What Makes A Good HOA Board Member?
Many people are drawn to a neighbourhood with a homeowners association because of the perks that come with membership. Others want to take on a much bigger role and join the board. So, what makes a good HOA board member?
Financial literacy, open-mindedness, foresight, and honesty are key traits of a ood HOA board member. Progressive thinking is also important if you want to maximize your HOA’s potential and efficiency. Conflict resolution skills are also essential, as fellow board members won’t always agree with one another.Â
Joining the board comes with many responsibilities, so you must have strong time management skills. Follow along as we explore what makes a good HOA board member.
10 Essential HOA Board Member Traits
1. Financial Literacy
A challenging aspect of being an HOA board member is being financial responsibile. HOA board members handle the reserve fund that goes toward maintenance, renovations, and community services. Managing these funds is essential, or else the community will suffer. For example, when the fund runs low, an HOA issues special assessments to help with costs it can’t cover.
A special assessment is unscheduled fees meant to cover emergency costs when the money in the reserve is insufficient. That’s part of being an HOA member, but the best-case scenario is that special assessments aren’t necessary. If you’re financially literate, you can more easily navigate financial decisions and plan for emergencies. Not all HOA board members have such skills, so you can stand out through financial literacy.
2. Strong Relationships
Being an HOA member is one thing, but joining the board is a different beast altogether. It’s hard to join an HOA board without strong connections with your neighbors. However, that can slightly change once you join the board. Power dynamic shifts, and you must assume more responsibilities. If you aren’t careful, some people may think that you’re on a power trip or that you think you’re better than them.
A great HOA board member knows how to maintain these relationships while protecting their neighbors’ interests. You have to give anyone too much leniency just because they’re your friend. The challenge is to make the right decisions for the community without getting in the way of your friendships.
3. Empathy And Understanding
A criticism some people have against an HOA is that it's cold and not understanding. This largely comes from the fines and penalties that HOAs enforce on members. Members, however, must know the rules and understand that breaking them comes with consequences. HOA fines exist for a reason, but that doesn’t mean every board member should dish them out all the time.
Some people run into hardships and can’t afford membership dues and special assessments. As a board member, you have the chance to adhere to the rules without sacrificing your empathy. You can still issue fines and punishments, but you can also offer leniency as needed. A great HOA board member knowsthat it’s okay to advocate for people when they’re down on their luck.
4. Conflict Resolution Skills
No board or committee is immune to conflict, and that includes an HOA board. Members often squabble over decisions, opinions, and tough situations. If everyone disagrees and refuses to give in, nothing will ever get done, and the board will fail the community. You can’t count on others to be level-headed, but you can at least count on yourself. Conflict resolution skills will help you navigate tough decisions and keep the group on track.
More importantly, you can help everyone get along and understand that one stance is more valid than another. Your conflict resolution skills may take a back seat at times, but you owe it to yourself, your fellow board members, and your neighbors to push through disagreements.
5. Transparency
It's always best to be honest, whether you’re talking to law enforcement, your spouse, or a fellow board member. The best board members are transparent with each other and with the community they represent. That doesn’t mean the community has to be privy to every single word that’s spoken at board meetings.
However, you shouldn’t withhold information at board meetings or with your neighbors. How can someone trust the HOA as a whole when they can’t trust a board member? Dishonesty can foster distrust, and it’s not worth going down that road.
6. Compliance
Nobody likes someone who acts like they’re above the law. Board members are in power positions, at least within an HOA. That’s why you must set a good example and comply with the rules as an HOA board member. How can you enforce the rules if you don’t also follow them? Ideally, you should be a model HOA member if you want to join the board.
Pay your dues, maintain your lawn, adhere to noise restrictions, and follow any regulation you enforce as a board member. It’s okay to slip once in a while, as long as you correct the issue and face the consequences. Otherwise, people will think that you’re immune to punishment just because you’re a board member.
7. Open-Mindedness
This is one of the best qualities someone can have, regardless of their role on an HOA or beyond. Hearing others’ perspectives can be helpful, but you’ll only realize that if you keep an open mind to your board members and neighbors, and also to outside advice. For example, some issues are so big that the board can’t resolve them without help.
In that case, you must be willing to consult a lawyer, accountant, or financial advisor. An HOA is essentially a business, and businesses rarely exist without outside help. It’s also important to be open-minded at board meetings when someone else offers ideas. You don’t have to agree with everything, but you should at least be willing to listen.
8. Progressiveness
HOAs have existed since 1964, and they’ve naturally evolved since then. However, the thing about progress is that it never ends, at least not while creative people exist. You may join an outdated HOA board and realize that it’s stuck in the past. In that case, the whole community can benefit from your progressive mindset. For example, you can introduce collaborative co-working platforms and applications.
Suddenly, everyone can easily submit documents, ideas, and messages to keep up with their obligations even outside of meetings. That’s just one example of how a forward-thinking mindset can benefit everyone on the HOA board. Progress also applies to changingor scraping old bylaws that have been outdated for years and don’t serve anyone. It’s always worth trying something new if you have the right intentions.
9. Delegation Skills
While HOAs share many similarities, some of them differ in how they’re run. For example, some HOAs have several committees dedicated to different needs, such as social, finance, architectural, and landscaping. Your HOA may not have or want committees, but it should at least delegate responsibilities. For example, two board members can volunteer for landscaping responsibilities.
From there, they can collaborate with HOA members who aren’t even on the board. These are just examples; there’s no wrong way to delegate tasks as long as they get done. HOA boards that take on too many obligations among too few people can crumble under their own weight. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, especially when others depend on you to do a great job.
10. Foresight
Nobody can blame you if you don’t want to be on the HOA board forever. However, everyone will remember if you take actions to set the HOA up for a great future. This is a great trait for any HOA board member to exhibit. Typically, foresight comes from looking at the current finances, member volume, community properties, and assets and studying the financial reserve, even if you must enlist an outside financial advisor.
From there, you can get an idea of the HOA’s overhead and growth potential. You and your peers can make decisions to grow the HOA. If growth isn’t your goal, you can at least figure out how to keep up with inflation and minimize losses. Doing so will set up future community and board members for success.
Summing It Up
The best HOA board members are honest, transparent, and empathetic toward the community’s needs. Financial literacy is an important trait for board members, as it helps manage and distribute HOA funds. You must set a great example and follow the rules to encourage others to do the same, or else they won’t trust the HOA board.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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