If you’re about to start your first ever term as a member of your homeowners association’s board of directors, you might be a bit nervous and wondering what you should expect out of the position. You’re going to be an active part of running what essentially amounts to a business, and will be asked to wear a lot of different hats in the process, so it’s understandable for it to be a daunting prospect. But ultimately, you’ll find that it can also be a great way to get involved and be an advocate for your community.

Here are just a few tips for new HOA board members to get acclimated to their positions. To learn more, reach out to an HOA lawyer in Arizona:

• Make sure to read your board documents: The best way to learn how your association works is to make sure you’re reading all of your bylaws and governing documents. This will quickly give you thorough information about the expectations established for you in your role, and give you guidelines to follow in all of your actions you’ll take during your term.
• Avoid biting off more than you can chew: It’s natural for new board members to want to jump right into the fray and take on as much as they can, but it’s important for you to give yourself some time to acclimate to the position. Prioritize which areas you think can benefit most from your help and where you’d most like to be involved, and limit yourself at first. Remember also that you’re volunteering your time for this role—don’t feel bad about saying “no” to certain tasks or responsibilities so you don’t compromise the amount of time you get to spend with your family.
• Review HOA finances: Review all the financial statements available for your HOA, and if needed, ask for some clarification from your board’s treasurer. Part of the board’s responsibility is making sure that the budget and finances are all in good condition. You should get a sense of where your financial situation currently lies and what types of goals already exist financially for the organization.
• Seek the advice of experienced board members: Your neighbors are certainly going to have plenty of ideas for you to consider when you take on a new role as an HOA board member, but you should also be sure to use experienced or past board members as resources. Get ideas and opinions from them, and ask them for other resources that may be helpful to you in your term.
• Make communication a priority: Transparency is crucial when it comes to keeping up a positive relationship between the community and the HOA board. Make sure you are doing your part to keep your community informed about the HOA’s financial standing, any events happening in the community, important issues affecting residents and various other opportunities or ideas.

For more tips for new HOA board members, we encourage you to contact an HOA lawyer in Arizona at Goodman Law Group today.