What did it feel like when you were elected to your association’s board? What were your goals? Why did you agree to serve? Does the reality of the responsibility align with your vision of the work?
Board members may be able to leverage their professional training for their roles, but often they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, having to learn as they go while their community looks on. Consider whether you or your fellow board members have fulfilled any of these roles:
- Bookkeeper. Like any organization, you have bills to pay and dues to receive. It’s probable that your books will be audited, so the accounting needs to be spot-on or there will be problems later.
- Code compliance officer. If your association has rules particular to your community, it’s likely that someone is going to forget them every once in a while. Guess who gets to do the reminding?
- General contractor. If your HOA undertakes a construction or repair project without the services of a construction professional, it’s up to the board to initiate and coordinate the work, inspect the finished product, and accept or reject the work.
- Government relations pro. Dealing with your municipality can be daunting, and navigating rules and regulations—even at a local level—can be time-consuming and frustrating. Whether you need permission to close streets for a block party or a permit to build a structure in one of your common areas, you can bet you’ll need to successfully work with your government entity at some point.
- Landscape architect or arborist. What types of trees and plants will make most efficient use of your area’s climate, thus reducing the need for water and expensive landscape maintenance? What types of flora and fauna will work best together to enhance the beauty of your community? Getting this wrong can have long-term financial consequences, not to mention creating an eyesore for you and your neighbors.
- Mediator. Conflict is inevitable but it doesn’t have to become a feud. Conflict-resolution skills are key to successful outcome when working with two or more parties who are financially and emotionally invested in their differing positions.
- Public relations specialist. Word-of-mouth matters. You want your properties to be attractive to potential buyers. Do you know how to keep issues off of social media, or to quickly resolve them if they get on the Internet? Do you have the skills to bring a diverse population together to live in harmony and create community? Savvy communicators handle issues quickly and expertly without breaking a sweat.
If you didn’t study accounting, communications, landscape design, contract administration and more in school, give us a call. Put our team’s expertise to work for your community and enjoy the role of board member again. Here’s our phone number: (414) 433-9107.
