Do you have great ideas about how your community can be managed more efficiently?
Would you like to become more involved in your HOA’s daily operations? You could make a difference as a board member for your community.
If you’re considering a run during your HOA’s next election, here are three reasons you should take the leap.
Protects Your Investment
Board members are tasked with important decisions on behalf of the homeowners association to preserve property values and make the community a better place to live.
The HOA is in charge of overseeing a multi-million-dollar set of assets: the homes and common areas in your community. As a board member, you will have a significant influence on assessments, community improvement projects, scheduling and operational aspects of projects, and the overall future vision for your community.
These decisions have a major impact on the trajectory of the property values in your community. Your property management company will offer insight and administrative support, but ultimately, decisions that affect the association are the responsibility of the board.
Makes Your Community a Nicer Place to Live
In addition to administrative and operational tasks, board members act as cornerstones to enrich community life through events and community-building activities.
Board members play a role in shaping your community’s identity and providing input into a strategic plan that establishes its long-term vision. You’ll get the opportunity to meet your neighbors, learn about what matters to them, and help bring those priorities to life.
Working alongside the community manager from your property management company, you’ll help maintain a pleasing and welcoming community atmosphere.
Allows You To Use Your Skills
Your community can benefit from the skills you have to offer, especially if you have specialized experience in finance, legal, operations, or communications. Your social skills can be a major asset to your HOA as well as board members are expected to be civic-minded, impartial, and detail-oriented.
Some of your hobbies can also enhance your association. A love of landscaping, recreational sports, design, or event planning can help your board make more informed decisions about projects that will improve your community.
General Qualifications of an HOA Board Member
HOA board members are volunteer positions. Though there are no resume requirements or compensation involved, it still is a “job” with several responsibilities.
If you’re considering a board member position, here are a few qualifications that can help you decide if you’d be a good fit.
Problem-solving skills
Every HOA has its own unique challenges with new ones arising all the time. Being a board member is an opportunity to flex your ability to tackle challenges and provide solutions to benefit the community.
It also allows you to connect with other homeowners and board members to be proactive and prevent smaller issues from becoming unmanageable problems.
Time commitment
Nearly all homeowners have ideas about ways to improve property value and the connectedness of their community. However, between full-time jobs and family time, it can be difficult to find the time to commit to anything extra.
As a board member, it’s important to have enough time to commit to monthly board meetings, updating community communication, working with your association management company, etc. In short, it’s nice when you want to impact change, but do you have the time and energy to see things through?
Team player
Since there are multiple board members, being able to work together toward resolutions is key.
Being a board member requires being able to enforce rules while also abiding by them without any partiality toward any party.
Are you comfortable with openly communicating problems and enforcing rules and regulations for residents? Can you compromise for the betterment of the community? If you excel in bringing people together to work toward a common goal, you may be a perfect addition to the board.
Willingness to learn
No one is an expert at being a board member. Even if you feel well-prepared going in, laws and communities change over time, which means learnings and expectations will change too.
Fortunately, board members can take advantage of the expertise and resources that your association management company provides, whether through board member training programs or other types of preparation and support services.
Securing a Role as a Board Member
Running for a seat on your homeowners association board of directors is a major decision. Before committing, attend a few board meetings to get a sense of how they operate.
Reach out to current or past board members and ask about their experiences and what they have learned. Speak to your community manager or property management company to get a run-down of what would be expected of you in your new role.
Gather all the information to decide whether becoming a board member will be beneficial. Then, when the next election rolls around, you’ll feel confident about your candidacy.
If occupying a seat on your HOA board of directors sounds like a fun and challenging opportunity, then ask your manager when your community’s next election will be held and the steps to take to get started.