A Homeowner’s Association is meant to govern the members of the community and implement the changes that individual homeowners want.
Proper management of this board is important for maintaining home and amenity value, settling disagreements, developing the community, and governing budgeting expenses.
What Is HOA Management?
While we all may gripe about annoying HOA regulations from time to time, there’s no doubt that a community of homeowners needs a Homeowner’s Association to ensure that everyone is following the rules outlined in their contract.
In a similar vein, HOAs need someone who has a vested interest in developing the community that can ensure that the HOA performs to expectations involving budgeting, maintenance, and the interests of the homeowners.
Being an HOA manager involves the following responsibilities:
- Handling guideline violations
- Maintaining the commons areas
- Collecting resident fees
- Processing payments
- Managing financial records
- Overseeing contract work with third parties
- Communicating with HOA board members and residents
Maintaining Value
One of the most important reasons communities need an HOA manager is to protect the value of properties in the community.
The HOA manager will regularly perform inspections to make sure that residents are staying on top of regular upkeep so that the area is both appealing to prospective buyers and reflects the value of the homes.
A single home not in accordance with HOA guidelines can devalue the community as a whole, and it’s the HOA manager’s role to reach out to noncompliant community members and ensure they keep to the guidelines they agreed to upon purchasing the home.
Another important aspect of this role is the maintenance of common areas. HOA managers are responsible for keeping the trees, gardens, and other landscaping amenities functional and beautiful to appeal to new guests and reflect the value of the community.
From simple jobs like trimming back some unruly bushes to more involved projects like removing and replanting trees, HOA management is important in overseeing and bringing these projects to fruition.
That responsibility also extends to amenities like the clubhouse, pool, and any sports amenities available. A volleyball court isn’t much good if the net is sagging down to the ground, and it’s the Hoa’s role—overseen by the manager—to address these concerns.
Since all of the amenities are paid for by the HOA funds from resident dues, it’s only natural that the HOA should be responsible for maintaining them and keeping the value of the property up.
Handling Disputes
HOA managers are primarily responsible for handling disputes in a civil manner. Disagreements are bound to happen between homeowners, and it’s the manager’s job to assess both sides of the argument, assign fault (where applicable), and consider a suitable resolution according to the community guidelines.
One of the main reasons people choose to live in a community managed by an HOA is for the added security of the community guidelines. If everyone follows the rules, everyone gets to be part of the community.
Whether it’s a clear-cut case of disregard for the community standards or an issue not addressed in the HOA guidelines, the manager serves the ever-important role of placating both parties to find an acceptable resolution.
Fostering Community Spirit
Many people who choose to live in an HOA community do so for its social aspect. Many HOA-led communities organize projects and events that uplift the community.
Building friendships among homeowners help to make the environment safer, friendlier, and happier, serving in the best interest of the stakeholders and homeowners who are part of the HOA board.
HOA management is important in this aspect of community life because they are primarily responsible for budgeting, planning, and facilitating these events.
Organizing Future Projects
Of course, this planning process doesn’t just apply for fun events for the residents to enjoy; HOA management also plays a significant role in bettering the community in the long run.
A responsible HOA, and HOA manager for that matter, will always look to the future in their project management.
Whether it’s improving the roads, adding highly requested amenities, or adding new facilities, HOA management is important in overseeing all aspects of these projects, from the initial organizational phases to keeping their ears open to understand the needs of the neighborhood residents.
If the community roads need repaved, for example, it’s HOA management’s job to surmise the expense of the project, set a timeline for its completion, and hire a reputable contractor to get the job done.
Providing Administrative Services
It’s certainly not the most glamorous part of their job, but HOA managers spend a lot of time working on the annual budget and handling dues from residents. If residents aren’t paying, they have the responsibility to follow up with those individuals, sending out delinquency notices as necessary.
Managers also tackle insurance work in some cases, with the HOA manager mediating to place coverages on homes and processing claims where necessary.
Day to day, HOA managers run the community with their administrative services, handling phone calls and emails from residents, checking in on resident concerns, and scheduling HOA events.
As such, the importance of HOA management becomes apparent with just how much they do for the community. Without them, HOA board members simply have a massive headache of responsibilities to tackle in addition to their duties as stakeholders in the community.
A manager handles a lot of the busy work, going back and forth with residents to address their concerns and de-escalate conflict, keeping all residents in line with the HOA guidelines and implementing changes that the individual community members want to see.
The Bottom Line
Not every community needs an HOA manager, but the value of good HOA management cannot be overstated.
Aside from seeing the day-to-day concerns of the residents by answering calls and emails, they also plan events, establish relationships with necessary third party services, and schedule important dates for the HOA board members.
Perhaps most importantly, HOA management is significant in ensuring that all community members are sticking to the guidelines and that conflict is dealt with swiftly.
