Are you among the 53% of U.S. homeowners who live in an HOA community? If so, there's a good chance your community could be better managed.
Think of it this way: even a good HOA board can use help. Board members make decisions, but they still need someone to carry them out. They also often need help with the day-to-day management of their community.
This is where community association managers come in. Here are five things a community manager can do to help a Hyattsville HOA board!
1. Community Maintenance
The HOA manager is the board's "man on the ground." They often inspect shared areas and amenities to identify repair and upgrade opportunities. They also oversee the vendor bidding process and supervise them.
To save time, many boards authorize the manager to handle minor tasks on their behalf. Some common community maintenance duties are:
- Replacing lighting fixtures
- Repairing broken sprinkler heads
- Overseeing plumbing repairs
2. Assistance With Board Meetings
Facilitating board meetings is one of the most common association manager responsibilities. Their key role is to ensure the meeting is productive. To do so, they'll create and distribute board meeting minutes.
Your community manager will also provide support before the meeting. They'll provide resources to ensure the board can make informed decisions. They may also suggest certain courses of action during the meeting.
3. Correspondence With Residents
Correspondence with residents is a key part of HOA property management in Hyattsville. Community managers can contact residents via:
- Newsletters
- Email blasts
- Postal mail
- Telephone
Regardless of the method, the manager will supply key information to residents and answer their questions. That said, a manager won't get involved in disputes unless they violate the association's rules.
These correspondence efforts allow the manager to keep his/her finger on the community's pulse. By learning what homeowners value, they'll have a better idea of what they'll respond to.
4. Financial Management
HOA managers often help boards with financial operations. For starters, they help prepare the community's annual budget. Once the board approves it, they can also implement and oversee the budget.
Your community manager may collect HOA fees and assessments. They may also pay the community's bills and maintain financial records. If so, they'll likely be the person in charge of the HOA's reserve funding plans.
5. Advisory Support
Another key role of association managers is to provide input. Even if the board makes all decisions, the manager's experience can help them act efficiently. This includes offering legal and administrative advice.
Some common matters a community manager may assist with include:
- Managing vendor bids
- Planning for capital improvements
- Running community-building activities
- Developing the association's long-term strategic plan
Community Association Managers and You
Running an HOA community isn't easy. It requires following the governing docs and ensuring everything is within the right scope and budget. This is why good community association managers make any HOA better!
Need help with your HOA community management tasks? Our team of experts at PMI PG County has been helping Hyattsville residents for 10+ years! Contact us here to hire a community association manager today!
