Survey response rates?

A good response, maybe 4-5.

We do 2 annual surveys.

One has a direct financial impact on the individual homeowners. Response rate is 94%.
The other is pre-annual meeting. Response rate is 46%.

We used to accept paper responses. Not any more. Now we have volunteers who will enter your answers online for you.

We typically get 24% (in person and by proxy) at the annual meeting. It's a struggle. In the meantime, parents with kids and people who do a lot of traveling rarely show up. We're in process of converting or docs to allow online voting (and eliminating the annual meetings altogether.)

For us, surveys are a much better indicator of how things are going community-wide.

38 questions.
Average response time 13 minutes.
Maximum potential cost for not taking survey is $72 per quarter.

NpS, Wow -- a $288 cash penalty for nonresponse? Definitely an incentive to report; but how does it work? In the beginning homeowners must have voted to approve it?!?

CORRECTED:


First, please remember that it's not just about the survey. It's about water conservation. If you want to participate in our water conservation program, the survey is mandatory.

No, the homeowners did not approve it originally. It was strictly a BOD decision, although we did hold 2 workshops where we invited homeowner input on the details. Good ideas from the homeowners were incorporated into the plan.

Here's how it works.

A. Each household is charged $85 per quarter towards water costs. Everyone is treated the same. No need for homeowner vote.

B. Each household can earn up to $72 in water conservation credits - which gets credited toward the quarterly fee.

C. The least anyone pays toward water is $52 per year ($85-$72 each quarter).

D. The most anyone pays toward water - $340 per year ($85 per quarter) - is less than they would pay if were a direct customer of the water utility.

E. Our cost of water is around 1/3 less than it was 7 years ago when we started the program. We've been fairly steady at around 100 gallons per household per day for years.

F. Since we don't know where all of our water mains run (no as built plans), our water conservation plan has reduced our risk of having to dig randomly for hidden water leaks. (Homeowners don't care about this, but BOD does.)

awesome can you post a link to your survey? thinking about doing one in our HOA.