not only keep up, but continually raise the property value. What’s more positive than that?! Of course, the new homeowner binder needs to have the Declaration (or Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions), Bylaws, budget, board and committee information, forms and other pertinent information. This doesn’t mean it has to be full of negatives. You can add information about the schools in the area, the local chamber or business associations that make a difference in your area, or anything else that feels positive. A city that I manage in has started a Compassionate Community campaign. I am excited to be involved in its infancy and even more excited to share it with my community associations. Information is power, so arm your new homeowner with positive information.


You can also include a copy of a recent newsletter if your community does them, hopefully this is also dripping with positive intent. Other pertinent information is utility hookup information, board & committee info & upcoming meetings, amenities that your community offers and any pertinent directions on how to setup access. Sometimes, you’re just providing boring information, but always try to keep on that positive voice.


I will say that a good welcoming committee is my absolute favorite way to connect with new homeowners. These should be hand-picked people who love an opportunity to be friendly and inviting. Sorry Mr. Grouchypants, this committee is not for you. No association is perfect, but we want to make sure we bolster our positives and continually work on our to-do lists. The welcoming committee should be able to not only give the new homeowner information but make them feel empowered to the extent that they want to get involved. If you are provided with contact information for your new homeowner (lucky you!!) then use it to set up a time for the welcoming committee to do a good


Welcoming! If you don’t have contact info, then knock on their door and try to set a time. You don’t want to catch them off guard with a porch full of strangers, so just send one person to make the initial contact and set up a mutually acceptable time to get together. If they aren’t home, leave a note with contact info. Follow up if you don’t hear back.


If you don’t have a welcoming committee and are just using the new homeowner binder, that’s okay, it’s still better than nothing. You still want to try to make personal contact though. Again, if you have contact info, set up a time to come by their home and deliver it, it can take just five minutes. If you don’t have contact info, then drop by the home. Yes, it is a little less inviting to come home and find a binder on your door, the personal contact is missing. It’s still better than nothing, like I said.


To me, this isn’t just about getting compliance from a new homeowner. This is an opportunity to get a new homeowner involved. Homeowner apathy is the death of a community. Community can guide our life decisions as we are growing up, can guide our happiness in huge measures, can change our lives in good ways and in bad. If your community is 13 homes or 1300 homes, why does it rest on the shoulders of approximately five board members to make it work? Getting a new homeowner is an opportunity to gain their life experience, point of view, education and skills as an asset to your community. Use this opportunity wisely, and positively. What better way for any homeowner to understand the governing documents, than to be a part of their enforcement? Positive intent, always.


www.wscai.org


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