HOA Welcome Letter

Started by JohnC46 • 13 replies • 7746 views

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JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

We have discussed a Welcome to out HOA Letter for new homeowners. We are 120 stanalone patio homes with no ameneties and little common property. We do not have many rules so we are not looking for a rules laden lengthy letter.

After the we welome you yada...yada...Maybe a few simple lines or two on:

1. Simple overview of what an HOA is.
2. How an HOA is controlled.
3. How the HOA Board is elected.
3. How dues are decided.
4. Who to contact.
5. Maybe a copy of last years budget.

We feel no more then two pages long should be sufficient

Our goal is to make nice and get the newbies feeling welcome and comfortable while also saying there are "guidelines" to living here.

As I said we are a simple operation. We do not need to produce a rules of the road booklet......LOL

Any help or maybe a copy of something your use is appreciated.

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

I would already know I am in an HOA.

I would want to know:
What the HOA does for me.
When they meet
Contact name if I have an issue.
dues amount and when/how I pay
Copy of the bylaws.

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

JohnC46, attached is an example of the welcome letter we present to new owners personally when they are available.

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JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Susan
Thanks. Some points you mention I agree with and will incorporate.

Roger
Thanks. Candidly a bit to corporate memoish and not very personal, but some parts I will use.

Thanks all.

JohnM48 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 89

Posted:

John,

Our association never sent out any sort of welcome letter or other information to new homeowners - they were left to fend for themselves.

Attached is a copy of a letter that I have begun sending to the newcomers. (I also ensure they have a copy of the CCRs, Rules & Regs, etc)

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📄13159257971.pdf(44 KB)

Association President

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

JOHNM

Sorry, but I like that letter less then all of them. It starts out by jumping down their throat on "outstanding assessmets"...yada...yada

Nothing personal, but man oh man...that letter starts off on the wrong foot.

Talk about needing a course in Seduction 101.

JohnM48 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 89

Posted:

You asked for samples, I provided ours. You are welcome to do with it as you please. I did not ask you to like it, nor did I request a critique - especially one as rude and puerile as yours.

Nothing personal? You're right, I read nothing personal in your reply.

Best of luck with your 'welcome' letter.

Quote:

Posted By JohnC46 on 03/01/2012 11:26 AM
Any help or maybe a copy of something your use is appreciated.

Yeah, I see ....

Association President

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

Yes, JohnM. A courteous "Thank You" would have been a, uh, welcome reply from JohnC.

It appears that he may need a course in Civility 101.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

John,

Take the questions you offered above, write one sentence as an answer to each question and generate a paragraph. Simple and to the point. I will agree w/ you that "tone" of a welcome letter is quite important but each community must set its own tone.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

JOHNM

I apologize. My reply was snarky. My wife says my candidness can cause issues.

I did ask for samples and you sent one.

Thank you.

MikeS1
Posts: 521

Posted:

Here's another example of welcome packet.

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📄132521975571.pdf(53 KB)

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MikeS1 on 03/02/2012 5:52 AM
Here's another example of welcome packet.

Mike

Thank you.

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219

Posted:

Hi John:

I also would like to recommend hand delivering with a knock on the door. This helps individuals feel more at home in that they can place a face with a name. Also, when they attend their first meeting they at least have met one individual and do not feel like an outsider.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

All

First cut of welcome letter. Remember we are 120 standalone patio homes with literally no amenities.

I did not raise issues. We have a few minor ones like each home controls its own sprinkler system and to save money some do not uses it so some lawns go brown and others complain. We do not allow on street parking, but I believe we need to set a good welcome tone and we can deal with isues as they arive.

Please comment. All comments welcome.

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