With so many Americans living in communities that are managed by HOAs, the need to improve management efficiency and effectiveness is greater than ever, and HOA members expressing a lack of communication or functionality is common. Incorporating automation into your HOA solutions can alleviate this frustration, improve resident-board relations, and add some cost effective measures into your association.

Benefits of Automation

While many automated processes can be costly, if incorporated correctly, their benefits can yield a greater return on the initial investment.

  • Ease Workload – Repetitive tasks that are traditionally performed manually, such as managing financials and accounts payable can be easily automated through web-based software. This makes recurring facility expenses like utilities, pool, landscape maintenance, recycling or trash easier to properly manage.

 

  • Cut Costs – Converting some aspects of your HOA to automation can have significant financial benefits. Despite the potentially high upfront cost, using automated processes including sensors and web-based dashboards easily monitors the activity of HVAC systems, pumps and other machinery, and can ultimately lower overhead and eliminate wasted funds.

 

  • Increase Appeal – A personalized, community-based website that acts as a hub for residents to manage their payments, ask questions, and request maintenance and other services can improve the relationship between HOA management and their members. Incorporating these and other automation improvements into the community is both appealing to potential future residents and incentivizes current residents to stay.

Mistakes to Avoid

While the decision to automate certain tasks may simplify things, too much technology can take away from the personal touch that is vital to the resident-management relationship. Avoid automating processes that may make your property owners feel unimportant or overlooked, such as frequent email blasts or other important communications relating to the community. Above all, you want your residents to feel welcomed and at home in their neighborhood.

Additionally, failing to manually assess the accuracy of automated processes, like bank transactions, can open you up to potential monetary loss or fraud. It is a good measure to periodically check that any automated systems are functioning accurately.

Strike a Balance

Properly integrated automation elements in your community will eliminate waste and increase efficiency while still maintaining a genuine, personal touch with those who live in the community.

Work with your HOA board to determine how your community could benefit from automation; together you can find an appropriate balance between personal communication and automation to further the success of your HOA.

For additional tips on HOA management, be sure to visit our blog which is updated weekly. If you’re a board member seeking assistance managing your community association, contact Spectrum Association Management today and learn about what makes us refreshingly different!