8 Insights: What Boards Want Owners to Know
A community’s board of directors has a big job to lead a condominium corporation successfully. That means enforcing rules, overseeing operations, and maintaining shared spaces while juggling deadlines, member communication, meetings, vendor support, and more.
A voluntary role, owners often wonder who makes up the board and what board member responsibilities are the most important. We asked one of our own community leaders, Annette, to share what it’s like to run a condominium and what she wishes new owners knew about the job. Here’s what she revealed.
1. “Every community is different.”
Understanding condominiums starts with knowing that not every condominium has the same rules. Depending on regional conditions, local laws, and homeowner needs, condominiums will have different guidelines and offerings that make sense for their community. If you’ve lived in a condominium before or know someone who has, expecting every community to be identical can lead to unrealistic expectations.
Boards want owners to understand that every community is unique. When buying a home, it’s important to review the governing documents and amenities offered in each community to find what’s best for you.
2. “The board is your best source of information on common element fees.”
Common element fees are an essential part of community living. They fund condominium operations, including repairs and capital improvements. However, many homeowners are unaware of how their contributions are used. They often make assumptions about where the money is going and, as a result, feel like the fees are too high.
If you have questions about common element fees, your board should have answers. You can always reach out to board members to learn more about community funding and how your fees enhance your quality of living, such as:
- Maintaining landscaping and community grounds
- Inspecting and repairing community amenities
- Utilities, insurance and professional support for the audit and legal
- Contributing to the reserve fund for future major repairs and replacements
3. “Board members also pay dues—and don’t like when they increase either.”
As condominium owners and elected officers, boards don’t receive compensation to serve their communities. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Board members are equal homeowners bound by the same rules and expectations as the rest of the community. This means they also pay common element fees that keep the condominium running.
To maintain living standards and the community’s value, it’s sometimes necessary to increase common element fees. While homeowners, including some board members, may be opposed to these increases, higher common element fees typically reflect higher overall prices for goods and services the condominium needs.
4. “The board is strict for good reason.”
One of the perks of living in a community is strong property values. Homes usually maintain or increase their values because condominiums have strict rules that promote beautiful, harmonious neighbourhoods.
Because these rules may seem restrictive on the surface, it can feel like an ongoing battle between the community and residents. However, board members want owners to know that they’re a vital part of creating attractive communities. If one person decides to make changes that don’t align with the condominium’s aesthetic, it doesn’t just impact their home. It could drop the value of all comparable homes in the neighbourhood.
5. “Board members are volunteers who rely on experts to help make decisions.”
Boards consist of volunteer homeowners who choose to serve their communities and fellow residents. While they often have key characteristics that help them fulfill their board member duties, they also work closely with experts to make the most informed decisions on behalf of the community.
Common types of professionals who partner with boards include:
- Condominium lawyer
- Professional accountant
- Community manager
- Insurance agents
- Reserve specialists
6. “To discuss condominium business with a board member, contact them through the appropriate channels.”
Community owners may forget that board members are busy homeowners like themselves, with jobs, families, and other responsibilities outside their official condominium duties. It can quickly become overwhelming for board members when owners don’t use the appropriate channels to contact them.
Although board members are there to serve their communities, there’s a time and place to conduct condominium business. If you need to discuss anything with the board, your community may offer various ways to connect, including:
- Regularly scheduled meetings
- Board member emails or voicemails
- Community website or app messaging
- Online discussion forums
Understand the avenue that works best for your board and use it to receive faster responses and more accurate information.
7. “Boards value residents and want to hear from them.”
The board is responsible for making decisions that are best for homeowners and contribute to the community’s success. To do that, board members must know what residents need and want. If you have any concerns, suggestions, or feedback, your board wants to hear them! Understanding what affects you allows boards to better prioritize issues and work to resolve them.
8. “Rules can be changed.”
Condominiums create and enforce rules to support a safe and enjoyable living experience for all. If rules no longer serve the community, there are ways to amend them. Although several steps are involved in the official amendment process, it may be well worth taking the time to improve your community. Board members often review the community’s rules for outdated or unnecessary guidelines, but residents can also help by directly bringing concerns to the board.