Common HOA Community Management Strategies

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Common HOA Community Management Strategies
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HOA Community Management

• Strong neighborhoods need expert HOA community
  management.
• Because this management is vital to the integrity
  of the HOA, the communitys many activities must
  be expertly managed so the association runs
  smoothly, meets its obligations and stays within
  its budget parameters.
• Some common strategies exist for HOAs to get the
  most from their management efforts.
• However, a look at the typical association
  structure will help provide a helpful foundation.

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HOA Community Management

• The Players in HOA Community Management
•  
• A common organizational structure starts with the
  HOAs board of directors.
• Elected or assigned from among the homeowners,
  this groups responsibilities commonly involve
  maintaining the community facilities, ensuring
  rules are being followed, encouraging member
  participation, communicating important HOA
  information to members, and, most importantly,
  making sure the community is on track to
  accomplish its goals.
• The ultimate responsibility of any board of
  directors is to make the neighborhood a desirable
  place to live for everyone who chooses to live
  there.
• Homeowners within a HOA are referred to as the
  members of the association.

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HOA Community Management

• The Players in HOA Community Management
•  
• They fall under the leadership of the board of
  directors.
• Obviously, this group makes up the largest
  constituency within the neighborhood and has the
  biggest voice in HOA community management.
• HOA property management companies are outside
  firms that the association hires to assist with
  HOA community management activities.
• The scope of work the HOA management company does
  depends on a number of factors.
• Examples of projects assigned to a management
  company might include dues collections, vendor
  management, HOA community management projects,
  plus a variety of homeowner communications and
  interactions.

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HOA Community Management

• Successful Strategies for HOA Community
  Management
•  
• The best strategy most HOAs can deploy is to
  bring professional skills on board.
• Although board members may consist of
  professionals, few will have the time necessary
  to devote to properly managing every aspect of
  the community.
• Remember, every homeowner working on behalf of
  the HOA is a volunteer. Many will have jobs
  outside their work with the HOA.
• In addition, board members are elected or
  assigned every year. Although the HOA can be
  assured the board will have a vested interest in
  the communitys success, it may not always have
  the skills needed for proficient HOA community
  management.
• A HOA property management company also brings
  special expertise to the table.

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HOA Community Management

• Successful Strategies for HOA Community
  Management
•  
• With specialists on staff, these companies can
  help with a wide variety of projects in finance,
  accounting, marketing, human resources, legal
  matters and more.
• Many companies are well qualified to share a host
  of skills ranging from problem-solving,
  goal-setting, communication, negotiating,
  organization and more.
• In addition, independent HOA community management
  companies are routinely paid based on parameters
  established in their contract.
• The board of directors and members of the HOA
  establish the specific performance guidelines for
  the management company.
• Another proven strategy is to have a HOA property
  management company participate in the budgeting
  process with the board of directors.
• This participation helps ensure any amounts
  listed within the budget arent inflated or
  undercut.

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HOA Community Management

• Successful Strategies for HOA Community
  Management
•  
• By avoiding miscalculations from the beginning,
  the HOA can avoid serious funding issues that can
  adversely affect operations.
• These types of problems will often lead to major
  breakdowns between members and the board of
  directors.

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HOA Community Management

• Whether the HOA community management company
  supervises the board or assists with HOA
  management, it can play a valuable role in
  building a strong neighborhood that meets every
  members expectations.
• AAM works with many of the largest homebuilding
  and community development companies in the United
  States such as Del Webb/Pulte, Shea Homes and
  Meritage Homes.
• Founded in 1990, the company employs 370 people
  and manages nearly 400 homeowners associations in
  the United States.
• AAM is dedicated to delivering total peace of
  mind to the Boards of Directors and homeowners in
  the communities it manages.

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About the Author
Susan Williams is Vice President, Business
Development and Marketing for Associated Asset
Management, a community management firm that does
business in Arizona, New Mexico and Florida.
Learn more about HOA Community Management by
visiting http//www.AssociatedAsset.com.