Field notes for people who run small HOAs.
Practical, no-fluff writing for volunteer boards — compliance, governance, and the quiet operational stuff that keeps a small HOA out of trouble. New articles weekly.
New: we rebuilt the HOA Inbox
Folders, threaded conversations, role labels, and a directory-aware compose flow — so your board can run shared email like a real mailbox, not a shared Gmail tab.
Special assessments: when you need one, how to pass one, and how to talk about it
The moments when a small HOA needs cash above and beyond regular dues are the moments that test board-owner trust hardest. Here is the process, the math, and the communication plan.
How to set up a maintenance request system for a small, self-managed HOA
The sticky-note-on-the-fridge method stops working around unit six. A simple process that scales from 4 to 100 units without becoming a second job.
How to build your HOA's first real budget
Most small, self-managed HOAs operate without a real budget. Here is a step-by-step process to build one that actually reflects what your community spends and needs.
How to enforce HOA rules without becoming the neighborhood villain
The gap between having rules and enforcing them fairly is where most small boards get stuck. A practical framework that works at any scale.
How to find and manage contractors without a property manager
Small self-managed HOAs do their own contractor vetting. Here is a process that works for the first time and the tenth.
The small-HOA compliance calendar every board should steal
The six dates that quietly sink volunteer boards — and how to put them on autopilot before they put you on the hook.
How to run an annual meeting that actually hits quorum
Quorum is a scheduling problem, not a turnout problem. A simple playbook for getting enough neighbors in one room.
Reserve studies for 4–20 unit communities, explained
You probably need one. It is probably simpler than you fear. Here is what a right-sized reserve study looks like for a small HOA.
New: records-request deadline tracking
Owner records requests now start a clock the day they arrive — with reminders before the statutory deadline, not after.
I inherited a binder and a Gmail login. Here is what I did first.
A field report from my first ninety days as an accidental board president — and the five things that mattered most.
Collecting dues without chasing checks: a setup guide
Most owners get on autopay in under five minutes. The trick is the order you ask, and what you ask for.
Electronic notice consent, in plain English
When email counts as legal notice, when it does not, and the one record your board needs to keep on file.
Board turnover without losing the institutional memory
The handoff is where small HOAs lose years of context. A short checklist to make the next board self-sufficient.
New: a calmer shared inbox
Threaded owner messages, blocked-sender controls, and a quieter default — so the board only hears about what needs a decision.
Writing meeting minutes nobody dreads
Minutes are a legal record and a memory aid, not a transcript. A template that takes ten minutes after the meeting.
Your community, simplified.
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