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SayA (North Carolina)
Posts: 19
Posted:
Our Board wants to survey the homeowners and see what is important to them so the board can write an appropriate rules update for the HOA. What questions do you all think the board should ask that would be relevant to helping the Board write appropriate, updated rules based on the input of the members?
SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202
Posted:
State each rule. Ask the homeowner to rate the rule, from 1 to 5.

1 being "keep as is" and 5 being "definately needs to be changed"

At least you get an idea about what current rules are causing stress for your homeowners.

Then form a committee of board members AND homeowners to come up with recommendations for amendments or new rules. It is important to involve as many homeowners as possible.

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
Say, for what it's worth, here is a survey we did a few years back. I removed the lines for the H/O response to save space. We got about 40% response with it.

______________ Community Questionnaire

Do any of the following statements sound familiar?

“I’d like to have the Board do _______, but I’m too shy to talk in public.”
“I’m afraid my idea will be laughed at.”
“The Board only listens to certain people.”
“I just moved in, I’m not sure if I should say anything.”
“I think ________ should be changed, but I’m afraid my neighbors will get mad at me.”
“The Board is just a group of dictators who just do what they want.”

WE WANT YOUR OPINIONS!!!

Believe it or not we do care; every Board member is first and foremost a homeowner here at ______________. We all equally share in the ownership and risks of this community. There are 132 homes here at ______________and each owner has a different opinion of how things should be done. The sad fact is the only time we hear from most homeowners are when the monthly assessments go up, and we understand that. You come home after a hard day at work and you just want to kick back and relax.

Please take a few minutes out of your busy day and complete and return this questionnaire. You do not need to give your name; this survey is completely anonymous, so please answer truthfully. Don’t circle Yes to something because it is the politically correct answer; if your answer is really no - circle No.

If you need more space, attach a blank sheet to the back and note the number of the question. Please write legibly, if we can’t read it – we can’t count it. Put it in the pre-addressed, stamped envelope and drop it in the mail. Results will be tabulated and will appear in a future newsletter. To have your opinions included return the questionnaire by April 28, 2006.

=====================================================================
Appearance and Landscaping:

1. What would you like to change most about the overall appearance of __________?

2. What feature would you not like to have changed?

Recreation:

3. Besides the pool and exercise room, what other recreational feature would you like to have available?

4. What item(s) would like to see replaced or included in the exercise room?

5. Are more recreational items needed for kids in the community? Yes / No - If Yes give us an idea of the ages of your children 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16. This way if something is done, it will be age appropriate.

6. If picnic tables were placed around the community, would you make use of them? Yes / No

7. If benches were placed around the community, would you make use of them? Yes / No

Safety:

8. Would you like to see emergency lights and exit signs added to the residence buildings at a one-time cost of up to $16,000.00 dollars? Yes / No

9. Is the parking lot / walkway lighting sufficient? Yes / No

10. If no, what changes would you like to see?

Social and Community Issues:

11. Have you ever attended any Monthly Meeting? Yes / No

12. Have you ever attended any Annual Meeting? Yes / No

13. Would you support a change in the Declarations to move the Annual Homeowner Meeting later in the year? i.e. from the 15th of February to for an example the 4th Saturday in April? Yes / No

14. Have you ever attended an open forum meeting? Yes / No

15. Have you ever voiced a concern to the Board? Yes / No

16. How did you voice your concern? Written – E-mail – At a Meeting

17. Was the Board responsive to your need? Yes / No

18. Would you like it if the Board held “Office Hours” one night a month, where you could meet individually with 1 or 2 members of the Board at the clubhouse to answer your questions or concerns? Yes / No Would you participate? Yes / No

19. Are you a regular reader of the newsletter? Yes / No

20. Are you satisfied with the newsletter? Yes / No

21. What changes would you like to see made to the newsletter?

22. Would you like to see a ______________Community web site? Yes / No

23. How would you like the Board to handle the inconsiderate pet owners who do not clean up after their pets? Ban all dogs from the community? Yes / No – Impose fines against the guilty parties? Yes / No What would you consider an appropriate first fine? $_________ Second fine? $__________

24. If the Board were to put together a "handbook/guidebook" for all residents, which would be easy to read and find answers to questions via table of contents, would you find this beneficial and useful to you as a homeowner? Yes / No
(NOTE: This manual would be quick source of general information about the Association and its Unit Owners regarding (but not limited to) the policies and procedures of _________. And would be intended to assist in understanding and dealing with day-to-day situations, which arise out of the ownership of a condominium. This document would not be a substitute for the Declarations and By-Laws, which should be read and understood by every unit owner. In the event of a conflict between the handbook and the Declaration, the Declaration/By-Laws are the controlling documents.)

Future Vision:

25. What changes would you like to see happen to ______________ over the next 5-10 years?

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
GlenL, I love this survey - if it's ok with you, I'd love to use this for our annual homeowner's survey (we didn't any responses to last year's edition, so perhaps this one will be more effective)

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
SayA (North Carolina)
Posts: 19
Posted:
Glen thanks - this is a great start for our Board, thanks for sharing!
DeeS1 (Michigan)
Posts: 223
Posted:
We've done a community survey for the last 3 years and typically get between a 65%-80% response rate from our 50+ home subdivision. We hand deliver it to each home and place return boxes at the entrances. We think this actually gives us a better return rate than mail.

Our questions are very detailed and specific and come from three places: (1) Homeowner comments we've received over the last year, (2) Issues the board has encountered over the last year, and (3) rules we want to draw attention to by asking if they should be changed.

When we put questions where there is a cost for improvement, we always provide a ballpark estimate for the cost per household of the improvement; otherwise, we would run into the "everybody wants it, but no one wants to pay for it" problem. Consequently, our questions are VERY long and detailed, but people have what the need to answer.

An example question generated by homeowner complaints, might look something like below:

"Blowing debris and litter throughout the Common Areas have been noted. Years ago, a service was employed for general grounds clean up. Restoring this service at a monthly interval would increase each household's Annual Dues approximately $23. Knowing this:

__ I would be interested in having this service next year.

__ I would be interested in having this service from May-August (approximately $8 per household).

__ I do not think this service is necessary or do not want this service."

As you would expect, because of the dues increase, 75% of the community didn't want the service. The main reason for the question was just to get homeowners to pick up their own stuff blowing around or point out that it was going to cost $$ ... no more problems with this issue and the fix was free :-)

I would also recommend posting/circulating the exact results of the survey and maybe making some general newsletter-type statement about the board's planned actions based on the results. This helps homeowners know that their time is not wasted in answering.

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