A couple of days ago, the management company hired by the developer of my community issued letters to residents about the changing of the guard, so to speak. I guess the threshhold for which control of the HOA can be turned over from builder-controlled to community-control is at hand. The letter was seeking residents interested in becoming members of the HOA board. I’ve thought about it.
Have any of you served on HOA boards, and if so what capacity and for how long before you left the HOA board?
Replies
How thick is your skin, how much abuse can you take before slugging some A**H***, etc? I lived in small Country Club subdivision that was 44 units. We had 20 twin units and four larger freestanding ones worth from about $140k to 350k. I was on the board for three or four years, two as president.
It was not too bad, we had a lot of older couples that could really be a pain. We had a very restrictive set of covenants that most folks would revolt over. Paint color, fencing, cars in driveway, and then no trucks/boats etc in driveway. But these are the reason the place I paid $140 for is now worth more like $235 12 yrs later.
One free spirit decided he would build a shed for his golf cart that was visible and you would have thought the world as we knew it was coming to the end. I had to get it torn down, managed to get the evil city inspection dept to red tag him as he violated the setback rules.
I moved to that one from one up the street with about 140 houses. It was not as bad as the ages were more of a cross section. It can be a good training program to help you decide wether you would ever want to go into politics. I did it primarily because I was afraid of what some of the others would do and somebody had to do it. But my wife says I am a control freak anyway. I just tell her that it is not that I have to be in control, it is just that I should be.
Bob
Yes, I can imagine you would need to have a thick skin. I'm not one to take violence into consideration, unless its brought to me or my wife (no kids). I wish to repeat what has been the benefits of the external management entity in managing the HOA, but be more 'present' in the community. The current limiting benefit of the current HOA manager is one of invisibility.
I am not perfect, but I and others did move into an HOA community at the notion of protecting the neighborhood as a collective value. Roach-infested refrigerators in the backyard, Lite Beer neon sign hanging from a street-facing bedroom window, people walking their dogs (so they can sh!t) in other people's yards, and lack of control of their children running amuck (including vandalism) are things I would wish to continue to control and eliminate.
I understand human nature to a point that I know we are all different, but I do wonder at times if I could tolerate being more of a benefit to an HOA board than a detriment that being responsible as an HOA board member would present. Additionally, I am not sure how much time is required, and if a board could tolerate my available hours (I work second shift). But like you the wife says the same thing about me. I just don't want a repeat of what has happened previously (as described above) to happen again as someone is attempting to test the Gump of a newly formed board.
How big is the subdivision?
I participated in a board in our past home that had about 13 houses. Everything wasn't to bad until the pressurized irrigation lines 8" PVC about 5 feet down started leaking. Since the SD was so small, we had no money to hire someone to fix it so the board members tried to find HO volunteers to help. LOL We ended up fixing about 6 leaks by ourself the first summer. Then, the pump went out and we had to emergency raise everyones dues to afford a new one. After five years we had most of these problems fixed. I think we never tried to get anything out of the developer since we had no money to hire a lawyer!
Of course, there are always the persons who think to heck with the dues and CC&Rs and refuse to play by the rules. Boats in driveway, driveway mechanics that end up spilling the oil down their driveway and letting it run down the gutter (and never do get the POC running), So you have to be a jerk and play hardball, threaten and enforce liens with some. Some SD places just roll over and the whole place goes to heck. I even knew of neighbors who sold their homes and moved because the neighbors place looked to trashy and the board couldn't do anything but lien the property for past dues.
Anyways, sorry for the rant, Make sure the developer leaves some money in an acount for the expected problems and that all dues are caught up etc. It can be rewarding in a way and you will get to meet your neighbors faster. You'll need to have several board members willing to do something, as well as a treasurer/secretary for billing dues, accepting payments, paying the lawnmowers, etc. This person and the Pres will probably do the most work and in my experience is unpaid and usually underapreciated. Maybe in a larger SD the management co takes care of the crap and the board is paper votes only. That might not be to bad...
Not sure exactly what size is planned at now. I know when I moved in ~5 years ago the intention was 109 lots in three phases. The first phase was about 35 units in the $225-280K range (think Atlanta, Georgia dollars), second phase 50-55 units in the range of $280-380K, and the final phase rounding out whatever turns out to be the rest.
I've been told by a friend who previously lived in an HOA that because the HOA was optional and dues low, they couldn't afford to continue the pool as a feature. This resulted in them filling it in. Not sure if that could have been seen (at the time) as not terribly impacting of the neighborhood valutation by the county or market.
A couple of years ago I thought about making a community website complete with dicsussion forum to help promote community in awareness, forward the 'getting to know your neighbor' concept, etc., but then I felt it would have turned into a 'complain about the POS builder' forum resulting in a law suit against me. I stopped at the testing ground (had created a discussion forum using phpBB with several test chatrooms). Ah liability.
Your experience will depend a lot on the bylaws/covenants. For some, they help. For others, it's a club with which to beat up neighbors. Our development of 14 houses was mostly retired business people who were now bored and wanted to tell other people what to do. One board member arranged a vote about the height of grass along the road, and tried to work it so that if you didn't maintain according to his schedule, they'd hire a landscaper to do it for you and then place a lien on your property for the cost! We found out that he was doing that because his house was ready to be listed and he wanted the neighborhood looking a certain way for his benefit!!!
Our meetings were just annual "beat up on the new people" events. People would leave there crying! I caught it their crap the first two years until they got bored with me and started to cannibalize other people. My wife wouldn't go back after the first year.
Enforcing reasonable standards are one thing. Meddling in the lives of neighbors is another. They can work each way depending on the neighborhood. I've experienced both. Generally, the fewer the powers of the HOA, the less controversy there is.
A board member of a HOA should be shot at random at least 6 times a year throughout the country.
HOA bylaws usually go way beyond any subdivision covenants or deed restrictions. While the associations are formed with the greater good in mind, it does'nt take long for a power hungry lawn #### to be in charge. I just got my second warning for leaving my garage door open during the day. Thankfully there are no monetary penalty provisions in our bylaws-- just injunctive relief.
So who ever you put in charge, make sure he is more community minded rather then an ex metermaid who is merely a compliance type-- It always seems to be a headache no matter how your involved. Good luck and check out this guys ( I hate HOAS) website http://pvtgov.org/pvtgov/
That's a scary website and very negative of anyone wishing to help the community. BTW, while an HOA may be a private contract what is there to say that said contract cannot be changed to be more democratic?
Part of my first-time homebuyer's blindness was the fact that my ignorance served to diserve me. What I mean is that until good-faith money was placed on a contract (for purchase) there wasn't access to the documentation for which an HOA is foundation upon. Was this legal? Who knows, but I'm betting 99% first-time homebuyers do not know.
As such, one signs on the dotted line and before they know if they now become aware, in writing, their future potential for indoctrination into endenturement. :) No city, county, or state that I have lived in forwards an effort to prepare first-time (and in some instance, repeating) homebuyers regarding these aspects.
But, I am not so sure that once the bylaws and covents are cast they cannot be changed to make them more amicable to the whole of the community. All discussions I seem to get focus on how bad their individually-respective bad HOAs are, but not on whether or not they can be changed. BTW, I am a member of the $0.39 solution. joke
I met the President of a HOA about a year ago. The community was eight four-plexes for a total of 32 units. Hoa dues were $50 per month.I asked why she chose to take the position & responsibility and she said "No one else would do it so I did".This particular HOA had a policy that the President's monthly dues got waived as a way of encouraging someone to serve. .++++++++++++++++
-Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain-
All HOA's I've seen provide for changes, but it takes an overwhelming majority to change the covenants, and often the developer will be holding enough votes to prevent that. We did change ours last year after the developer sold the last lot and hand no further legal interest in the development. They also provide for a termination of the HOA after a period of years, 30 in the one case I remember.You should be able to see any and all covenants before putting a bid in on a property. Your realtor should be able to arrange that. Ours did all three times I encountered restrictive covenants.
My SD has about 200 homes and is 12 years old. Been on the HOA Board for a few years as the Architectural Review Committee (it's a committee of one). There are the occasional folks who raise a stink and think the deed restrictions don't apply to them, but for the most part, the HOA functions exceptionally smoothly. Part of the credit has to go towards the developer who drafted a good set of deed restrictions to begin with. We also have a property management company to do a lot of the tedious stuff. I think the keys to success are be very clear about the deed restrictions, enforce them unfailingly in a fair and consistent manner, and don't overreach. If it's in the deed restrictions, it gets enforced (and who can logically argue against that? You bought a house that comes with DR's, you live with it.). If it's not in the deed restrictions, we generally try not to legislate new restrictions.
There lots of horror stories, and some on this site think that HOA's are the devil's handiwork. But, like lots of things in life, some are good and some not-so-good.
That is weird that they wouldn't let you see the CC&R until after you'd made your bid. I'd consider that a red-flag and a sign to look elsewhere for shelter. Even with such a strange rule if you really wanted to place a bid on the home you should be able to make the offer contingent on approval of CC&R. That's how we did it - we didn't want to pay a lawyer if the offer wasn't accepted, so we made the offer contingent on our approval of the CC&R during the discovery period. Once the offer was accepted, we sent the CC&R onto the lawyer for review along with the other paperwork.
Again, first-time homebuyer's blindness is gullibility was a winning key, here on believing what was being told to me by the real estate representing the builder. No prior experience on this aspect--completely ignorant on my part. Such is life, and a learned experience.
All, I wasn't aware that a builder could retain voting power on any decision once they were done and gone from the community. Is this not always the case?
Nuke,
In most states, maybe all, an HOA is in fact a Corporation, specifically a Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation. As a board member, you are a Corporate Officer and, as such, are subject to specific laws regarding your personal liablility and responsibilities to the Corporation and its' stockholders. All unit owners (HOs) are stockholders, typically 1 share of stock per unit owned. Failure to perform can subject you to criminal penalties.
The physical space that is incuded with a share of stock can, depending on your Articles of Incorporation and CC&R's, be from, the minimum, in a Condo of "the space inside the exposed face of the drywall" to, the maximum, in an individual home community, everything except one specific service, such as cable TV.
AFAIK, it is a requirement everywhere to disclose the Articles of Inc and the CC&Rs before closing a sale.
Your job as a Board Member is the same as it is for all Corporate Officers, to wit, protect and maximise the value of the stocks the stockholders own.
By analogy, the Articles of Inc are the Declaration of Independence; The Covenents, Conditions, and Restrictions, are the Constitution; and, the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations are Statutory Laws.
The Declaration of Independence cannot be changed. The Constitution can be changed only by the 'Commitee of the Whole,' that is, all stockholders voting at once. The Statutory laws can be changed by the board. Usually.
While your only job is corporate management, your most used skills will be those of psychiatrist/bartender, priest, arbitrator and mediator, and private investigator. The most important advice I can give regarding these roles is "Take no action until forced!"
Your corporate duties can be boiled down to three: Set the dues so they cover the cost of regular maintenance such as lawn mowing, and utilties costs; Set the dues such that they will pay to maximise the lifetime value of the corporate physical assets; Set the dues so that the corporate fluid assets cover the difference between the, always changing, current value, and, the always changing, current replacement cost of the physical assets.
It is almost required by case law that when the HOA is between nine and ten years old you survey the property for damage and defects and sue the builder for repairs.
SamT
PS; Most builders set up the CC&Rs so that they are out when some certain number of units have sold. st.
AFAIK, it is a requirement everywhere to disclose the Articles of Inc and the CC&Rs before closing a sale.
They were disclosed only after a contract had been entered into, and this with good-faith money. So, had I entered, found something terribly unreasonable, then its money lost.
While your only job is corporate management, your most used skills will be those of psychiatrist/bartender, priest, arbitrator and mediator, and private investigator. The most important advice I can give regarding these roles is "Take no action until forced!"
Sounds almost worth it to hire an external management entity with changes requiring whole-vote conditions. I'm not sure I am attracted to the legal liability aspect of being a board member.
It is almost required by case law that when the HOA is between nine and ten years old you survey the property for damage and defects and sue the builder for repairs.
Seriously? Is this focused on major community-encompassing defects, or something potentially more property-specific (individual lots)? There is a provision for the exchange in HOA to the community at the sold-lots % threshhold, and that is what is driving this now.
Sounds almost worth it to hire an external management entity with changes requiring whole-vote conditions. I'm not sure I am attracted to the legal liability aspect of being a board member.
If the liability may be high, have the HOA buy a liability insurance policy to cover the board members. This is quite common in other business entities to protect board members.
Erich
HOA liability insurance? Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. Would this include life insurance if a neighbor kills me for not allowing the absurd?
HOA liability insurance? Interesting. I'll keep that in mind.
Hmm, that's a very interesting thought, isn't it? Might not be a bad idea. A limited policy covering legal expenses might not be a bad idea. Not just for "against HOA" legal problems, either; but for things like if some sort of illegal dumping needed to be cleaned up or the like.
Would this include life insurance if a neighbor kills me for not allowing the absurd?
LoL!Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Normally if the builder/developer still has lots he retains those votes and should also be paying some form of dues even if at a reduced rate. Both my experiences were worthwhile. In the first we still had a handfull of vacant lots but in the second none. The developers were totally out.
In the second one we had a greenway that belonged to the developer seperating us from an area he wanted to do commercial. We negotiated some pretty good consessions. This was a one square mile development with a golf course in the center. It must have had about 20 SDs of various price levels from $135k up (1987 $). For those in Wichita,KS it is Tallgrass. I thought it was a pretty good setup.
I can see where that if the builder has unsold/undeveloped lots that I'd like to make them just as responsible in terms of HOA fees as a sold/developed lot, and that such lot be kept in acceptable appearance not to be deemed a dconstruction dumping ground.
Part of my learning experience as a first-time homebuyer and not having access to the 'CC&R' was that the builder has right to bury construction waste of any amount under the property being developed. I think I would have had a problem with this during the initial phase of homebuying purchase, but that was only after handing over $2K back in 2000 as good-faith money.
Now it took 2-3 years to past before I discovered this in the fine print and pot-holes started appearing and then turning into miniture sink holes as organic matter started to breakdown. It became even more frustrating when trying to 'fix' those holes and leading to the discovers of concrete and brick waste just below the surface. Anyway, lessons learned, right?
So, if the builder retains votes on any properties then they are playing homeowner in my book and treated just like everyone else--good or bad.
>not having access to the 'CC&R'....it took 2-3 years to past before I discovered this in the fine printStill don't buy that one would have to pony up money to see the contract they'd be held to. Maybe you didn't ask, or didn't force it, or your realtor let you down, but I cannot imagine having to pay to see the elements of a contract. Maybe I'm wrong, and a realtor or lawyer can correct me.Not meaning to pick on ya, but saying "fine print" usually just means someone didn't read. If it was in the contract and wasn't read, whose doing is that? I've seen a bunch of covenants/deed restrictions, and they're all worded differently, but they are all in English, and it's pretty easy for a Real Estate Atty to review them and advise you on anything unseemly. Emphasizing the "fine print" seems to pass the buck...purchaser has the obligation to read the full contract.My latest bad neighbor did some stuff in violation of the deed, and then when called on it, said he had never bothered to read it. Well, duh...
Cloud, I did ask and I wasn't alone. Of course, the old bat playing host was more of a problem in the end than anything else. She was removed by Morris & Raper (sp), the realtor playing host for the builder. Still, I asked and was told no. Period. I should have taken it as a bad sign, but the financial enticement was driving the environment along with the wife.
I say fine print loosely, of course, but I wasn't given access to any print prior to handing over money. Maybe the old bat was being driven by the builder--he is not in good terms with anyone in this community. Wanna know his name? :)
BTW, I found out three years or so into this community that changes had been made to the CC&R's, but that none of the pre-existing residents were a) notified, and b) were charged a $50 'processing fee' to get paper copies of the pages that were changed, added, or removed. Jeez. You know how much copy-paper I can buy for $50? I even offered to accept it in Adobe PDF file electronically and to save them the stamp. No dice. Its this kind of attitude that isn't limited to the community, though, I can say pretty much about the county commissioners and their covert land developments with WM.
>Still, I asked and was told no. Sucks when people don't play by reasonable rules. I empathize...
"none of the pre-existing residents were a) notified, and b) were charged a $50 'processing fee' to get paper copies of the pages that were changed, added, or removed. "
Not a lawyer, but I'd say that the only CC&R that applies to them is what was in effect when they bought their house. Without notifying them of the changes the HOA is effectively saying that the changes don't apply. I know that with all of my other financial contracts (credit cards, mortgage, club memberships) the business is required to submit changes to me for review, and I have a minimum of 30 days to respond. If I fail to respond, then that is implicit acceptance of the change.
You seem to emphasize a lot that you were a first time home buyer. Do you really think that people don't make mistakes when they buy their second home? Buying a home is something that most of us do rarely, so we don't get enough practice to be good at it. Before you buy your next home, I'd suggest that you do as much as possible to educate yourself about it. It's been enough years that you will still feel like it's the first time, and there are a lot of mistakes that you could still make, even if you don't repeat any.
The C&R's are public records after the first house has been sold. However, what are not is the actual rules that have been adopted by the HOA and also the books.In condos and developments with large common properties and improvements the books can be critical items. IE, how much reserve for a replacing the roof or fixing the defective pool.However, the seller will have access to all of that. And if they can't/won't provide it, whether the HOA is not cooperative or the seller doesn't want to that is a red flag.
The C&R's are public records after the first house has been sold. However, what are not is the actual rules that have been adopted by the HOA and also the books.
Bill, thanks for that piece of enlightenment--I was very ignorant of them being public documents, and the realtor and builder certainly made no move to make first-time homebuyers (1stHB) aware of such things. Being a 1stHB means you are basically about to go through a trial by fire event. lol
I agree about the red-flag and as I mentioned Cloud I think the wife's desires and the financial enticement clouded my better judgement. But, its an experience I will not forget soon, and look to the future for positive things.
I'll need to do some research on the public-documents aspect of this. One time I wished to make an electronic copy of the CC&R's and post them for anyone on the Internet to see. This 'idea' went hand in hand with create a community Internet 'portal' and discussion forum for conveying information more effectively, and in addition to providing a vehicle for intra-neighborhood communications amongst the residents. This is the Informational Age and I was attempt to introduce that idea into the community I'm a part of. What do you think?
The deed will either list the C&R's directly or list them as referenced in another document. Those are all recorded at the "courthouse".The problem with just having the C&R's is that they might not give enough information in themselves.Now I have not seen any modern ones (tonight I will post mine and info about our "HOA" - much different than typical). But it might have something like sets up a an HOA and the HOA has the following ... "architural review".Which is meaningless untill you read the actual rules that the HOA has adopted which can vary from "all house have to have masorary on the front walls" to "any changes visible from the outside (including, but not limited to doors, light fixtures, and paint colors, must be approved by an 100% vote of all HO after being reviewed by a 100 of the worlds most renowed architects."
Have any of you served on HOA boards
Does involuntary indentured servitude count?
and if so what capacity
Involuntarily.
and for how long before you left the HOA board?
As quickly as my shyster could deliver the appropriate forms.
The above may sound both jaded and flippant--but, the second time I had to modify a job, by reducing the quality of materials and workmansship at increased price, I kind of lost any sort or warm, fuzzy, benevolent feelings for HOA. Was forced to go against professional opinion, submitted examples of minimum common practice, and otherwise meddle in the contractual process to which they had to invent a procedural link to be included, too.
But, I'm bitter & jaded, too. And live Free, in a neighbourhood unburdened with an HOA (deliberately selected so). My area has more unity, character, quiet, and charm than any of the HOA-dominated ones in the county.
But, I'm bitter & jaded, too. And live Free, in a neighborhood unburdened with an HOA (deliberately selected so). My area has more unity, character, quiet, and charm than any of the HOA-dominated ones in the county.
You know, there are some in Dekalb County, Georgia that thought they lived freely, too. But, the neighbors unwilling to make changes in their own property and unwilling to accept the consequences of neighborhood-changes resulting from property owners willing to make changes to their respective properties, found the complaining property owners getting the city consul to instill a moratorium on any changes.
Now, the changes are of the type I've discussed here before and like all emotional women-types through out the McMansion term left and right. You know what I'm talking about: 1960's ranch-style homes on lots being redeveloped for more living space than the 900-1100 SqFt originally built. Makes no difference regarding what the changes encompassed, because the city consul instilled the moratorium and stopped any changes at the behest of the complaining property owners and not the property owners developing their personal home-investments.
So, even though its not an HOA community someone got screwed.
So, even though its not an HOA community someone got screwed.
Too true, that whole "Eternal Vigilance" thing, again.
Scares me that the city leaders might do something equally onerous in my town--as far too many of the leaders all live in their sterile, cookie-cutter, varieties of vanilla, policied-by-local-busybodies, neighborhoods and don't understand what it is like to not live that way.
I mean, I know that the folks across the street are moving not because the neighbors are noisy, and noisy later than raising a small child next door than is optimal. No, they are moving because of a really good job oppertunity. I know that the new folks down the street are not renovating the been-vacant-while-probate-cleared-ex-renthouse, to turn it back into a rent property. I know these things without meetings, organized activities, or matching front setbacks and near-identical veneer brick colors.
But, I also know I'm lucky in that regard. It's a special sort of place, and I'm keen to keep it that way.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
"..live Free, in a neighbourhood unburdened with an HOA (deliberately selected so). My area has more unity, character, quiet, and charm than any of the HOA-dominated ones in the county."
Here Here! I hate HOAs and it is getting harder and harder to find a home where there isn't one. Even though I was a finalist in the 'neighbor from hell' thread some time back, I still would rather take that risk than to live in the primordial na$i swamp that is the HOA neighborhood. My current neighborhood is old and has no HOA, and is one reason why I put more money than my house is worth into remodelling rather than moving to one that is more physically suited to our family.
Even though I was a finalist in the 'neighbor from hell'
Either I'm not remembering it that way, or I cannot imagine that you could ever qualify to move in next to Cloud . . .
Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Oops, you're right, it was the "world's worst HACK job" thread:
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=31308.60&search=y
".. I cannot imagine that you could ever qualify to move in next to Cloud . . . "
;)
Amen, brother.Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
Nuke,
I serve on my HOA which consists of about 1200 homes. I am the Architectural Director.
The reason I joined the board was because for about six or seven years the HOA became less and less friendly towards the homeowners. In fact the President was rather vindictive towards people she didn't like. What it led to was a level of apathy with both good and bad people not follow the CC&Rs. In addition the board and management company had become very cozy together.
A number of homeowners got together and ran for the board and ousted the previous board. We replaced the management company and put all the other vendors on notice they would be accountable. The management company was put in place by the developers and the management company then selected the security, maintenance and landscape companies. We were having issues with the work being performed. That's the background.
It's taken us a year to start turning things around. We've adopted a saying "We are a community of families not a collection of houses." We have started a swim team for the kids in our community. Which the previous board denied. We revised the CC&Rs to reflect a homeowner friendly board. The previous boards were not good with money and made less than intelligent choices. We managed to correct most of that.
I revamped the Architectural Committee. We don't use the word denied. I making sure we respond to all requests within 30 days. We have 60 days but I don't want people to wait. I am still working on making this as smooth as possible for homeowners.
I personally hate the idea of an HOA, but I hate a neighbor who doesn't have any consideration for other's even more. HOA's can get out of control unless you have reasonable people running it. Don't let your board go down the road mine did. We still have a ways to go to correct a lot of the problems created by the previous boards. We are getting more community involvement. Which is really nice.
I say serve and try to set up some processes to make things easy. It's a lot of initial work but it will pay off in the long run. Run the HOA like you would run your business. Get more people invloved. (Easier said than done.)
Enjoy,
Len
I personally hate the idea of an HOA, but I hate a neighbor who doesn't have any consideration for other's even more. HOA's can get out of control unless you have reasonable people running it. Don't let your board go down the road mine did. We still have a ways to go to correct a lot of the problems created by the previous boards. We are getting more community involvement. Which is really nice.
Wow, this is a very accurate and powerful conclusion that I also find in myself. I have no need for HOAs, but I have even less need for inconsiderate people. I'll give you credit for turning things around, and can understand how easily those placed into decision-making can get out of control (their new cocaine substitute). Still considering the aspect--management company already in place just contacted my back in reply.
Nuke,
I was reading some of your other responses.
"Additionally, I am not sure how much time is required, and if a board could tolerate my available hours (I work second shift)."
Initially you'll put in a lot of time as much as 10 hours a week. That's just to figure out how to do things. After a few months you should be down to about 5 or 6 hours a month. Including you board meeting. Your second shift shouldn't be a problem. The management company might like it too. They don't like to stick around for late evening meetings either. BTW, we handle some of our voting via email but it is followed up with signatures either by mail or at the board meeting. Also in order to do that the votes have to be unanimous otherwise we have to do it in the board meeting.
"A couple of years ago I thought about making a community website complete with dicsussion forum to help promote community in awareness, forward the 'getting to know your neighbor' concept, etc., but then I felt it would have turned into a 'complain about the POS builder' forum resulting in a law suit against me. "
Actually this is a great idea with slight modification. No forum you have a forum it's your board meeting. That's where problems and concerns should be brought up so they are in the minutes. We have a HOA website. It's run by the management company. It allows the homeowners to get Architectural submission forms, look and the community calendar for events, sign up to rent the clubhouse, directly email the management company with any concerns and read the CC&Rs and Architectural guidelines. (How many of your neighbors even know where their books are?)
The biggest thing to remember is you are a volunteer. The HOA dues pay the management company. They work for you, so they should be doing most of the work. There are a number of resources on the web for HOA members. It sounds like your asking all the questions that I did. Jump on in. I think you'll find it some what rewarding.
Len
Len, thanks for the encouragement. I think I will step forward. I also think the Internet aspects can be very encouraging, could automate (and speed up some tasks for all), and provide a much ambiguous (in attitude) interaction with people.
"I personally hate the idea of an HOA, but I hate a neighbor who doesn't have any consideration for other's even more."We present before a number of commissions in the city, some historical, some otherwise. Your statement hit it right on the nose. I've come to have a grudging respect for such groups as a necessary evil. If laws are enacted they have to apply to everyone, and for each person who feels such groups restrict creativity, there's a hundred more who would otherwise just as easily screw things up.The problems, as mentioned by others, are when egos get involved.
The problems, as mentioned by others, are when egos get involved.
Well, in that, and HOA is not that much different than other organizations that can be afflicted of ego-first persons.
Now, what I'm not sure of, is that an HOA can "cure" a neighborhood of a NFH. HOA may have a few more tools for coping with a PITA boor. The trouble is than most bad neighbors are already in an adversarial bent, increasing the number of adversaries, or adversarial pressure, just might not be a cure-all.
Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)