Homeowners associations are becoming more and more popular in the US, with The National Association of Realtors stating that about 75.5 million Americans currently live in an HOA community.
Most people want to live in these communities as they offer various benefits. HOAs take on various duties to make life better for all residents, though in many cases it's difficult for them to stay on top of everything. Community association managers can step in here to support HOA boards.
So what does HOA management actually involve? Let's take a look.
Common Area Maintenance
One of the main appeals of HOA communities is that they often have a range of common areas that are open for all residents to use. These can include things like:
- Gyms
- Art studios
- Swimming pools
- Parks
They give people a place to enjoy their free time and can also be great for resident engagement. The HOA board is responsible for keeping these in good shape, but an association manager can often do a better job here.
They have experience with maintenance coordination so will be able to effectively ensure all common areas are well looked after. Additionally, they tend to have good relations with different contractors, so they may be able to get better deals at times.
Financial Management
Another responsibility that can fall to the association board is financial management. This includes things like collecting HOA fees and establishing budgets.
The problem here is that board members often lack the relevant experience and can struggle to do this effectively. These boards are made up of community volunteers, so they will struggle with tasks that fall outside of their expertise.
An association manager knows how to deal with any financial duties. Not only will this reduce the risk of costly areas, but they can often find areas in which they can reduce spending and save community funds.
Policy Enforcement
HOA boards must set certain policies for all residents to follow. These policies help keep things civil within the community and prevent disruptive behavior such as excessive noise. Things like this can lead to disputes between residents, so it's important to manage them properly.
However, because board members often have personal relationships with other residents, they can sometimes have a hard time enforcing these policies. This is much less of an issue for association managers.
They don't have the same biases, so they can enforce these policies effectively. As a result, everyone is treated fairly and equally, which will help keep everyone within the community happy.
Working With Community Association Managers
Experienced community association managers have the right skills and experience to support HOA boards and help them handle all of their duties. They can improve community governance to help make things better for all residents and board members.
PMI Queen City provides professional community association management throughout Charlotte and the surrounding communities. We have years of experience and use the latest technology to help with this and the various other property management services we offer.
Take a look at our association management services page today to see more about how we can help your community thrive.
