Neighbors seem to think I work for them, incredibly rude, I've had it

[Anonymous]

Over the Hedge was so on target with neighbors!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WBVLCvMSuE&t=136s

[Anonymous]

Beware.

If they become HOA pres, they’ll become neighborhood dictators.

Do not let these people take major decisions. Shuttle them into something minor.

[Anonymous]

There can be this "savior" mentality with these public service jobs despite the fact these saviors might in fact be part of the problem. Being held accountable is not the same as being rude, but the saviors often confuse the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can manage this, OP. You just need to be clear about setting boundaries.

Them: Hey, we’re not happy with how the grass is being cared for. Something needs to be done.
You: That would be something to discuss at the next HOA meeting on Sept 6.
Them: Sure. But this is really annoying. Can you get the guy to cut the grass better?
You: Again, this sounds like something to discuss at the HOA meeting on Sept 6. I’ve got to run now.

Don’t get mad. Just keep repeating where they can park their complaints and exit the conversation. Practice your response and say it every single time whether they email, call or stop you in person. I do this for an annoying colleague at work that just wants to process everything (non-urgent) on the go. I simply refer her to the scheduled meeting. Once I figured that out, my stress level and annoyance dropped dramatically.

I think you can add, my position is voluntary and after 8 years, I am looking for my replacement. Are you interested?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Term limits would solve this issue.

I am not poster but I am on year 9 in my position and we are supposed to have annual elections. Have not had one on three years as cant get quorum at meetings. We even have to go door to door getting proxies. We also have folks who don’t share info at all.

So if I quit just no one does it. They do like to complain verbally to people over flowers, gossip etc but not actually helpful. And a few of them are crooks who join board and leave. Like the guy who owned a snowplow company wanted is to use his firm and we explain we have RFP process and to bid to insured and license business and he wanted his uses at double cost. One meeting.

Then good people get burnt out.

Ok. Then no one does it. What would happen if you decided to move? My guess is that the lack of a volunteer board would result in the need to hire a property mgmt company and its probably stated in the bylaws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There can be this "savior" mentality with these public service jobs despite the fact these saviors might in fact be part of the problem. Being held accountable is not the same as being rude, but the saviors often confuse the two.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to redirect them through the proper channels while also listening to their concerns and possibly taking them seriously. If they are trivial and inappropriate pay less attention but isn't it possible they have a good idea or two? Something to think about.

In nearly a decade of running our condo association board, 100% of the concerns raised by people have involved spending more money, 0% of the concerns raised have involved cutting costs, and no one ever wants to raise fees or issue a special assessment (nor do I, for that matter).

It is very, very easy to "have a good idea or two" when your good ideas involve spending other people's money. And to get irritated when you are told to raise it through proper channels and your ideas are consistently rejected because people don't want to spend the money.

It is much harder when you are the person putting together budget reports and you need to be able to tell all owners "Here is how much we spend, here is what our ordinary expenses are, and here's another 10k in projects that people have proposed this year that would consume our entire reserve."

Everyone thinks their pet project is the most important thing. Everyone thinks that spending $500 here or 1k there is no big deal. But at the end of the day, if you actually run the numbers on this stuff, you have to choose between low fees and having everything on your wish list. That's why I routinely vote against the "good ideas" of owners who complain constantly about stuff like landscaping and capital improvements. Would it be nice to repaint the foyer annually? Sure. Is it worth raising everyone's fees in our small building by $100/mo. Absolutely not, just ask them!

You can have all the ideas you want but if you don't come in with a plan for how to pay for it, I'm going to be dismissive. If that bugs you, BY ALL MEANS, someone please volunteer for this position in the next election because I don't actually enjoy it. But it must be done and I do it. I'm not here to massage your ego and compliment you on all your brilliant ideas for improving the building, I'm here to make sure we stay solvent and protect my own investment.

[Anonymous]

My HOA became a lot less contentious and angry after we got professional management. There is still a president and treasurer etc, but the manager handles the day to day stuff and would field questions about landscaping or whatever.

I'm told we actually saved money the first year because they negotiated better vendor prices. But even if it costs more, it was worth it in people's time and energy better spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My HOA became a lot less contentious and angry after we got professional management. There is still a president and treasurer etc, but the manager handles the day to day stuff and would field questions about landscaping or whatever.

I'm told we actually saved money the first year because they negotiated better vendor prices. But even if it costs more, it was worth it in people's time and energy better spent.

I agree with this but also it's kind of ridiculous that the dynamics of HOAs are such that it really is easier to spend more money on a management company than to self-manage the building, assuming you have functional professionals in the building who can do it. I'm a real estate lawyer who has a background in insurance, and all the technical aspects of running an HOA are easy to me. But dealing with the neighbors is miserable and when I factor in the fact that I'm using professional skills to help people who will compensate me by complaining and berating me... it's not worth it.

But if people just weren't jerks, we could save a lot of money this way. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

This is affirming my decision never ever to live anywhere with an HOA.

[Anonymous]

There are good things about HOAs. I don’t want my neighbor parking their motor home in their driveway for 9 months waiting on their next scheduled trip or a car without tires on blocks. I am sorry for the OP who has to field complaints from the neighbor about street parking for one freaking party. Does no one know how to be a good neighbor anymore? I guess not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to redirect them through the proper channels while also listening to their concerns and possibly taking them seriously. If they are trivial and inappropriate pay less attention but isn't it possible they have a good idea or two? Something to think about.

In nearly a decade of running our condo association board, 100% of the concerns raised by people have involved spending more money, 0% of the concerns raised have involved cutting costs, and no one ever wants to raise fees or issue a special assessment (nor do I, for that matter).

It is very, very easy to "have a good idea or two" when your good ideas involve spending other people's money. And to get irritated when you are told to raise it through proper channels and your ideas are consistently rejected because people don't want to spend the money.

It is much harder when you are the person putting together budget reports and you need to be able to tell all owners "Here is how much we spend, here is what our ordinary expenses are, and here's another 10k in projects that people have proposed this year that would consume our entire reserve."

Everyone thinks their pet project is the most important thing. Everyone thinks that spending $500 here or 1k there is no big deal. But at the end of the day, if you actually run the numbers on this stuff, you have to choose between low fees and having everything on your wish list. That's why I routinely vote against the "good ideas" of owners who complain constantly about stuff like landscaping and capital improvements. Would it be nice to repaint the foyer annually? Sure. Is it worth raising everyone's fees in our small building by $100/mo. Absolutely not, just ask them!

You can have all the ideas you want but if you don't come in with a plan for how to pay for it, I'm going to be dismissive. If that bugs you, BY ALL MEANS, someone please volunteer for this position in the next election because I don't actually enjoy it. But it must be done and I do it. I'm not here to massage your ego and compliment you on all your brilliant ideas for improving the building, I'm here to make sure we stay solvent and protect my own investment.

YES. This, This, This. I live in a condo, so obviously has an HOA and every year there are new residents complaining about the same things that have been discussed and rejected before because nobody wants to pay for them. One person moved in and was having tons of packages sent to him and had a few stolen and went on a warpath about how we needed 24/7 security etc. He ran for and was elected to a board seat because nobody else wanted the position. Well, he soon realized that no-one wants to pay for 24/7 desk coverage to avoid a few packages being stolen (especially since people who get fewer packages or never had them stolen didn't want to subsidize those that got tons). He also learned that the great ideas his wife had for putting shade on the roof deck had all been considered at length and rejected (it turns out it is a bad idea to have umbrellas on roofs that are totally open because they might fly off the roof and kill someone).

In the end, there are tons of things that would be nice to have in a community- but everyone has different priorities for those and raising everyone's condo fees to pay for all of them just isn't feasible. Obviously it is fine to move in and want to make changes but please consider that maybe these discussions have been had before- it is fine to inquire but don't get angry at the board because something isn't being done exactly as you would want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to redirect them through the proper channels while also listening to their concerns and possibly taking them seriously. If they are trivial and inappropriate pay less attention but isn't it possible they have a good idea or two? Something to think about.

In nearly a decade of running our condo association board, 100% of the concerns raised by people have involved spending more money, 0% of the concerns raised have involved cutting costs, and no one ever wants to raise fees or issue a special assessment (nor do I, for that matter).

It is very, very easy to "have a good idea or two" when your good ideas involve spending other people's money. And to get irritated when you are told to raise it through proper channels and your ideas are consistently rejected because people don't want to spend the money.

It is much harder when you are the person putting together budget reports and you need to be able to tell all owners "Here is how much we spend, here is what our ordinary expenses are, and here's another 10k in projects that people have proposed this year that would consume our entire reserve."

Everyone thinks their pet project is the most important thing. Everyone thinks that spending $500 here or 1k there is no big deal. But at the end of the day, if you actually run the numbers on this stuff, you have to choose between low fees and having everything on your wish list. That's why I routinely vote against the "good ideas" of owners who complain constantly about stuff like landscaping and capital improvements. Would it be nice to repaint the foyer annually? Sure. Is it worth raising everyone's fees in our small building by $100/mo. Absolutely not, just ask them!

You can have all the ideas you want but if you don't come in with a plan for how to pay for it, I'm going to be dismissive. If that bugs you, BY ALL MEANS, someone please volunteer for this position in the next election because I don't actually enjoy it. But it must be done and I do it. I'm not here to massage your ego and compliment you on all your brilliant ideas for improving the building, I'm here to make sure we stay solvent and protect my own investment.

YES. This, This, This. I live in a condo, so obviously has an HOA and every year there are new residents complaining about the same things that have been discussed and rejected before because nobody wants to pay for them. One person moved in and was having tons of packages sent to him and had a few stolen and went on a warpath about how we needed 24/7 security etc. He ran for and was elected to a board seat because nobody else wanted the position. Well, he soon realized that no-one wants to pay for 24/7 desk coverage to avoid a few packages being stolen (especially since people who get fewer packages or never had them stolen didn't want to subsidize those that got tons). He also learned that the great ideas his wife had for putting shade on the roof deck had all been considered at length and rejected (it turns out it is a bad idea to have umbrellas on roofs that are totally open because they might fly off the roof and kill someone).

In the end, there are tons of things that would be nice to have in a community- but everyone has different priorities for those and raising everyone's condo fees to pay for all of them just isn't feasible. Obviously it is fine to move in and want to make changes but please consider that maybe these discussions have been had before- it is fine to inquire but don't get angry at the board because something isn't being done exactly as you would want.

Yes. This is how people learn. Just like I will never know what it's like to be a cop, or a waitress, or a POTUS, or work in a highway tool booth... you truly do NOT understand something until you undertake it/experience it yourself.

A good point to remember in so many things in life.

[Anonymous]

I have a managing agent in my building who takes care of all the day to day crap and collecting common charges and dealing with stiff. They get all the phone calls. I am only active member of board. We also have a CPA and lawyer on call.

I still have to review financials and sign off before release.

Review tax return before release

Review RFPs.

Really understand offering plan backwards and forwards to know what owner is responsible vs. building. Owners try their best to get building to pay for things owner is responsible.

Sign off liens for owners not paying.

I don’t prepare documents or directly talk to owners the managing agent and or lawyer deals with it.

Also keep track of what maint chores need to be done in case managing agent forgets.

Review and approve annual insurance proposals.

Review and approve annual landscaping and snow removal proposals.

Any big spends.

Keep the budget and make sure common charges cover it.

Work with tax grievance lawyer on property taxes for owners.

[Anonymous]

Use leadership and negotiation skills. If people can run nations and organizations, you can successfully manage few people and a small venture.