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Top 8 Committees That Help Every Community Function Better

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HOA committee meeting and reviewing reports together

From scheduling homeowner events to managing the budget, there are many community items that board members must constantly juggle. Leading a homeowners’ association (HOA) is a lot of work and can quickly become an all-consuming job. That’s why establishing committees to help share and divide the workload is so important. With support from various committees, board members can focus on fulfilling their duties more efficiently and effectively. Read on to learn how to form a homeowner association committee and get an idea of the best ones for any HOA board.

Considerations for Forming an HOA Committee

Each community is different, and it’s important to prioritize creating the committees that would benefit your unique HOA. Even though it’s necessary to gather input from homeowners, it’s ultimately the board’s responsibility to set up the committees they see most appropriate. Basic factors to consider when forming an HOA committee are:

  • What type of committee best benefits the community?
  • What are the goals of the committee?
  • How will the committee function to meet those goals?
  • How often and by what methods will the committee report to the board?
  • What will the approval process be to fund the committee?

Top 8 HOA Committees for Any Association

While your board and homeowners have first-hand knowledge of the committees that would best serve your community, there are several committees that any community can adopt to improve the functionality of the board. Here are the top eight homeowner association committees:

1. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

A crucial component of maintaining a community’s aesthetics and home values is a well-run architectural review committee. While most HOAs have a system in place to review and approve architectural requests from association members, very few are fulfilling their duties in an easy way. The architectural review committee, or ARC, is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the community’s architectural guidelines.

2. WELCOME COMMITTEE

The welcome committee is in charge of meeting and greeting each new homeowner. Acting as the first impression to new homeowners, committee members welcome residents with a friendly introduction to the community. This might include anything from a high-level overview of the rules and processes to a welcome packet filled with important information about the association, including contact phone numbers, a list of nearby restaurants, and snacks.

3. SOCIAL COMMITTEE

The HOA social committee takes on creating enthusiasm and maintaining interest in the managed community lifestyle. In doing so, the committee is tasked with everything involved in planning and hosting social events, such as garage sales, block parties, or a recipe exchange. With the amount of organization and structure needed for each event, committee members must clearly understand their goals, the funds available for events, and how they’re expected to account for funds.

4. LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE

Part of the appeal of living in a managed community is the clean and attractive aesthetic, but maintaining an association’s landscape is a group effort. The role of the landscape committee is to ensure the community’s grounds are cared for and tended to regularly. Responsibilities may include upkeep of flower beds, lawns, and trees or finding a landscaping vendor and maintaining that relationship in accordance with the association’s governing documents.

5. HOMEOWNER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

While most residents take pride in their homes and will do anything to protect them, many homeowners struggle to see the bigger picture of living in an HOA. This committee changes that by educating homeowners on the benefits of living in a community association and the importance of being engaged. This group may hold orientations for new residents to help them understand community living or host quarterly informational meetings for existing homeowners to interact with board members.

6. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

A neighborhood watch program promotes safety and improves the quality of life for the community. This team helps keep the community secure by doing things like forming a nighttime patrol group or installing lights in dark parking areas. Maintaining a strong partnership with the local police department and sharing crime prevention and emergency response information with residents are also to-dos for a neighborhood watch team.

7. BUDGET COMMITTEE

The budget committee should be comprised of homeowners but led by the board treasurer and receive input from the HOA president, community manager, and the leader of the finance committee. Committee members are committed to the budget with a business plan in place that addresses both immediate and long-term needs and wants. The committee should have a timeline for key action items, such as establishing and communicating dues, budget approvals, notifications, and ratifications.

8. CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE

Vendor contracts are often large and complex. The contract review committee reviews vendor contracts to make sure the association is getting what it wants and is charged appropriately for the services rendered. This committee should also allow the association’s attorney to assess documents and provide guidance. Other tasks may include conducting annual performance reviews with vendors.

10 Steps to a Well-Established Homeowner Association Committee

A homeowners' association committee consists of homeowners who volunteer their time and efforts to consider, investigate, and act on HOA-related tasks that require group oversight. While some governing documents specifically name mandatory committees, an association’s board usually has the power to adopt additional committees they deem appropriate. Read our article, “Built for Success: 10 Steps to a Well-Established Committee,” for guidance on creating a successful committee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of HOA committees?

Committees come in three types: Executive, Standing, and Ad Hoc. Executive committees are only made up of board members. Standing committees exist for as long as they have tasks to fulfill. Ad hoc committees are formed for a specific purpose, like planning for an event, then they end. 

Can an HOA board member serve on a committee?

Yes, HOA board members can serve on executive committees that are exclusive to them and provide input to other committee types. 

Should HOA committee meetings be public or private?

Committee meetings being open or closed to the rest of the community will be determined by local laws and details in the association's governing documents. Depending on the committee type, public meetings will help promote transparency while private ones are needed to keep some information, like disciplinary actions, confidential. 

How should committees report to their boards?

Committees should determine how they report to the board when they put together their charter or framework before officially forming. Reports can be in writing or spoken at meetings and be sent by email or delivered in person.