Self-managing a small HOA is an excellent way to save money, increase efficiency, and gain control over your community. Although it brings some significant benefits,  it also comes with its own set of challenges. The board could start feeling overwhelmed if they don’t use the right tools and strategies.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits and challenges of self-managing a small HOA. We will provide some tips on handling these challenges and ensuring self-management is successful for your small community. 

What Are the Benefits and Challenges of Self-Managing A Small HOA?

It is important to understand both the benefits and challenges associated with self-managing an HOA before taking on this responsibility. 

Here is a list of some key benefits and challenges: 

Benefits

• Save costs
• No conflicts with a management company
• Greater control over all tasks

Challenges

• Lack of expertise
• Greater workload
• Struggle to sell properties

5 Tips for Successfully Managing a Small Homeowners’ Association

Be organized and transparent

As an HOA Board, it is important to make transparency a priority in order to create trust and work efficiently. Making transparency a priority means implementing processes that will allow you to be organized and engage residents. By doing this, the HOA Board can ensure that all decisions are made with the best interests of the community in mind. All residents should have access to information about how and why decisions are made. This will help build trust between board members and residents. It will also promote an atmosphere of collaboration and engagement within the community.  It also ensures that all the HOA’s records are kept up to date and accurate.

Managing an HOA requires efficient practices such as formal record keeping and setting clear objectives. Small HOAs sometimes overlook the importance of organization and formalities since there aren’t many residents. However, it is important to remember that good processes are essential regardless of size. They help you be compliant and avoid costly mistakes and negligence. 

Efficient communication

Because of their small size, some HOAs believe it is okay to communicate occasionally without proper process. 

Effective communication is essential for the success of any community association. Good communication between the board and homeowners can help to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and other issues. It also helps to keep residents informed about the activities of their HOA.

Different channels such as newsletters, emails, websites, and social media platforms can be used to communicate with the residents. The right combination of these channels can help to ensure that all members are aware of important decisions and updates in a timely manner. Furthermore, efficient communication helps to build trust among members and encourages collaboration.

Track spendings and income carefully 

Small HOAs tend to have limited budgets because they collect fees from a smaller number of residents but still have a lot of bills to pay. That is why it is important to track of every penny spent as well as the income received. Staying on top of your limited budget is the key to success and transparency for any small HOA. Keeping accurate financial records will help you stay within your budget. As a board, you should also make these records easily accessible to homeowners, so they know how the association spends money. 

Learn, learn, learn

Board member education is especially important for self-managed HOAs, as it can help them develop the skills required to run the organization successfully. HOA management companies have extensive knowledge about running communities. That is the primary reason why associations decide to hire them. In that way, board member education is especially important for self-managed HOAs. It can fill potential gaps and help them develop the skills required to run the organization successfully.

Watching webinars and following courses frequently can provide you with the knowledge needed to make decisions in the best interest of your community. Community associations are affected by many external factors, such as natural disasters or even inflations. It is essential to keep up with current best practices. 

Nowadays, you can find many online courses and free resources to learn from the comfort of your home. Click here to see our list of free webinar recordings and sign up for the next one. 

Use HOA self-management software 

Self-managed HOA software is the perfect way to run your community efficiently and with the greatest transparency. It provides a range of benefits that can help you manage finances, track payments, communicate with members, and work more efficiently. With self-managed HOA software, you can ensure that all your community’s financial information is up to date and accurate. Additionally, it increases transparency by providing a single platform where members can access information about their association’s activities. 

Some HOAs believe they are too small and don’t need software. Or they think it is too expensive and they can’t afford it. Nowadays, you can find online platforms that fit the needs of smaller communities. They allow you to work more efficiently and accurately, which is essential when you don’t have a community association manager. Most companies also provide different plans with different features to fit any association’s budget. 

This type of software also helps HOAs stay organized and compliant with local laws and regulations. This is an important aspect to consider when your community isn’t managed. 

Final Points 

Self-managing a small HOA requires an understanding of the legal requirements, as well as knowledge about how to manage finances, deal with disputes between members, and handle maintenance issues. Additionally, it’s important to use software for tracking finances and communication tools for staying in touch with members. With these strategies in place, you’ll be able to effectively manage your small HOA without having to hire an outside management company.