pros/cons of having an HOA website

Started by CarlS8 • 15 replies • 228 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

CarlS8 (Michigan)
Posts: 7

Posted:

I am looking for feedback on the pros/cons of creating a website for my condo association. Our primary interest is to improve communications with/to/from/among our members and the Board. We have a private Facebook page that is used by about half of our members. We have 117 residences, 63 free-standing homes and 54 attached condo residences. Most are owner-occupied and a few are rented. Our accounting, billing, vendor relations are handled by our professional property management company. Our Board is concerned about the extra workload on it to create and maintain a website, and they have reservations about whether it can improve member participation in community governance and getting quorums for votes. If your HOA has a website, please let me know what you like and dislike about it. If your HOA considered a website and decided to not have one, why? Your insight will be greatly appreciated...thank you!

CarlS8 (Michigan)
Posts: 7

Posted:

why is the time of my posting 5 hours off from actual in Michigan? I posted at12:21 PM Eastern daylight savings time but my post says 5 hours later?

LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009

Posted:

Florida statute requires HOAs with more than 100 parcels to have a website. So nearly all of us do. Our PM company provides the website for us and our PM puts our documents on it and does the upkeep. That is included in the management fee.

We have many of our official records on the website, plus agendas for meetings, minutes, etc. It cuts down on records requests.

The PM company recently switched to a company that pops up when I search websites for HOAs on google. It's very easy to use and the PM can send out announcements via email and texts using their platform. We've been very happy with it.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Can't quite tell, but I don't think Lori's is interative with ownrs. Instead, if like mine in a high rise condo of 200+, it's much more a source of information, including master ins.. policy, executed contracts, all governing documents, e.g. CC&Rs, Bylaws, Rules & Regs, forms for moves, reserving party rooms, and more.

Ideally it saves a lot of time of our onsite mgmt. & mgr. assist.

BUT it's poorly organized by our 1-y.o. PMC -- a big national pmc, compared to a big state-wide pic that we fired.

I wouldn't advise one that's interactive with ownrs.

DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,045

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CarlS8 on 03/12/2025 9:27 AM
why is the time of my posting 5 hours off from actual in Michigan? I posted at12:21 PM Eastern daylight savings time but my post says 5 hours later?

Most likely because the server is set to GMT time zone.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.

CarlS8 (Michigan)
Posts: 7

Posted:

To DouglasK1, Thanks for the info on server time, I believe your are correct. However I just checked GMT time zone and the difference is 4 hrs from Eastern time...difference probably due to daylight savings time that started Sunday.
CarlS8

TerriS6 (California)
Posts: 3,279

Posted:

A members-only website is convenient for storing governing documents and paying assessments.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TerriS6 on 03/12/2025 7:22 PM
A members-only website is convenient for storing governing documents and paying assessments.

I agree, keep in mind you will have to back it up with cyber security and likely have to take out an insurance policy for any
security breeches. Lots of questions, what data will be stored? Is it sensitive data? who else will have access to said data?

TerriS6 (California)
Posts: 3,279

Posted:

No sensitive data. CCRs, Bylaws, rules, meeting notice/agenda, open meeting minutes.

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CarlS8 on 03/12/2025 9:22 AM
I am looking for feedback on the pros/cons of creating a website for my condo association. Our primary interest is to improve communications with/to/from/among our members and the Board. We have a private Facebook page that is used by about half of our members. We have 117 residences, 63 free-standing homes and 54 attached condo residences. Most are owner-occupied and a few are rented. Our accounting, billing, vendor relations are handled by our professional property management company. Our Board is concerned about the extra workload on it to create and maintain a website, and they have reservations about whether it can improve member participation in community governance and getting quorums for votes. If your HOA has a website, please let me know what you like and dislike about it. If your HOA considered a website and decided to not have one, why? Your insight will be greatly appreciated...thank you!

An HOA website is normally provided as a service in the management agreement. The purpose is generally to allow access to documents, not be an open forum. The better PMCs provide a member portal to pay assessments, view account balance and HOA documemts.

A website will not increase communication over what you have on Facebook.

MarshallT (New York)
Posts: 414

Posted:

There are more pros than cons. Members really do like having access to documents and forms at any time, and self-serve options end up reducing busy work for staff.

If you do get one, make sure to have a password-protected section that only members can access.

I guess the concern is who will maintain the website. Since it is a small community, there's shouldn't be more than a couple of hours of work a month when it comes to updating the site.

Facebook can be useful, but you have more control over the layout and functionality with a website. If it doesn't help the community achieve its goals, you can always "get rid" of the site.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

To add other my above and like others: Ours also has the financial listed, which I guess are "sensitive." Hmmm.

It also handles mo. assessments , Owners can submit work orders, and more.

JackS20 (North Carolina)
Posts: 258

Posted:

make a free one via googlesites. if you want something fancy buy a custom domain name for $15 a year
hardly anyone will ever visit it except to find out where to mail HOA payment to. WE updated our bylaws to make a website mandatory. it's 2025 there is no excuse to not have a website IMHO.

WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522

Posted:

We invested $500 in poster sign holders. that and mailing out news letters seems to have helped the most. I've sent quarterly email newsletters for 3 years. I think I got 2 replies in that time period.

vis ta vie

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,044

Posted:

My previous association had a website that I maintained. It had a public side and a private side.

The site was well received and showed transparency.
It didn't necessarily increase participation but it did minimize questions.
Realtors told us (without us asking) that the site helped buyers in making a decision

Public side:
Governing Documents
Links to local schools
Links to local parks
Board contact info (website provided email so board and committee members did not use personal email)
Historical info (initial sales brochures and articles when development was created)

Private side:
Minutes of board meetings
Minutes of general membership meetings
Minutes of Committee meetings
Newsletters

Setting up the site takes some time.
Maintaining it was an hour a month (maybe) - make pdf of document, upload to site, add link to uploaded document

We didn't keep personal info on the site.
Website allowed for those who don't want to join social media to access info

LydiaW (Maryland)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Hi Carl, My Board decided to set-up a website for the community (198 single family homes/a few are rented) about seven years ago, which took me a week to upload the community mission statement, HOA dues, restrictive covenants and CC&R documents, newsletters, ARB form and meeting minutes. Also, the website cost us $315.00 a year. We only get 3 hits to the website per year, and someone will need to maintain the website to make updates. Homeowners will email the secretary to ask for information that's listed on the website. We also have a professional management company that handles all of our accounting, billing, quorums for votes and some of our vendor relations. The Board should just spend the money on something else, such as, community event or meet and greet.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here