership position and give all of the reasons why you would like to join the board. Everything from your relevant professional and personal experience to your hopes and aspirations for the community’s future should go on here to give you the best chance at standing out among other candidates. From there, it’s all about winning over your neighbors!
If you’re interested in serving your community by joining your HOA board of directors but aren’t sure where to truly start, contact us today. HOA Strategies is in your corner because we understand the immense value excited new board members bring to a community. We’re eager to support you and provide resources and professional guidance every step of the way, from understanding the board application process to making strategic decisions and managing operations.
