Monthly Archives: March 2021

Strategies for Recruiting Reliable HOA Volunteers

Your association’s success depends on committee volunteers and exciting events that bring the community together and encourage potential owners to get involved in their community.

However, recruiting new volunteers to give up time during what’s already a busy week can be difficult. Usually, a simple “Join Us!” sign won’t bring in the most ideal candidates for your volunteer needs.

If your HOA management team is looking for eager volunteers to spearhead a community block party or join a new committee, here are some great ways your Board and association management team can recruit reliable volunteers that make a lasting impact on your community.

Make an Effort to Recruit in Person

Even well-crafted social media advertisements for volunteers can be missed or even ignored by community members. Take some time to appeal to your constituents in person at the next community meeting.

Putting a face to your request helps bring your committee’s needs into reality for your busy neighbors. Also, recruiting in person gives you the opportunity to learn more about your neighbors and how their strengths could help any of your volunteer positions benefit your association in the long-term.

Be Specific About What You Need

As we mentioned before, a simple “Join Us!” flier won’t attract the volunteers you need. Get specific with your requests, and qualified community members will eventually begin to respond to your message.

Some ways to get specific with your volunteer advertisements include the following methods:

  • Give people a reason why they should join. What difference can this committee make in the neighborhood?
  • Detail how people can contribute. Do you need volunteers for a specific event? Do you need ideas from specialists in a particular industry for a committee?
  • Be clear about what you expect from a volunteer. How often does the committee meet? How long are the meetings? What time are the meetings?

Be on the Lookout for Disgruntled Community Members

As a HOA Board member, you should always take the time to listen to your community members’ needs; especially their complaints. While it may seem odd to reach out to a disgruntled member for a specific volunteer or committee position, they could actually be your ticket to success.

If your position aligns with something they have an issue with, they could be a driving force of improvement if they care enough about the committee decisions at hand.

However, reach out to your association management team to ensure that their concerns are legitimate and not frivolous requests that could result in tension for any event or committee.

Advocate Your Committee’s Accomplishments

If the committee you need volunteers for is one that has already made its mark on your association, make sure to use this success when recruiting volunteers. Past accomplishments are a great talking point. Also, while you are looking out for essential qualities in your volunteers, they are just as eager to learn what your committee has brought to the community over the years.

Put your success in the limelight and make your committee volunteer positions a coveted opportunity.

Goodwin & Company Helps You Recruit Volunteers That Make a Difference

Make sure that your next committee is full of volunteers that truly care about the future of your association. Although your Board may not have enough time to vet out every volunteer that applies for a position, Goodwin & Company can help relieve most of that weight off of your shoulders.

We are a Dallas association management company that can help your Board make the right decisions in every aspect of your community’s development. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

How to Prepare For An HOA Disciplinary Hearing

An HOA violation is something no homeowner wants to receive in the mail. However, violations happen and one of the most common approaches to resolution is a disciplinary hearing.

While this may seem like an unnecessary scolding to an association homeowner or tenant, following the community’s regulations is paramount. Common ground must be found, and disciplinary hearings serve as an official setting where the board and tenants can communicate and come to terms with the correction of a violation.

Entering into a disciplinary hearing can seem intimidating, but as association managers, we’re here to say that with preparation, a hearing can be a smooth and fruitful experience. Here’s a look at how you can best prepare for an HOA disciplinary meeting.

Review Your HOA CC&Rs

Once your board has informed you of your disciplinary hearing, you should have all of the details about your meeting. This includes what you did to violate a community provision and where the rule can be found in your association’s CC&Rs.

Take the time to read your local documents, find out what actions you did to violate them, and how you can potentially resolve the issue prior to your disciplinary hearing.

Inform Your Board of Your Attendance Plans

In the spirit of being a good neighbor, take action quickly and let your board know whether or not you will be able to attend the meeting. Being present at your meeting allows you to discuss the issue with your fellow neighbors and potentially avoid further fines and board action.

Keep in mind that failure to attend your hearing doesn’t always grant a meeting extension. The board can follow through with making a final decision with or without your presence.

Some of the following reasons that allow for a meeting reschedule can include the following:

  • Travel plans
  • Illness
  • Work schedule interference

Arrive Prepared

It’s never beneficial to show up to a hearing unprepared. You should have a fair amount of time to get an argument and all relevant documentation ready for your meeting with the board.

Some steps towards effective preparation for a violation hearing include before and after photos if you’ve already fixed the violation and a clear understanding of the board’s meeting policies regarding your meeting’s time limit. This can help you craft definitive points that address the violation.

Details surrounding hearing policies can be gathered from your HOA management team.

Don’t Take the Hearing Personally

While it may seem like the board has singled you out and wants you to be unhappy, the truth is, their decision isn’t anything personal. Your board must ensure that the neighborhood follows its CC&Rs. When something is out of uniform or goes against the HOA rules, it’s their responsibility to take action.

In the spirit of respecting their responsibilities, we suggest following these two golden rules:

  1. Walk into your appointment calm, ready to discuss your situation
  2. Avoid alienating your fellow neighbors with a bad attitude that completely tarnishes your argument’s credibility

Goodwin & Company Helps Keep All Parties Prepared for Disciplinary Hearings

If your community board needs an association management team on its side to help set disciplinary hearings and violation notices into motion, Goodwin & Company is ready to meet you. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to meet with a member of our team!

We are a Dallas-based community management team that is dedicated to helping the communities we serve to keep all owners happy and comfortable within the neighborhood they call home.