Send a text

How did one HOA Board Hero win support for a 20% dues hike without backlash? Here’s what they did right…
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

Association Reserves finished a reserve study for a 66‑unit townhome association in Las Cruces, New Mexico, earlier this year. It was their first engagement with this property, and they ended up recommending a significant increase in the association's reserve funding and a special assessment. That’s not unusual for a first-time client. Then they received a long email from the secretary of the board, Tim Long. In his email, Tim described how the reserve study got their attention, how they engaged the homeowners with this news, made some adjustments to customize the reserve plan, and then pitched the increase to their association at their annual meeting. Listen to this: at that annual meeting, the board passed the plan to increase assessments, and the news was greeted with a round of applause. That’s what got Association Reserves' attention, and why host, Robert Nordlund, asked Tim to be on the program today as our HOA Board Hero. What the board did to engage the homeowners, to help them understand the needs of the property, and to show how the board was going to lead them forward with the best interests of the association in mind was nothing short of fantastic.

Chapters:

00:00 What challenges did this HOA face before the reserve study?
00:31 What is a HOA Board Hero and why does it matter?
01:03 How did this board successfully pass a 20% dues increase?
04:07 Why did Tim decide to join the HOA board?
05:37 What sparked the need for a reserve study?
09:04 What was the board’s reaction to the reserve study results?
12:19 How did the board create a plan to move forward?
12:59 Why was community engagement critical to success?
16:23 Ad Break - FiPhO Score
16:54 How did involving homeowners change the outcome?
18:32 Why were small group meetings so effective?
20:44 How did the board validate and adjust the reserve study?
22:21 How did they build a 30-year funding plan?
23:24 How did homeowners help shape the funding strategy?
25:09 How did the board present the 20% dues increase?
27:19 What happened when the board voted on the increase?
28:34 What made

Podcast Links:
Full Episode List
Watch On Youtube

Engage in the conversation!

Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to [email protected]

Nominate yourself or a Board Hero you Know!
Board Hero Nominations

Boardmember Merch Store!

Connect with Hosts on LinkedIn

Julie Adamen

Kevin Davis, CIRMS

Robert Nordlund, PE

Support Our Sponsors

Association Insights & Marketplace

Association Reserves

Community Financials

Kevin Davis Insurance Services

Stokelight Video & Marketing

The Inspectors of Election