Industry Overview
INDUSTRY JOURNAL Vol . 8
Industry Overview
Apathy – perhaps the biggest problem HOA boards face
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So how does it happen that homeowners associations are so widely affected by apathy ? It ’ s the opening sales pitch . The first thing anyone hears when they are looking to buy a piece of property in a common interest development .
‘ Enjoy worry-free living ... all of your problems are taken care of ... you don ’ t have to worry about a thing ... someone else maintains the property for you .’ Naturally , this is what busy people currently like to hear , and this is what sticks in their minds . They don ’ t tend to remember anything about a pile of documents that requires a trade-off ( namely compliance with restrictions ).
Apathy , as described by Webster ’ s Dictionary , means ‘ a lack of interest or concern ’.
It is very easy to become distanced in a common interest development . People don ’ t tend to work out in their yards , don ’ t talk across fences , don ’ t get to know their neighbours or develop a ‘ community spirit ’. People come to rely on the original representation that they can move in , worry-free , and not take any responsibility for the maintenance or issues that may have a bearing on their property values . Of course , this isn ’ t the case for every individual and every association , but it probably is the case in associations where apathy runs high .
What is the result of a high level of apathy ?
When people leave the work and responsibility to someone else , and go on about their lives without paying attention to what is happening , there are several seriously problematic results :
• A lack of educated homeowners ( about common interest development living ).
• A vast number of people who are uninformed about responsibilities .
• A lack of awareness of or interest in the community ’ s health and wellbeing .
• A lack of educated , informed homeowners who would be qualified to serve on the board .
• A lack of interest in what is happening in the community itself .
• A lack of interest in serving the community on committees or the board .
And in the more serious cases :
• A strain on the people who are willing to serve .
• A strain on the ability to get important measures approved .
• A strain on the budget .
• A decrease in property values .
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