Serving on your homeowner's association (HOA) board can often be tiring and time-consuming. However, although the work of an HOA board member often goes unappreciated or unrecognized, that doesn't mean it's not necessary or unrewarding. Things would be chaotic without volunteers on the HOA board to manage the association's affairs. Board members make a difference in their community by ensuring its health, safety, value, and continued success.
To join an HOA board, you must be willing to work as a volunteer and view it as an opportunity to enhance your community's assets and serve your neighbors. Before volunteering, seek to know the terms and conditions of your local HOA and board.
It also comes with responsibility and reward. A critical role of the homeowners association HOA is to preserve the community's property values by overseeing the maintenance of the individual units within the community and the grounds. If the recreational area is well taken care of, the community's properties will maintain their value or even increase. Being a member of the HOA board gives you more say over maintenance decisions and, by extension, more control over the value of your home.
Whether it's a landscaping issue, high water bills, or a problem between neighbors, HOA meetings give the residents a welcome platform through which important matters can be addressed. In addition, as a board member, you are involved with drafting petitions to local authorities for the good of the community.
Being immersed in the operations of the local HOA gives you a unique experience. Apart from the leadership skills, as a volunteer, you also learn important life lessons such as being open minded and improving your interpersonal skills as you work with others on local issues.
Participating in the HOA teaches you strategic thinking and problem solving skills. You get an opportunity to polish your negotiation and public speaking skills. In addition, as a board member, you must spend time promoting peace among neighbors, and nurturing relationships with fellow board members. This helps build trust and demonstrates that HOAs are not merely vehicles for enforcing community rules and monitoring budget performance. The positive impact of connecting residents can significantly impact governance in the community.
Although the work of an HOA is serious business, it can still be an opportunity to have fun and enjoy the moment. The feeling of victory after successfully negotiating with a vendor, the adrenaline rush after the board makes an important decision, and the sense of camaraderie at each meeting are a few examples of how serving on the HOA board can be enjoyable. For example, imagine creating a well-run community that is well maintained with great curb appeal. This is something you can make happen as a member of the board.
Finally, you can determine or choose the management services company that serves your community. This alone might a good reason to join the HOA board. Often, the difference in the quality of services offered differs from one company to the next, and choosing the correct one is critical.
