non participation

Started by DC1 • 6 replies • 1954 views

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DC1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1

Posted:

We are a 4yr, newly formed gated community.
We have a majority of properties owned by out of state buyers and are experiencing the following problems.

Owners are unable to be contacted due to improper e-mail addresses ,phone no.`s ,and home addresses. This in turn is causing problems with collecting dues , notification of changes in by-laws and the list goes on.

our roads are gravel and in dire need of paving. We have at the most 20% vote on anything.

We have set up a website for use with blogging.Still no participation.

Any help on this would be highly appreciated.

thank you ,D

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Welcome to the number 1 problem with HOA's! NON-PARTICIPATION!!! No one mentioned that in the brochure when you purchased did they?

No matter how big or small a HOA is, the non-participation factor is always there. Mind you it can come in waves of vast participation (angry owners, elections) and none at all. At some of my meetings, I was the ONLY one that showed up! I was the president of a 107 Patio home community!!!

My recommendation aren't cheap or effortless. You basically have the tools just got to use them. Number 1 thing is that DO NOT EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO DO THE JOB!!!. If you want change, most likely your the one who's going to have to do it. There are no "They or Them" in a HOA. It's you and your neighbors.

I would make either a brochure generalizing the rules, assessment rates, punishments association with non-payment (liens/foreclosure) and what the community offers with that money. Mail it to each home in the HOA. The addresses needed on the outside of the homes or the mailboxes. Those addresses are the first most address you should send correspondence too. You may also want to include a form for the resident to update their information. Make sure for renters they know to give it to the owner or identify themselves as the renter.

Another source for finding the owners is your local tax assessor's office. If you have the lot number of the property, you may be able to request the owner's name. They won't give you any other addresses except the one on that lot already in the HOA. It will atleast give you an idea if your dealing with a renter or the real owner.

Creating social events like block parties may help. I never recommend using HOA funds for that but if it's agreeable to everyone then it may be okay. But beware of the backlash. I organized a neighborhood watch program. That way atleast outside the board meetings we could get together and knew who everyone was.

You can always do what many boards do. Make an atrocious decision that makes everyone mad and they come marching to the meeting in groves!!! That was a joke! Although participation always increases when a board spends money in suspicious ways!

Former HOA President

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

DC:
-Is the situation that the out of state buyers have rented out their units?
-Are the owners not mailing their dues to the property manager?

Your assn. Board President should be able to go to the courthouse to search official records of who is on the deed w/address; the owner/s are bound to pay local taxes as well, and the municipal office may be able to help.

JohnC10 (Arizona)
Posts: 106

Posted:

You have a gate but no roads? That seems a bit odd.

LindaC3 (Florida)
Posts: 526

Posted:

JohnC10.............Our subdivision has a "person " attended gate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. then key card entry after hours and we do not have "roads" per sey............They are shell rock with no addresses ,lot number only ,mail delivered to central mailbox at the gate area.....So really not that "odd" to have a gate and no "roads" in the true sense of the word.....Have a great weekend and if you're a Dad >..........HAPPY FATHERS DAY....and the same to all the "guys" who read the post..LindaC

Jadedone4 (Virginia)
Posts: 495

Posted:

to chime in on Linda's last statment...

Also to all those who dad's are no longer with us... but still continue teach us lessons everyday...

JM2 (Oregon)
Posts: 439

Posted:

Hi DC:

You may be able to check your property records - the deed copy that the HOA should be receiving when a Lot changes hands; usually, it will indicate the mailing address for tax statements, etc. - but if you don't have them, you might be able to get the information from a local title company at little or no cost. Sometimes it's worthwhile to develop a good working relationship with a local title company, in order to facilitate such searches. That may cost less and/or be less involved than the tax assessor's office.

JPM

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