HOA web sites

Mark, HOATalk.com was built by Community123.com, a provider of interactive community websites. You should check them out and get a free trial site to test drive. Just email [email protected]

They have a website service just for community associations using the latest features like email announcements, discussion forums (like this one), document libraries, multiple security levels, etc. These high-end features took years to build. If you go with them, they'll build your free trial site in a few days and you'll be done. Their feature set is based on review of hundreds of community websites and industry best practices.

If you go the self-built route, you have a long road and a lot of work ahead. Many self-built sites suffer from a few common problems that are difficult to avoid:
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SELF-BUILT SITES HAVE THESE ISSUES:
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- Only the original volunteer can make updates, so the site gets out of date
- If the original volunteer leaves, the site dies or goes away
- The site is not interactive (no forums, feedback forms, surveys, email announcements) so it's value is limited.
- The site offers no security, exposing the Association to extra liability. See HindmanSanchez article on this here: http://www.imakenews.com/ortenhindman/e_article000572279.cfm?x=b11,0,w

The Community123.com demo site is at www.Community123.ws. You can get ideas there, since the site is all public access.

Some of their recent customer websites are:
www.lakesideatvalvista.com
www.ranchoelmirador.org

They offer a no obligation 2 month free trial where they custom build your site for free as well. You have nothing to lose by trying them out. Their prices are also much lower than the major competition.

Email them at: [email protected]

Best Regards,
HOATalk.com

Recently, I did an internet survey of websites for POAs and service providers for POA websites. My findings are posted in Service Providers for POA Websites at < http://swagman.typepad.com/poa_governance/2006/07/service_provide.html >. My research included a review of the Community123.com websites described above. The findings are informational only as I am not endorsing any particular provider or software.

It certainly appears that the quickest and least expensive way to get started is to use the software or service available from several service providers. Most provide features to customize the sites. On the other hand, a customized site may provide specialized features as GeraldT points out.

The River Pines web site is a unique site, a large condo association with an active board and very active Prez. They were very involved with the content of the site and remain active with its updates. Most associations don't need something that big or involved, but its a good site to look at and pick certain things out that would be of help to your association. Usually one the companies like Community123 are better fits, because they have designed their sites for easy updates, are more secure and don't require a lot of support.

One of the interesting things about the River Pines site that you can't see is that they digitalized 14 years worth of association records that are stashed behind the public site. It was a major project to do all of the past documents, but now they receive all reports and correspondence from their management company in digital form, and so it will be much easier in the future to keep that part current.

Joe