HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - September 26, 2008
Published: Fri, 09/26/08
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HOA Diplomacy: Be Proactive When Dealing with Difficult Owners
and Board Members
A while back, I surveyed a number of people who serve on the
board of an HOA about the challenges they face.
One question asked people to list--in their own words--the
number-one problem they face as HOA leaders. All of the usual
suspects showed up in the responses: legal issues, enforcing rule
violations, financial issues like collections and special
assessments.
But one stood out. It summarized a theme in many other responses.
It said simply, "A guy named Dave."
That brings us to this week's tip: If you've got a Dave giving
you trouble, get proactive.
It doesn't matter if Dave is an explosive owner or a little
Napoleon on your board. Don't just proceed as normal and then
react when Dave gives you trouble. Think of your relationship
as a negotiation. A smart negotiator doesn't enter a deal
without knowing what she wants to get out of it, anticipating
how her counterpart is going to react, plotting out which issues
are important to the other party and which aren't. Think about
Dave's likely responses to the issues you face. How can you
defuse him ahead of time?
If your personal Dave is an unwieldy owner, check out our just-
posted article to get 5 tips for handling him.
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/167.cfm
If your Dave is a board member, it might be time to think about
taking action to remove him. This new article will help you
navigate those waters:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/168.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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HOA Governance: Dumping Your Board's Bad Apples
There are generally two types of bad homeowners association board
members. One never does anything. The other does too much, trying
to dictate every decision. If you face either situation on your
HOA board, you're not alone. Homeowners associations across the
country are faced with difficult board members who simply don't
have the skills, time, or temperament to participate in HOA
management. When your board tips toward the ineffective or
despotic, it may be time to launch a drive to replace the HOA
board members causing problems. Here's how.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/168.cfm >
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HOA Governance: 5 Tips for Homeowner Association Board Members
When Dealing With An Explosive Owner
Homeowners association board members can encounter violent owners
even in good financial times. Today's rising financial tensions
may bring out the worst in people. Here are five steps you can
take to protect yourself.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/167.cfm >
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HOA Board E-mail: Know Your Legal Risks and Obligations
E-mail retention policies made the news this week, as Sarah Palin
and her gubanatorial staff came under fire for allegedly using
personal e-mail accounts for official state business. This week's
tip is to make sure your entire HOA board understands how to
handle e-mails that relate to homeowner association business.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/public/166.cfm >
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HOA News Around the Nation
Nevada legislators ask local governments to push banks and other
owners of foreclosed properties to tend to their investments . . .
Dire straits for residents of a financially strapped condo
complex in Miami . . . HOA Residents sue developer to block new
multi-family homes . . . Planter built in owner's front yard
sparks HOA face-off
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/165.cfm >
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HOA Governance: When Does E-mail Chatter Become a Board Meeting?
Your property management company sends you an e-mail attaching
three bids for the garage work you're planning. You forward it
onto the rest of your board members for review, and next thing
you know, you're all discussing the pros and cons of the bids.
Are you conducting a board meeting? Do you need to preserve those
e-mails as official association business? We answer these
questions and provide tips on smart use of e-mail for HOA board
business.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/164.cfm >
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