The HOA Holiday Wish List

During the holiday season, we often struggle to find the perfect gift for those who are important to us. Sometimes we need a little help, and we ask for a “wish list” of gifts to guide us. What would wish lists from the key players in the HOA world look like?

For the homeowner membership:

• Regular communications from the board.
• Organized and efficient board meetings.
• An attentive board during open forum.
• A board committed to follow the law and the governing documents, and to improve the sense of community within the association.
• Directors who govern with a sense of service, not control.
• Directors who are not defensive when homeowners bring new ideas or even criticism.
• A board which will tell the truth to members, even if it is a hard truth (such as the assessments are too low and should be increased).
• A realistic budget and an increased commitment to funding the HOA’s reserve fund.
• A written explanation of any significant changes from last year’s budget to the current proposed budget.
• Neighbors who do not automatically assume that annoyance from another neighbor is intentional.
• Civility.

For the board of directors:

• Respectful homeowners who acknowledge that the board and committee members serve the community without compensation (and typically without appreciation).
• Volunteers for committees and board service.
• Homeowners who use open forum effectively.
• Homeowners who attend and listen without interfering with board deliberations.
• Homeowners willing to pay for the level of maintenance and service they desire.
• A manager who has attained or is actively pursuing the management profession credentials.
• A manager modeling the highest level of ethical behavior, avoiding conflicts of interest or involvement in HOA politics.
• A communicative manager who follows through on board directives and speaks candidly if a directive is not in the HOA’s best interests.
• A manager who will tell the truth to the board even though the board may not be happy with that truth.
• Ethical service providers who provide advice for the HOA’s best interests, even if it reduces their revenue.
• Ethical attorneys who will not only tell the board what CAN legally be done but also what SHOULD be done (or not done).
• Civility.

The HOA manager:

• Members and directors who understand that the manager juggles tasks for many homeowners, and that not every request is urgent.
• Directors who avoid co-managing, allowing the manager to do their job without interference with their execution of board directives.
• Directors who understand that the manager is an important part of their Business Judgment Rule due diligence, and therefore look to the manager for their advice and expertise.
• Directors and homeowners aware that the manager works for the association, not any one homeowner (not even the president), and that the board gives direction.
• Civility.

The HOA service provider:

• Clear expression of client instructions and priorities.
• Designated HOA spokesperson.
• Protection from resident interference.
• Prompt payment.
• Not being replaced simply because a new board is in power, but instead a chance to prove themselves to the new board.
• Civility.

How can you fulfill your HOA wish lists? You can surely help with many of these to create peace on earth, or perhaps at least to help bring a little more peace to your part of it!

Happy Holidays to all, Kelly

Written by Kelly G. Richardson

Kelly G. Richardson Esq., CCAL, is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and a Partner of Richardson | Ober | DeNichilo LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Submit questions to [email protected]. Past columns at www.hoahomefront.com. All rights reserved®.