Now that we’ve ushered in the New Year, everyone is thinking about what they can change for the year, and your HOA shouldn’t be an exception! In addition to our personal resolution-making and goal-setting, boards should consider resolutions for your homeowner’s association in the upcoming year. In case you are stumped, here are a few great HOA resolutions to make in the new year:
Be open about board meetings It helps homeowners feel included when HOA boards post their meeting schedules. You can increase the sense of community while encouraging involvement and openness in your association by letting members know when you’ll be making decisions and discussing community matters. You can take this action even further by scheduling time at the start of select meetings for owner input and/or time to address concerns.
Increase communication The key to a successful association is always better communication. If you feel your association is struggling in the communication department, resolve to make better communication a priority. You can set up a regular newsletter to send out to owners, including a project schedule, updates about the community, and any other information that will help keep members informed.
Create an emergency plan What if your association is hit by a flood? What if there is a major electrical outage? Maybe you have a general idea, but haven’t hammered out a detailed plan that has been shared with the community. Make 2023 your year to do so! Sit down as a board and figure out the details. It’s important to be prepared in the event of a disaster, and you will put everyone’s mind at ease knowing that there is a plan in place.
Contribute to Reserves The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to assess your reserve fund. Consider contributing prior year surplus amounts to your reserves for the months ahead. Financial goals are part of many of our resolutions, and the same is true for your association.
Plan community events Choose a time around each major holiday or season and come up with an idea to get the community together. For example, you could plan a school's out cookout once summer rolls around. More social events get owners mingling with one another, which encourages camaraderie and decreases the amount of owner discontent. A bonded community is a stronger community!
There is no better time than the start of a new year to begin making improvements in life. For most boards, it’s about fine-tuning what you are already doing as a whole. Make 2023 the year your homeowner’s association makes positive changes for those in the community. Cheers to a happy new year!