Today, around 75 million Americans live in homeowners associations.
There are many perks to living in an HOA, from higher property values to community-wide amenities. Each HOA is unique and the quality depends a lot on the people in charge: your HOA board of directors. If your HOA isn't living up to your expectations, it might be time to hire an HOA manager.
In today's post, we're going to explain the role of community association managers to help you decide if your HOA would benefit from one. Keep reading and learn everything you need to know about community management.
Accounting Duties
When you pay your HOA dues, you expect certain things in return, like property and community maintenance, landscaping, trash removal, etc. All of this requires solid bookkeeping to ensure there's always enough money to pay for the community's needs.
If there isn't, property values will decrease and your monthly fees will increase. One of the things an HOA manager does is provide you with professional accounting services. Having someone dealing with bookkeeping and budgeting will ensure your hard-earned money is always being used properly.
Property Maintenance
Property and community maintenance are hallmarks of HOA living. To ensure the things mentioned above are done regularly, you need organized leadership. A lot of this comes down to vendor coordination, as local vendors are the ones carrying out this work.
A good community manager brings existing vendor relationships to the table. Whatever your community needs, whether it be weekly maintenance or emergency repairs, a reputable vendor will be a call away.
Compliance and Governance
All of California's HOAs have their own unique governing documents telling homeowners how to act. They may have rules around pets, rentals, landscaping, and noise, among other things.
Whenever you have dozens of homeowners living under a specific set of rules, however, you're going to have rule breakers. It can be awkward for your HOA board to enforce these rules, however. They're volunteers and fellow homeowners, so it creates a strange power dynamic in the community.
An HOA manager is an impartial third party who can and will enforce the rules. Whether it's issuing fines to bad actors or mediating conflicts between homeowners, your community management will ensure there's harmony in your HOA.
Planning for the Future
The beauty of HOA living is that the community members decide on the direction of the community. Whether it's amending governing documents or deciding on new amenities, HOA members come together at HOA meetings to address all community issues.
If you don't have good HOA management, these meetings won't be as effective. An HOA manager will ensure your meetings are always well organized. Once a consensus is reached, they'll also ensure that the community's wishes are carried out.
Get the Right Community Association Managers for Your HOA
Community association managers are a game changer for HOAs. If your Oakland HOA isn't giving you what you need, hiring an HOA manager can change things overnight. Only if you hire the right one, however.
At PMI Oakland, we're a top HOA property manager, offering all of the services discussed here and more. Contact us today to learn how we can make your community thrive.
