The Top Five Benefits of Having An HOA Manager

HOA managers are onsite managers who handle financials, organize meetings, enforce compliance, and more. It's a job that requires many hats, and you need highly qualified HOA managers to do them all. An HOA manager's responsibilities cover much more than just HOA property management.

Benefitting from an HOA Manager

There are no complex rules on what an HOA manager does for an HOA board. Ultimately, an HOA manager can help the board stay focused on the community. 

Many homeowners and condominium associations should employ a manager for their Board of Directors. If your HOA board members are not fully versed in keeping an HOA running smoothly, hiring an HOA manager is the next right move. 

Having a manager handle HOA billing, reserve funding, and running annual meetings can help the flow of your condo or homeowners association. Below are the top five reasons your board should consider hiring an HOA manager.

Handling Financial Details

External HOA managers can relieve board members' pressure when collecting assessments and association fees. The board can have a manager send collection notices and prepare actions for an attorney. 

Good managers also know the financial details that board members may need to gain background. The manager guides and advises the association on dealing with finances and financial statements and provides resources from their HOA property management company.

A manager can guide when unexpected expenses, such as unplanned property repairs or projects, arise. They will understand the different payment options, such as taking out a loan, pulling money out of the reserve fund, or applying for a special assessment.

• Enforcing Rules and Regulations

While the board decides on drafting and approving the community rules and regulations, the manager should assist the board in ensuring that the rules fully comply with state laws and other statutes that cover associations.

The HOA manager also plays an active role in enforcing these rules. One of the manager's responsibilities is to perform compliance checks and onsite inspections. If the board allows this, he or she can also send board-approved violation letters to homeowners.

• Expanding Member Involvement

Keeping members of the community informed is the best way to keep members involved. The Board Members are volunteers, so they will have other life matters and may only have a little time to keep up with HOA details.

Communicating with board members and residents is critical. A manager who keeps members informed and plans events will get the community more involved. The manager can assist with invitations or newsletters, helping members stay informed and involved. 

HOA managers are also often in a position to respond to complaints from residents. As the face of the board, a good manager should receive this feedback and assure residents that the board will act on their concerns promptly.

• Maintaining the Community

The onsite manager's duty includes maintaining the development's common areas, which can include the property's swimming pools, community entrances, sidewalks, landscaping, and lighting. 

An HOA manager should have good relationships with vendors they trust when your HOA needs to hire services. Whether legal services or landscaping work, a professional association management company will have established relationships with quality vendors to handle the community appropriately. 

• Managing the Office and Employees

The day-to-day responsibilities of an HOA manager usually cover the roles typically performed by a business' human resources and accounting office departments. 

The manager oversees the hiring and supervising staff, such as janitors and landscapers. The manager typically has the power to let go of staff as well. 

HOA managers oversee many of the back office duties on behalf of the association members, although the board typically performs these duties.

It ultimately depends on the manager's contract. In many cases, the manager makes bank deposits, pays the bills, handles banking transactions, and does all the associated bookkeeping.

Some HOA boards can even count on an excellent manager to draft a budget proposal or a reserve study for the community. However, a clear line separates the board from the manager here.

A manager can introduce a budget proposal, but he or she is not accountable for the budget. The board is elected to study and approve the budget and make the big decisions that will take the community in a specific direction.

Find an HOA Manager Who Works For You

Quality HOA managers are assets to the boards and communities they serve. Good HOA managers can take a lot of the everyday responsibilities of running an association off of the board members so they can focus on decisions and policies for the better of the community.