Homeowners coming to Board members homes to complain

Started by JeffP6 • 7 replies • 1484 views

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JeffP6 (Florida)
Posts: 91

Posted:

Hi all - does anyone have a solution to help us with this. We have 211 units - 70% of them are overseas residents who never seem to be able to attend an HOA Board meeting (monthly) even when in town. We have a management company but they seem to want to come to our homes to complain about things instead. This is anything to why am I locked out of the pool (delinquent dues) which we dont have access to see up to the minute account status (nor would we want to), to why did I get a violation letter, to will you please sign this ARB so we dont have to wait for the meeting.

We have a website that we update monthly with the meeting minutes. We have it in several places on the website asking that homeowners contact the management company for all questions and respect that board members are homeowners who have volunteered to serve. They still come. We have explained to homeowners when they come to our homes that we have a management company that they need to address their concerns to - they prefer to speak to someone face to face in the neighborhood. I dont blame them I would prefer that too - if I wasnt one of the few having time taken away from my family to deal with concerns that they could remedy by either speaking to the community manager or staying abreast of notes on the website.

I am trying to come up with a polite way to say come to the monthl meeting or contact the association manager but otherwise leave me alone LOL.

Any suggestions.

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

Try this:

The board does not respond to verbal and informal requests, because there are too many instances of miscommunication and misunderstanding. We value our owners too much to allow miscommunication to potentially damage the relationship we have. Please submit your request in writing to the board through the proper channels so it can be handled effectively and without delay, and so that there can be no chance of miscommunication in the process.

LoriL1 (Florida)
Posts: 78

Posted:

Sounds like you've done everything politely possible! Don't answer the door!

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

And although I agree with you about the "nuisance" factor, and already posted a way to encourage people to do things properly, i wish to point out that in theory, we "volunteered" to serve our community as representatives of their interests. So, when the people start to get to you, smile, and remember: they elected you to represent them, so plaster on your grin, and do your best to remember you serve at their behest, to represent their interests, as best you can.

it's not much, but maybe it will get you through another request and recitation of how to do things properly (after all, you were elected to represent them, not be a slave for them).

JeffP6 (Florida)
Posts: 91

Posted:

Thanks guys I appreciate it - I agree we have agreed to assist our homeowners - although we have never had a quorum in our HOA so all Board members are appointed each term. If it was 1 homeowner randomly I would agree that I should be available - however when you regularly get 3-5 showing up at your home on a weekend mainly because they didnt pay their dues and cant get into the pool it goes beyond assisting them and begins to be quite the annoyance. The Board president has posted a notice on her front door directing people to the community manager - this is probably why they have started to come to my home. I think it may turn into a situation where I do the same and then only answer the door to my immediate neighbors who only come over to socialize and not to ask / complain about the HOA.

JonD1
Posts: 2,350

Posted:

Jeff I would copy the note on your fellow Board member's door and hope that works.

Although we do volunteer our time NO ONE comes to my home unless they are invited to do so. And if you arrive becuase you want some immediate attention to an issue that should be handled by the MC or at a meeting than it is up to me to make the message clear I am not available or on call 24X7 and my home is just that not the MC's office.

You teach people how to treat you, Good bye, if handled properly they should get the message and this will be a one time occurence. Good luck

TishS (Washington)
Posts: 116

Posted:

Asked them to come in and share The Watch Tower, the Book of Mormon, or a great Network Marketing business with them..they will never come back.

TishS (Washington)
Posts: 116

Posted:

Asked them to come in and share The Watch Tower, the Book of Mormon, or a great Network Marketing business with them..they will never come back.

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