It’s hard to keep up with your Condo or Home Owners Association matters, especially if all processes are done in person. These days, we are all very busy, making more in-person commitments practically impossible. There is also very hihg number of absentee homeowners in Florida with over 40% of them living out-of-state or out of the country. Electing a new board, approving modifications, altering governing documents, or waiving reserves are tough tasks for most homeowners. However, having a voice in your condo or homeowners association is very important because it affects every member directly. Lack of involvement, primarily due to the distance or busy schedules, results in discontent of the absentee homeowner. Whenever there is an HOA election happening, homeowners are forced to attend or delegate with others in order to participate in meetings and cast their votes. This jeopardizes their privacy, the security of their vote, and becomes a challenge for their voices to be heard.
Annual condo and HOA elections usually address topics that may sound like worlds of boring to a homeowner. These might include the association's budget, election of directors, and voting on amendments to the association's governing documents. The meetings can also address other issues the board believes need the attention of all members. Attending the annual meeting is important because the decisions being made may directly influence your quality of life and the value of your property.
Here are 5 reasons for every homeowner to vote on condo and HOA matters:
- Choosing the Board in your Association
Starting at the very top, presence, either virtual or physical, is imperative to count your vote on who are the best directors for your association. These are the people that will finalize decisions and will take the lead in different matters with or without you. So focus on voting for the directors that make you comfortable and give you a sense of ease.
You may want to make sure directors are elected to the board who will make good decisions for the community, as opposed to decisions that benefit only themselves or his or her friends of the block!
2. Approving Budgets
For the sake of your pocket, take part in every financial decision. Some major repairs or upgrades will bring surprise expenses to the community. You can be part of the decision process and analyze what’s the best investment for the long-run. Homeowners who don't want their dues to go up or don’t believe the changes are necessary will want to attend the annual meeting and make their voices heard before a decision is made, and others might be in favor of the extra costs but more permanent solutions so they’ll want to make sure the homeowners in opposition don’t win the majority of votes. If you are never present to cast your vote or form relations with other memebers you will be hurting your interests and paying for them sooner or later.
- Creating, Discussing, Opposing, & Changing the Rules.
There will be established rules when you buy into an existing association. Make sure you have complete understanding of all rules and are willing to live by them. Now, there might be things you want to change to make your homeowner experience even better. Voting on these matters gives you the opportunity to change rules, create new ones that will establish balance in the community, and oppose to the ones you think are complete bogus.
- Being Informed
When you are an active member of your Condo or HOA you save yourself from future headaches. Imagine going for that new fence you’ve always wanted and then finding out its against the HOA rules. Fighting it is time consuming and changing it is expensive with a whole lot of disappoint. Avoid these huge problems by being informed and up to par.
Major topics are reserved for annual meetings, but other important topics may be discussed at regular board meetings that may inform about remodeling plans, proposed constructions, reports from the HOA treasurer and comments by the property manager. The board may also talk about homeowner complaints (which can involve you directly), suggestions and what you can and can’t do with your home.
- Control & Peace of Mind
When you vote on Condo or HOA matters you get two things: 1) control of the situation because you have the power to intervene and 2) peace of mind because you were involved in the decision process, you did everything you could to have things your way, and you know what led to the final verdict. Knowing what’s going on is peace of mind. Knowing that you are coming back from your two-month assignment away from home and there wont be any pink houses around the block or changes in security will allow you to breath easy.
Bring to mind, whether a decision is made at a board meeting or annual meeting, on-line or face-to-face, these rules must be followed, even if you weren’t present or didn’t cast a vote. When a community is deeply engaged in meetings and the decisions that are made, those decisions tend to better represent what the community wants as a whole, not what a few board members desire for themselves. So the question is: how do you get involved in these vital desicions without complciating your life? the answer is simple: Electronic voting! This is the fast and easy way for owners to participate and make sure their voice is heard.
