Condo Association Management Blog

I am a condo owner in a complex just the size of yours. I think it's unfortunate, however, common that many owners just don't want to get involved unless there's an increase in condo fee. What I would suggest is to get to know your neighbors. Let them know that they can visit monthly trustee meetings (when and where they are held)and go to some of these meetings yourself to find out what's going on. Let your neighbors know what's going on. Sometimes just through informal conversations you can spark an interest.

One way is to send a notice to all members of the association that at the upcoming meeting of the Board a discusslion will ber held on the proposal to approve a major assemssment. People will react when it threatens the balance in their checking account.Once at the meeting turn the discussion to "why you must participate"

The best way to have owners involved with their condominium association is to have term limits which gives you a rotating board and officers.

This seems to be a perennial problem. I live in a 58 unit complex and the only thing that really gets people's attention is the announcement of a raise in dues or a special assessment. I volunteered for our Board more than ten years ago because I wasn't satisfied at the way the then board communicted with owners. As long as things are going reasonably well no one seems to care and it is only when there is a complaint or maintenance issue we hear from folks. To try and improve participation we have, in the past held communal summer picnics and we send out a newsletter three or four times a year. At the annual meeting, to lure owners into attending we have served a lunch or other refreshments and purposely scheduled the meetings for times that wouldn't conflict with such things as football games or other sporting events. Regardless of what has been tried there will be a core of die-hard non participants who are often the poeple with the loudest voices when it comes to complaints. If anyone has had success in getting owner participation I would like to hear about it.

I live in a 15 unit condo where most of the units have been owned by a team of family members (brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles) for the past 35 years. Then there are the 4-5 of us "outsiders" who are never told of meetings, never let on the board because they manipulate the voting and make up their own rules. Until one day I wrote a letter to the entire community outlining everything that they were doing wrong, not letting anyone else on the board (yah even stealing money but that's a whole other issue). Then I ended the letter with "As I see it,we have two choices. We can either pull together and become a team of neighbors who are running this organization for the good of all involved, or we can contact the state and let the state decide what to do with this building." 
 
They all came out of the woodwork, explaining situations, explaining where money has gone, why certain records cannot be found, it was like 10 pints of blood had been pumped into a dying man. 
 
Try the letter without threats, but give them choices and be firm. It worked here.

To all. If you have not done so dioqwnload your state condominium law. You may be surprised what is contained therein. For example it maylimit seat on board to three concecutive 3 year terms, Yiou may find that by law you mkust engage a licensed management company to assist in managing your property etc etc. Know the facts!!!

This is a very common issue in condominiums. Many people purchase for the "carefree responsibilities" they were promised by owning only the walls and airspace in their unit and not having to worry about being responsible for the amenities they get like pools, elevators, roofs, sauna, gym, etc. 
 
If the residents do not want to be involved, they won't be. It is likely that even if you scare them into participating they will only do so for their own benefit, not that of the Association. If you try and fill the board position and can't, there really isn't much more that you can do. Put a notice out and let people realize that you need volunteer. If no one comes forward, you did your due diligence. I don't think it is appropriate to scare people into attending a meeting under false pretenses, and then switching it up on them. Some may even take it as the board is trying to manipulate or lie. 
 
Regardless of the statutes (or their knowledge of them), what this person is asking is how to get people more involved. 
 

o.k. I live in a 15 unit condo site. We did not have a meeting for 3 (yes) 3 years and might I add that it wasn't because no one was interested. A few just collected their share of their rentals units and never came around. I along with a couple of otheres grew tired of asking for a meeting only to get the cold shoulder. I took it upon myself to setup a petition and went door to door asking for sigs. On the petition I listed all the things that needed to be discussed in our assoc. and to much of my surprise, people were not seeing what I was seeing with our building. When they read this they signed without a fuss. We did get our meeting and we did start a chain of events that are in process at the moment. I am only sorry that I waited 3 years before doing this. Unit owners only come out of the wood work when something is wrong with their units. Pointing out that the whole building is their investment and not just their unit will open up their eyes. I guess you can say that when they see $$$$$ signs depleating on their own truff they will think twice about getting involved to proptect their domain. Good Luck if you try my way. Have a nice day.

Download your state condominium act. You shall probably find that by law you must have at least one (annual) meeting per year. You subject the association to financial penalties by not obneying your state laws.

Check your governing documents, but you might have a raffle where everyone who attends the meeting,or hands in a ballot, are entered into a free drawing, raffles can be one months free maintenance,gift certificate for dinner,flat screen tv etc...

I very much like the raffel proposal, any ideas in implementing this.?