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Earth to HOA Boards of Directors! Yes, You Need a Stinking Website OR Fb Page

By
Property Manager with Gibson Management Group, Ltd.

I have several units in a townhouse property with VERY active ONsite board members.  Although they have a professional management company, the board * especially the president * likes to keep everyone AWARE of what is going on with weekly e-mails.

Recently, she UNILATERALLY changed the rules of the HOA to prohibit the use of grills on the decks......HELLO!  There is a process for the change of these rules and it involves notification to the HOA owners and some discussion.  This board president took it upon herself to MISread an edict from our local Fire Marshall about the use of CHARCOAL grills and their danger if not attended and used properly on the unit's wood decks.

Unfortunately, a second e-mail advising of her FIRST e-mail MISTAKE was not read by all and there is now a brouhaha over the issue of her communications.

FIRST * the HOA does not have a website that provides documents, rules, notifications, etc. and the professional manager can not create one for their association with their antiquated management software.  OK * plan B, they won't use MeetTheNeighbor(www.meettheneighbors.org) website option as the board can't control it.  I recently suggested a Facebook page where owners and residents could go and got a blank stare with some eye blinks.

http://mariaeves.com/video-tutorial-how-to-make-a-facebook-group/

So now what do they do when they need to notify residents?  They are posting NOTICES near the mailboxes where residents get their mail.

To me, this is BACK to SquareONE....with so many electronic options, why is the only option for communication by the HOA from the Dark Ages? 

 

Posted by

Wallace S. Gibson is a Certified Property Manager with over 50 years of property management experience and expertise.  She maintains a specialized property management business in Central Virginia serving Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna and Louisa counties  

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Comments (10)

Bonnie Jean Hart
Home Smart Professionals-La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Indio, CA - Indio, CA
Bonnie J. Hart - 25+ yrs Exp - Real Estate - L

Frustrating yes.  Good luck with this one.  Our HOA is working...so well that I got a warning the other day for putting my garbage can out before 4pm... they are up on technology and security and everthing else! :-)

Oct 09, 2011 04:23 AM
Amanda Howard
Century 21 Garner Properties - Independence, KY
NorthernKentuckyHomes.com 859-363-9900

Hi Wallace, thanks for the post. As an agent and someone who will possibly help a buyer look at these neighborhoods, it's also important that the rules are clearly posted and easily found on the internet for potential neighbors. We have a standard contingency in all of our contracts that buyers will have 3 days to review HOA documents, but sometimes it's especially hard to get a hold of the documents, and even more so with foreclosures when the seller literally has no information. If HOAs were to "get with the program", it would make the process of home buying just a little bit easier.

Oct 09, 2011 04:24 AM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

Wallace-i agree there really needs to better communications to provide timely information.

 

Best

Oct 09, 2011 04:31 AM
Krystal Knott
Christie's International Real Estate - Summit Colorado - Breckenridge, CO
Breckenridge CO Real Estate & All Summit County CO

Wallace, this must be so frustrating not only for you but owners that are computer/tech savvy.  Maybe at the next meeting you and a board member can meet prior and set up a page and show everyone how easy it is.  I know a lot of people are nervous about facebook and their privacy but if they are shown how to change their privacy settings more people might be apt to join facebook and agree to the page.  Good luck!  --Krystal

Oct 09, 2011 04:34 AM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Wallace - It shouldn't be so difficult to setup a website.  They could even setup a simple WordPress site.

Oct 09, 2011 04:36 AM
Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

Checked out the website. What a great Idea. Watch out Condo Commandos here comes reality! Great Post!

Oct 09, 2011 04:39 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Wallace - You are right. HOA needs to have a website or FB page to communicate with the latest updates with the members. Thanks for the information.

Oct 09, 2011 06:23 AM
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

Wallace, I came across this when I wanted to verify some information that I want to blog about. The HOA only have a couple of signs on the street. It really is not a surprise since a lot of people still don't understand the Internet.

Oct 09, 2011 08:09 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Wallace, 

Priceless. Technology makes this so much easier and saves a lot of trees.  No reason to always have to print and walk around the neighborhood posting.

All the best, Michelle

Oct 09, 2011 11:10 AM
Krista Abshure
Fathom Realty - Fuquay Varina, NC

This seems to be such a "no brainer" it is simply amazing to me how many HOA's to don't do this.  It would be super easy to maintain communication to the residents.  If per chance someone did not want to join the FB page or did not have Internet access there could still be a central location that they could review important data.  As a realotr I like the website that have the covenants and meeinng minutes onthe websites. it gives potential homebuyers an easy view at how the neighborhood works.

Oct 21, 2011 05:31 AM