It's a warm evening in Fort Lauderdale, and the HOA board has gathered in a comfortable room with refreshments ready, anticipating a great turnout. Yet, as the clock ticks closer to meeting time, only a handful of homeowners trickle in. For many associations, this scene feels all too familiar - struggling to engage the very people the HOA is meant to represent.
So, how do you bring in the masses? Let's go through how to boost attendance at HOA meetings.
Optimize Meeting Times and Locations
In a bustling area like Fort Lauderdale, where residents' schedules often vary, it's essential to find times that work for the majority. Early evening meetings, typically around 6 or 7 p.m., tend to accommodate both working professionals and retirees, allowing them to attend after work but not too late in the evening.
For some communities, weekend meetings, especially on Saturday mornings, might be convenient as well, as they can cater to those with busy weekday schedules.
Look at board member resources to help ensure you're properly set up for your meeting.
HOA Meeting Participation Tips: Use Digital Communication and Reminders
Sending reminders through multiple platforms ensures that residents receive notifications in the format that's most convenient for them. Email remains a reliable way to share meeting agendas, updates, and reminders, but adding text message reminders can capture those who may not check their email frequently.
Social media groups, if your HOA has them, also allow for quick updates and provide a sense of community interaction, encouraging engagement.
Hire Association Property Managers
Professional property management team brings expertise in organizing and running meetings, ensuring that they are efficient, engaging, and well-structured. Property managers often handle logistics, such as sending reminders, preparing agendas, and setting up meeting spaces, freeing HOA board members from these responsibilities.
This level of organization can make meetings feel more professional and productive, encouraging homeowners to attend because they see their time being valued.
That's especially helpful for accidental landlords, who might not know what to do with their property yet.
Effective HOA Communication Ways: Offer Incentives for Attendance
Offering incentives can be an effective way to increase HOA meeting attendance in Fort Lauderdale by adding an element of excitement and reward.
Consider offering:
- Local restaurant gift cards
- Small discounts on HOA fees
- Vouchers for community amenities
These types of rewards create added value for attending and can help engage homeowners in HOA. Structuring incentives around attendance milestones can encourage consistent participation over time. For example, the HOA could hold an annual raffle or offer a prize drawing for residents who attend a certain number of meetings throughout the year.
Another approach is to highlight community-driven incentives, such as making decisions on new amenities or special events, giving residents a direct impact on community improvements.
HOA Meetings: Bring In Residents Today
There are so many ways to boost attendance at HOA meetings. Use these tips, and you'll be on the right path in no time.
Are you ready to hire association managers in Fort Lauderdale? Contact us to get started. PMI Fort Lauderdale is part of a franchise with several decades of experience ensuring homeowners associations like yours get the engagement you want.
Call us to get started.
