Website with Imbedded Financial Management?

Hi All,

While it is too early to know if we’re making any real progress working on the general apathy I’ve noted in my posts in ou 189 home, voluntary association neighborhood, I’m hoping by reaching out with flyers and quick turnaround Board Minutes that we are.

My research on self managed (i.e. no management company) HOA websites (I posted earlier on this topic without enough research on my part) shows three basic types, all hosted by another entity than a homeowner or board member:
1. Simple hosting of the URL and the community builds the site and populates it with material they want in categories they develop
2. Use of a third party company that provides the HOA templates for the site and some-significant assistance (like our kind HOAtalk sponsor)
3. Like 2., above, but also provides financials hosting with embedded financial management software that replaces Board hosted financial systems

No surprise that the costs increase with the capabilities provided. Our circumstance might be helped quite a bit by option 3, above in the following ways:
- a website would likely generate interest, helping us work on the apathy
- given the age profile of the community, a website could be a useful tool for those not as active
- given the resistance to providing email addresses I’ve noted, it might increase comfort level of interaction
- site would be easy to password, so it might serve as a way to make those not members want to become members
- embedded financial capability would allow more than one Board member to maintain the financials (it could create issues, as well)
- financial record keeping would not be subject to the health status of those maintaining the financials (although I am concerned about the potential for massive loss of records ... perhaps there is a way to maintain a local copy of the records in case of hosting company insolvency?) Hard copies could be kept, but this isn’t ideal.

Would appreciate thoughts and comments - if you need to talk specific company names, drop me a PM?

Thanks,

George,

We are self managed. We have a website.
Other then potential buyers, only board members really look at it.
However, we still maintain it.

We do not utilize web based financial management services.

My newest HOA does not have a website at this time. However, potentially they should as they do provide information to the owners via computer disks with our various updated documents. It would be quicker and more cost efficient to just have all the various documents located on a website. After sitting back for a while (LOL ... trying to take a well deserved break) but ended up on new association’s ACC. Sigh ... I am beginning to think many of us on this site must have SUCKER written across our foreheads ... Those same foreheads that we cannot see ourselves but must have some kind of invisible ink that all other owners must be able to observe.