HOA Software

RussR (Colorado)
Posts: 5

Posted:

What is a good PC (desktop) based software package that is
custom made/suited for HOA's? I don't want to hear QuikBooks or
Quicken.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Electronic data is a real problem. Ever try and open a database from an app made in the 1980s? You cant.

Since an HOA needs to function with software that is available for decades, quickbooks and quicken isn't even really a good choice, unless you print the reports or save as a pdf.

I can only really recommend printing copies of reports. Next best thing would be apps that export to a PDF, XLS (excel) , DOC (word). Otherwise people in the future will not be able to open your files.

RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868

Posted:

Russ

How large an association?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Russ,

Do a search on this forum for software and you will find a lot of discussion about it.

Basically, many prefer to keep things as simple as possible because the person who comes after you may not understand the program, have the program or even understand computers.

We utilize quicken, MSWord and pen/paper.

130 lot development, self managed.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By RussR on 08/26/2015 6:53 PM
What is a good PC (desktop) based software package that is custom made/suited for HOA's? I don't want to hear QuikBooks or
Quicken.

Within the parameters of your last sentence the best answer you'll find is this: .

There are a few software solutions out there but all of them seem fly-by-night and even a little amateurish. Which isn't to say they aren't any good because I don't know if they are. What I do know is that anything that's not extremely simple to use will be ignored sooner or later by a board member who doesn't have the time or inclination to learn how to use it. They just won't. As a volunteer-run organization you can't make them. What are you going to do? Dock his pay? Fire him?

Here's the thing with all software: The more powerful a program is the more complex it is to use. At the level of non-complexity required for use in an HOA you're talking something that's not very powerful, e.g. Excel, Word, and the 2 you don't want to hear about.

Property Management companies generally will have some sort of computerized accounting and management system, but they use software that is really expensive and is primarily an accounting package. See http://http://www.topssoft.com for example. Note that training and support are a big part of their business. At the HOA level, you're facing a situation that's like a small company where the employees and even top management turns over every couple of years. Not a great environment for what corporate and technical training are designed to provide.

RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GenoS on 08/27/2015 9:59 AM

Posted By RussR on 08/26/2015 6:53 PM
What is a good PC (desktop) based software package that is custom made/suited for HOA's? I don't want to hear QuikBooks or
Quicken.

Within the parameters of your last sentence the best answer you'll find is this: .

There are a few software solutions out there but all of them seem fly-by-night and even a little amateurish. Which isn't to say they aren't any good because I don't know if they are. What I do know is that anything that's not extremely simple to use will be ignored sooner or later by a board member who doesn't have the time or inclination to learn how to use it. They just won't. As a volunteer-run organization you can't make them. What are you going to do? Dock his pay? Fire him?

Here's the thing with all software: The more powerful a program is the more complex it is to use. At the level of non-complexity required for use in an HOA you're talking something that's not very powerful, e.g. Excel, Word, and the 2 you don't want to hear about.

Property Management companies generally will have some sort of computerized accounting and management system, but they use software that is really expensive and is primarily an accounting package. See http://http://www.topssoft.com for example. Note that training and support are a big part of their business. At the HOA level, you're facing a situation that's like a small company where the employees and even top management turns over every couple of years. Not a great environment for what corporate and technical training are designed to provide.

I use that software, and an HOA would be really surprised at its affordability.