Monthly Archives: May 2021

How to Create a Winning Social Media Strategy for Your HOA

Social media can be a key tool to bringing a community together and getting the right information out to your neighborhood. However, perfecting social media isn’t as simple as picking a platform and starting your first post.

In order for social media to be effective and follow legal guidelines for public entities like an association, a social media strategy should be your first step towards implementing social media into your business practices.

Here’s a look into what you and your HOA management team should look into before writing your first set of winning social media posts.

Create a Designated Management Committee

It’s always helpful to have a team of people or one skilled person, dedicated to managing your social media accounts. This helps to prevent any miscommunications, posting snafus, and overall social media disorganization.

Remember, your management committee doesn’t necessarily have to be social media experts, but they should have an upbeat attitude and understand the legalities involved with posting on social media as an association.

If your volunteer social media personnel need some pointers on what they can and cannot post on social media as the HOA, your association management team can help educate and inform.

Use it as a Means of Positive Communication

There’s already enough negative information out there on social media channels. So, make sure that your association’s pages encourage positive communication. This all starts with the type of content that you choose to publish.

Bring your community together outside of standard community updates with fun and catchy posts that promote:

  • The local yard of the month
  • Upcoming social events
  • A “Meet the Board” post for new board members, etc.

Positive communication is rewarded with positive community interaction. The more your community interacts with your social media pages in the correct ways, the closer your association will get towards achieving its goals as an organized, welcoming community.

Avoid Posting Opinions as an Admin

Everyone has an opinion on a subject, and sometimes opinions can clash and create conflict. Conflict is something you always want to avoid on your social media channels. While owners in an HOA are welcome to post opinions on the facts you present, striving to keep your social media as informative and neutral as possible is key to keeping your owners comfortable with your platform.

Never Discuss Formal HOA Business

Formal HOA business like official meeting discussions and individual HOA violations are something that should never be shared on social media.

Formal HOA business typically involves confidential or personal owner information that isn’t appropriate to air out on a public forum like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Keep your social pages fun and informative, while leaving any formal business to official meetings or mailers to your owners.

Make Social Media a Positive Association Tool with Goodwin & Company

If you are ready to start a social media account for your association but need some guidance on crafting a successful strategy, turn to the experts at Goodwin & Company. Our association management team is well-versed in both online and offline HOA management best practices.

We have served communities across the Dallas area since 1991 and are ready to help you. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to find out how to partner up with our team.

What are the Top 6 Benefits of Living in an HOA

When many people think about living in an HOA, concerns about restrictive covenants and regular dues come to mind. While these features of an association can seem daunting to outsiders, the truth is that they bring a lot of benefits to owners that do invest in HOA-managed properties.

Here’s a look at the top 6 benefits that owners gain when they choose to live within a planned community.

1.  You Earn a True Sense of Community

Simply put, an association makes meeting people and making friends a lot easier. From community meetings to social media pages and regular events, there is always something to look forward to when you’re living in an HOA.

The potential for social interaction increases the sense of community and allows people to form strong relationships that uplift the overall culture of the association.

2.  Your Property Value Remains High

Yes, your HOA is going to have a strict policy about what you can and cannot do to the exterior of your home. Keep in mind, however, that these policies aren’t in place to punish owners.

Your association was created with a specific look in mind, and uniformity is essential for keeping up overall property values in the area. While you may be able to ensure that your home always looks tidy, you can’t guarantee that your neighbors will do the same.

An HOA helps ensure that your neighborhood stays beautiful and that your investment as a homeowner is one that will eventually pay off if you decide to move.

3.  Sometimes, Utilities Are Inclusive

One of the biggest benefits of living in an HOA is the perks that you wouldn’t get from a regular suburb. While many HOAs come with amenities like swimming pools and community centers (more on that later), some communities even take amenities a step further.

You’ll have to ask your association before signing on, but some communities even include utilities like water, gas, and trash collection in your regular dues. While you’re still paying for these services, this benefit definitely helps alleviate some of the stress that comes with keeping track of the bills.

4.  Regulations Mitigate the “Bad Neighbor” Problem

As much as we hate to admit it, we’ve all had that neighbor that just irks us. From overgrown and unkempt lawns to mountains of cars pouring out of their driveways, a “bad neighbor” can really put a damper on how much you love your home.

Fortunately, with regulations involved in an HOA, you’ll have fewer surface issues to worry about with your neighbors and can truly focus on bettering your own property.

5.  Beautiful Amenities

It’s been said that amenities can make an HOA worth living in; and the team at Goodwin & Company is supportive of that statement. HOAs amenities like community centers, swimming pools, and parks, all serve as great places to spend quality time with your friends and family.

Access via an HOA usually provides a safer and more convenient option for families who would otherwise have to leave their neighborhood to experience these amenities.

6.  Goodwinlent Property Management

While this perk doesn’t apply to all associations, HOAs with an excellent association management team will usually have property management services built into their annual or monthly fees.

This means that in some associations, an HOA will hire professional vendors to keep up with all exterior beautification of the neighborhood, including the owner’s front yards. So, when you shop around to live in an association, it’s always a great idea to find out if your dues will buy you some extra time to relax and worry less about the state of your landscaping.

Ensure Your HOA Gains These Benefits with Goodwin & Company

If you know that your HOA could use some help with management, it’s time to look into professional aid from an association management team.

At Goodwin & Company, we help make the “HOA magic” happen for all of the communities we serve. Our services include due collection assistance, online portal management, vendor management, and any other association responsibilities that arise.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and about how your association can become a part of the Goodwin family.