Community association management companies must be able to collaborate well with a community’s Board. This pivotal relationship is crucial to ensuring the smooth management and overall success of a homeowner’s association (HOA) or condominium association. Yet, a good relationship does not necessarily come easily. There are many skills required for the working relationship to be effective.
The rest of this article will explain community association management and the skills managers must develop to work well with the Board.
What is Community Association Management?
Many community Boards choose to work with community association management companies. These businesses professionally manage HOAs, condominium associations, and sometimes commercial properties.
Community association management involves a range of responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of the community while fostering a positive living environment for residents. While the exact responsibilities of the community association management company vary, at D.H. Bader, you can expect the following.
- Association funds management
- Bid/proposal and contract administration
- Covenant advisory/processing
- Covenant enforcement
- Communications contact
- Status reporting
A community association management company will handle the community’s time-consuming day-to-day tasks. This strategy frees up the Board and allows them to concentrate on making high-level decisions for the community.
The Top Three Tips for Working Effectively with Your Board
As you can see, the relationship between the community association management company and the Board is vital. If you are a community association manager, the following tips will ensure an effective working relationship with your Board.
1) Practice Clear Communication
Clear communication is key in any relationship. You should strive to communicate well with your Board to ensure everyone remains on the same page and has similar expectations.
Some of the best ways to practice clear communication with your Board include:
- Providing regular updates: Keep the Board informed about ongoing projects, financial matters, and community developments. Regularly scheduled updates, such as monthly or quarterly reports, are especially helpful for communication.
- Using multiple channels for communication: Today, there is a range of communication options. You can choose anything from phone to email to social media. You should communicate with your Board using a variety of channels to ensure as many people receive the information as possible.
2) Take a Customized Approach
Every community is unique. The community association manager needs to acknowledge that uniqueness by providing a customized approach to their Board. Take the time to understand their specific needs and work with them to fill any gaps.
The most effective community management plans are the ones that are tailored to the specific community. You should also be open to adjusting and modifying based on the Board’s evolving needs.
3) Use Transparency
Finally, the best relationships between Boards and community association managers are transparent. Everyone should be on the same page regarding the community’s financial position. project statuses, and performance metrics. Also, if issues or concerns arise, address them promptly and professionally. Take responsibility for any mistakes and provide solutions to rectify them.
Community association managers will use these tips to ensure an effective working relationship with their Board. To learn more tips or discuss best practices in community association management, contact D.H. Bader or request a proposal.