 Website
Technology and
Homeowners Associations
Four to
five years ago, conventional wisdom still derided the World Wide
Web (www) as an amusing toy with little practical application.
It's not that way today for many consumers and those seeking an
easier way to obtain information. Business will never be the same
as it was in the past. As a result, businesses need to know how
to run a business using a website.
For
a homeowner association, as with any business operation,
capturing the website advantage can mean closing the
communication gap and apathy trends of the past decade.
By making information readily and easily available to
homeowners and residents, who would otherwise choose
to ignore those resources available by other means, the
business of running a homeowner association can be more
effectively accomplished.
Today,
in the United States, there are over 200,000 mandatory
membership associations governing the 42 million owners
residing in housing communities - property regulated
by condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations.
The success of a common housing community is often dependent
upon the manner in which the board and management communicate
with the owners.
Establishment
of a website for either property management companies
and/or homeowner associations can enhance the creation
of a community sense. Websites allow residents to stay
informed, to keep in touch with board activities, and
to more effectively communicate with the management company.
It allows communities to solicit and receive various
forms of input and feedback from residents. Residents
can participate in ongoing forums covering any subject
from lawn care tips and cooking recipes, to local school
issues, and to opinions on sports teams. They can get
together in the virtual chat room and talk interactively.
Websites enable residents to place their own advertisements
ranging from finding someone to mow the lawn or baby-sit
the children to advertising garage sales or a home for
sale. Websites can include online:
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community
newsletters,
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all
community documents and forms,
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notices
of upcoming community events and activities,
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full
details on community facilities (pool, clubhouse,
golf-course, etc.),
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crime
watch information and updates,
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a
suggestion box,
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contact
information for residents, board members,
management companies, groundskeepers, facilities
staff,
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and
much more
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Some
good reasons for establishing a website for associations
include:
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Members
are asking for it. This is an easy way to
give members a means to contact board and
committee members.
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Product
or service lends itself well to internet
access
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Association
collects data that lends itself to a searchable
online database
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What
can websites do for your association? Today, as in the
past, websites provide an opportunity for improved customer
service, easier access to information, and the ability
to process information faster. The website is perhaps
the best way to provide fast answers using information
that is inclusive, organized, customized, and constantly
updated. Answering questions from customers, via the
website, can free up management time on the phone. The
website can be the ultimate convenience store. It is
always open. The website gives the association a unique
capacity to tailor services to fit the needs of the membership.
Some associations are satisfied with email only - it's
extremely cheap and opens a new form of communication
with the members. Other associations prefer to provide
more information, which can make a website the equivalent
of a single page or a thick magazine. Whatever your preference,
having an online presence is becoming more and more important.
It's no longer just highly computer literate, well-educated,
high-income people who access websites. Home computers
have gotten cheaper, and millions upon millions of people
are gaining access to the Web. Mark
Lewis, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
President / CEO
Community Archives
Tucson, AZ
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