Data from the National Association of Realtors indicates that the number of HOAs in the US will have grown by 3,000 for the year by the end of 2024.
While some HOA communities can operate smoothly on their own, many struggle. Homeowners association boards become overwhelmed and can require the help of a skilled professional to keep operating properly. If you want to deliver effective community leadership, knowledge is the key.
In this guide, we'll go over some of the essential qualities that all community association managers should have. Let's get started.
Excellent Communication Skills
Every community association manager needs to have exceptional communication skills. Residents expect transparency and quick responses, and they won't be impressed if you can't provide these.
Conflicts are likely to arise from time to time, and you'll need to mediate these. In almost all cases, being able to communicate effectively with everyone will help you resolve the situation.
You should be approachable and diplomatic. If residents have questions or concerns, they should be able to come to you with them.
Work to identify the best way to communicate with residents one-on-one and the community as a whole. Alongside effective community-building skills, you can help a community thrive through reliable communication.
Fairness and Impartiality
If disputes do arise, communication is key, and so too is fairness. You need to be able to see both sides of the situation and act without bias.
This doesn't just apply to disagreements within the community, but also to any rules or policies. When residents break these rules, you need to be firm but fair. Ensure you treat all residents equally so there's no favoritism across the board.
Responsiveness and Availability
As a community association manager, residents and board members may need to reach out to you at different times. You should be able to respond quickly, especially to important issues. The quicker you can respond to people, the happier they will be and the easier it will be to deal with any issues.
You shouldn't have a standard response to problems. Look at every situation and find a specific solution. Listen to community members and prioritize giving clear, helpful responses.
At the same time, you need to have reasonable boundaries. There should be regular times that residents can communicate with you. Just bear in mind that they may contact you outside of these hours in an emergency.
Knowledge and Continuous Learning
To be able to implement effective association management strategies and follow HOA management best practices, you need to have a good understanding of HOA governing documents and laws. Make sure you keep track of any updates to these as well as changing industry trends. It's best to work with an HOA management company that pursues the ongoing education of its employees so you can continue to grow.
Success for Community Association Managers
Any community association managers that want to achieve their goals need to continue to learn and grow. Working with a company like PMI Green Rock can be a great decision.
We offer professional community association management services throughout Seacoast and the surrounding communities. We have years of experience and are a part of one of the fastest-growing property management companies in the US. Check out our real estate professionals page to find out more.
