Your board has decided the community needs a better website. One option is to use an AI website builder and put it together yourselves. Another is to work with an HOA website company that can provide a template or custom design, resident tools, and ongoing support.

The first option can sound appealing: describe the website, review the design, and publish. But before choosing a platform, picture what happens afterward. A homeowner cannot access a document. An amenity booking needs attention. The volunteer who built the website moves away.

Who handles those situations?

For a board that needs resident features, dependable help, and less technical responsibility, an HOA website company is generally the more practical choice. The comparison is not simply about how the website looks. It is about what residents can do with it and who will keep it working.

What are you actually comparing?

An AI website builder helps create pages from instructions you provide. In a self-service project, your board directs the build, reviews the content, configures the website, and decides when it is ready to launch. Creating those pages does not automatically give you a supported HOA resident platform.

An HOA website company can offer a template-based website or a custom design built around your requirements, together with community features and ongoing services. Our guide to template-based and custom HOA websites explains these design options. HOA Sites also assigns a Personal Project Manager to guide the setup process.

The distinction is a tool your board uses versus a service and platform your community can rely on. Packages vary: some AI builders include hosting and human support, while certain HOA website companies bundle hosting, resident features, and help with changes. Compare the actual responsibilities, not just the labels.

AI website builder vs. HOA website company: comparison chart

This chart compares a self-service AI build with an HOA website company offering resident tools and ongoing service. Hosting, support, features, and change requests depend on the provider and package.

What to compare	DIY AI website builder	HOA website company
Design and setup	AI creates a starting point. You direct the build, edit pages, configure functions, and test the result.	Choose a template or a custom design based on your requirements, with agreed setup assistance.
Hosting	Arrange hosting for code-only projects. Some AI builder platforms include hosting.	Included with certain providers, including HOA Sites. Confirm domain and hosting arrangements.
Support	May rely on AI, help articles, or limited human support. Custom-code fixes may fall to you.	Providers such as HOA Sites offer phone and email support during business hours.
Resident features	No HOA-ready suite by default. Add and maintain tools or custom code, or use a separate resident platform.	Built-in community tools such as documents, requests, reservations, and communications, depending on the package.
Website changes	Make changes through prompts, an editor, or code—or hire someone to help.	The company can make design changes and help with updates within the agreed service scope.
Platform management	Hosted builders manage infrastructure; you manage your site and custom additions. Self-hosting adds work.	The provider manages its supported platform, reducing the board’s technical responsibilities.
Routine content	Your board reviews and updates announcements, contact information, and documents.	Your board can update content through an administrator interface, with help available when needed.
Total commitment	Include subscriptions, any hosting, resident software, outside help, and volunteer time.	Compare the service package with the separate tools and work it replaces; check optional charges.
Board handover	Document accounts, renewals, integrations, and custom code so someone else can take over.	New administrators have an established platform and support contact. Confirm training and access-transfer help.
Moving providers	Verify what can be exported and what would need rebuilding.	Verify domain ownership, data exports, termination terms, and migration assistance.

Why an HOA website company is the more complete option

1. Design and setup: choose a template or a custom website

An HOA website company can give your community a template to personalize or build a custom design based on your requirements. A template provides a starting structure; a custom approach lets you specify the layout and presentation you want. The amount of content setup included depends on the service you select.

With an AI builder, you direct the design through prompts or an editor and work through the revisions yourself. That can suit someone who enjoys building websites. For a board that would rather explain what it needs and review a proposed design, working with a company provides a different level of assistance.

Your board still needs to supply community information, photos, documents, and approvals. The difference is having a provider responsible for agreed design and setup work rather than asking a volunteer to figure out the entire process. Clarify whether content entry and migration are included before the project starts.

2. Support: get help from people, not just more prompts

Before signing up, ask a specific question: When something on our website stops working, who will help fix it?

Some AI builders rely on AI assistance, help articles, and community forums, while others include human support on paid plans. The important limit is what that support covers. Lovable, for example, offers direct help on paid plans but its support team does not debug individual projects or implement third-party integrations.

That distinction matters when the problem is not your subscription or the editor, but a custom resident form that no longer sends notifications. You need to know whether a person will investigate the feature or whether your board must troubleshoot it using the AI tool, documentation, or outside help.

HOA Sites provides phone and email support during business hours, plus guidance from a Personal Project Manager during setup. That gives administrators a team to contact for help with the supported website platform, rather than leaving them to diagnose every problem themselves.

For a volunteer board, the benefit is practical: you have someone to ask when you need assistance. Confirm the provider’s support hours and scope, including whether support is intended for administrators, residents, or both.

3. Resident features: get more than a set of website pages

Start by separating public information from resident services. A page describing the clubhouse is one requirement. Letting a homeowner check availability and reserve it is another.

Likewise, a form that emails a maintenance issue to the board is different from a system that records the request, tracks its status, and keeps replies together. Define which experience your community actually needs before comparing products.

A general-purpose AI-generated website does not come with an HOA-ready feature suite by default. Some builders offer generic forms or booking tools, and AI coding tools can create custom functions. But your board must specify, configure, test, and maintain anything missing—or use a separate resident platform. A login button alone is not a complete member service.

HOA Sites offers integrated resident tools for document organization, maintenance requests, and event registration. Amenity reservations and communication features such as email and text messaging are also available. Rather than building each process from scratch, your board can select the established tools it needs. Confirm the features and usage allowances in your package.

This is a significant difference in scope. One approach gives you a website to develop further; the other offers community functions within an existing, supported platform. Bringing those functions together can also mean fewer separate subscriptions, disconnected records, and systems for your board to coordinate.

4. Hosting: avoid another technical arrangement to manage

When an AI tool produces website files or code, those files still need somewhere to run. For a code-only project, your board must arrange hosting and connect the domain and any additional services. The amount of setup depends on what the website does and the host you select.

Some AI website builder platforms include hosting, so it would be inaccurate to say every AI-built website needs a separate host. A hosted builder can remove much of the infrastructure work, but you still need to understand what it manages and what remains your responsibility.

Lovable’s guide to hosting and deployment responsibilities illustrates the difference. Its managed service handles the underlying infrastructure. Moving entirely off that platform means taking responsibility for deployment, hosting infrastructure, backups, and related controls, either directly or through other providers.

Certain HOA website companies, including HOA Sites, include hosting with their website service. For a board that does not want to choose and coordinate a separate host, that removes another task from the project.

The advantage is having hosting and the supported website platform covered within the same service arrangement. Before signing, confirm responsibility for domain renewals, backups, and recovery so there are no gaps between what your board expects and what the provider handles.

5. Changes and upkeep: you do not have to manage the platform yourself

In a DIY project, your board is also the website project manager. An HOA website checklist can help organize the work, but someone still needs to edit pages, gather approved documents, review content, configure services, and test the result. AI can assist with individual tasks; it does not take responsibility for the finished website.

After launch, a layout change, a new page, or a broken custom feature becomes your task unless you hire help. With a hosted builder, the provider maintains its infrastructure, but your board still manages its site and custom additions. A self-hosted project can add further technical responsibilities.

An HOA website company manages its supported platform and can help make website and design changes within the agreed service scope. HOA Sites’ team assembles the website design and can adjust it to community preferences. Administrators also have an interface for routine content updates without editing the underlying code.

Your board still supplies accurate information, approves updates, and keeps community content current. The benefit is having a company to handle platform work and assist with changes, not an expectation that volunteers become website developers. Confirm which changes are included and which require an additional fee.

For example, replacing a newsletter might remain a simple administrator task, while reorganizing the design can be a request to the website company. Agreeing on that division gives the board control of its content without leaving it alone with every technical task.

6. Total cost: compare a complete service with a complete DIY project

A low starting subscription is useful only when it covers the solution your community needs. Compare the full arrangement rather than a builder subscription against a broader service package.

For a DIY build, add up the website plan, domain renewal, any separate hosting, paid applications, resident software, and outside technical help. Include the time required to configure and maintain the system.

For an HOA website company, compare the service fee with the design work, hosting, included resident features, support, and platform management it provides. A service package may replace several separate tools or tasks, but the quote should make those inclusions clear.

Before approving a quote, ask whether transferring existing content is included, whether there are limits on migration assistance, and how additional work is billed. Details like these belong in the comparison before the board approves a budget.

Volunteer time belongs in this calculation even when nobody submits an invoice. A lower subscription price can lose some of its appeal when the board also needs to purchase resident software or arrange ongoing technical help. Compare the expected cost and workload over several years, not just the price of generating the first homepage.

7. Board transitions: keep the website manageable when volunteers change

Imagine handing the website to a new secretary who did not choose the platform and has never used its editor. Could that person publish an announcement, replace a document, and find the support contact without calling the former administrator?

For a DIY or custom-coded website, document the accounts, subscriptions, domain settings, integrations, and update process. Name a backup administrator and keep ownership information under community control rather than relying entirely on one volunteer’s personal accounts.

With an HOA website company, an incoming administrator can have an established platform and support contact rather than an undocumented custom project. Ask how the provider helps new board members learn the system and transfer access. Keep a written handover process even when help is available.

Before choosing either route, also ask what can be exported when the community leaves. Content ownership, access to the code, and the ability to move a complete working website are different questions. Require a clear explanation of the exit process.

Security and accessibility: make responsibility part of the service

Neither AI generation nor an HOA-specific label should replace testing. For private information, the controls must protect the underlying files and records, not just hide links from a menu. OWASP’s guidance on protecting access to files and records emphasizes checking permissions for each request.

Ask for a demonstration using sample documents and different account types. Confirm what a visitor, homeowner, and administrator can access. With a DIY build, you must arrange this checking yourself or hire someone. With a website company, establish what its team tests and supports, and which settings your board must administer.

Also test navigation, forms, document access, and the mobile experience. W3C’s guidance on website accessibility testing explains that automated tools alone are not enough; knowledgeable human evaluation is required. Ask each provider what it tests, what it will fix, and what remains your board’s responsibility.

What to confirm before choosing an HOA website company

The strongest reason to hire a specialist is to remove work your board does not want to take on. Make sure the proposal actually covers that work. Ask to see the administrator experience as well as the public website, and have the provider demonstrate the resident features your community needs.

Check whether you are choosing a standard template, a customized template, or a fully custom design. Confirm hosting, business-hours support channels, included changes, and any extra charges. Ask how existing documents and resident information will be transferred, and who is responsible for keeping information current after launch.

A clear service scope protects the value of the decision. You should know which tasks stay with your board, which the provider handles, and where to turn when help is needed.

Which approach should your HOA choose?

Choose an HOA website company when your community needs more than a public information site. Built-in resident tools, template or custom design options, human support, and provider-managed upkeep make it the stronger option for a board that wants a useful website without taking on a separate technical project.

An AI website builder can still suit a straightforward public website when your HOA already has resident software and a capable administrator willing to maintain the site. It can also help explore design ideas. In that situation, choose a hosting arrangement your board understands and document who will manage it.

Community size alone should not decide the answer. A small HOA with limited volunteer capacity may value support just as much as a larger community. Focus on the work your website needs to do and the time and skills available to maintain it.

A useful final test is to map three tasks: finding a private document, submitting a request, and updating community information. Review how each option handles those tasks, who maintains the process, and what happens when something goes wrong. The practical differences become clearer than they do in a design demonstration.

Build a community resource, not another board project

AI can help create a website. An HOA website company can help your community keep using it, with resident functions and ongoing service behind the pages. For a volunteer board, that is often the more important benefit.

HOA Sites brings together tailored website design, setup guidance, hosting, community features, and phone and email support during business hours. Your board can choose a supported community platform rather than assemble separate tools and manage a custom website alone.

Talk to HOA Sites about a community website that brings together the features your residents need and the support your board can rely on.

Imagine describing your community, choosing a few design preferences, and getting a first draft of your HOA website without starting from a blank page. For a volunteer board trying to improve communication without taking on another major project, that is an appealing proposition.

But an HOA website has a job to do beyond looking good.

Can homeowners find the latest meeting documents? Can the board control access to private information? Will the next volunteer administrator be able to update the site without rebuilding it?

These are the questions that should guide the decision.

An AI website builder can be a useful option for creating a straightforward public website. Whether it is the right choice for your HOA depends on the functionality, safeguards, support, and ongoing work behind the finished pages.

Here is a closer look at the pros and cons, along with a practical way to evaluate the options.

What is an AI website builder?

An AI website builder uses artificial intelligence to help create a website from information you provide. Depending on the platform, it can generate a page structure, suggest layouts, write starter copy, and create or select visuals. For example, Squarespace describes its AI builder as producing a personalized website starting point that users can then edit.

For an HOA, the initial instructions might describe the community, its amenities, its preferred style, and the pages residents need.

However, two decisions should be kept separate: how the website is created and what the website can actually do. AI assistance with design does not, by itself, establish that the platform supports your community’s document permissions, request processes, or administrative requirements.

Likewise, choosing an HOA-specific website platform does not mean rejecting AI. A community can use approved AI tools to help prepare content while choosing its website platform based on resident needs.

AI website builders for HOAs: Pros and cons at a glance

An AI website builder can make getting started easier, but the initial design is only one part of choosing a website for your community. Here is how the potential benefits compare with the considerations your board should evaluate.

Area	Potential advantages	Drawbacks and considerations
Website setup	Can help generate an initial layout and draft content, giving the board a starting point without building every page manually.	The board still needs to verify information, organize documents, configure features, and test the website before launch.
Cost	May reduce the need for custom design work, especially for a basic public information website.	Paid plans, additional applications, support, and ongoing administration can increase the total cost. Compare the complete solution, not just the starting price.
Design and branding	Can suggest coordinated layouts, colors, and typography to help refresh an outdated website.	Generic designs and generated images may not accurately represent your community. Customization and authentic community photos still matter.
Content creation	Can help draft welcome messages, event announcements, and routine updates using information the board provides.	Generated content can contain mistakes. Community rules, fees, dates, and instructions need review before publication.
HOA-specific functionality	May be sufficient for public pages with community information, contact details, and links to an existing resident portal.	Document permissions, maintenance requests, amenity reservations, and other resident functions may require additional tools or a different platform.
Privacy and security	A platform with suitable controls may support separate public and resident-only content.	AI-generated pages do not establish secure access. The board must verify permissions and review how any AI tools handle sensitive information.
Accessibility	Can provide a starting design that the board can evaluate and improve for different users.	A modern appearance does not guarantee accessibility. Navigation, forms, contrast, and other elements still need testing.
Ongoing management	AI assistance may make drafting future updates less time-consuming.	Someone must still approve updates, maintain documents, manage accounts, and transfer responsibilities when board members change.

The main takeaway: Choose the platform based on what residents and board members need to accomplish—not just how quickly it can generate a homepage. An AI builder may suit a straightforward public website, while a community that needs private documents, resident services, and ongoing support should compare those requirements carefully with an HOA-specific website solution.

The pros of using an AI website builder for an HOA

Faster setup with less technical work

One of the clearest advantages is getting an initial website together quickly. Platforms such as Wix offer prompt-based website generation alongside manual editing, allowing users to create and adjust pages without writing the underlying code themselves.

For a board, that can turn an abstract discussion into something concrete. Instead of debating what the website might look like, members can review a draft and identify what is missing.

Perhaps the proposed homepage gives too much space to neighborhood photos and too little to announcements. Perhaps the contact information needs to be more prominent. A draft gives the board a starting point for those decisions.

The important distinction is between a faster first draft and a launch-ready website. Reviewing content, organizing documents, and testing access should still be part of the project.

Potentially lower upfront costs

For a basic informational site, handling some of the setup internally may reduce the need for paid custom design work.

AI builders can also provide a low-commitment way to explore an idea before purchasing a plan. Wix, for example, allows users to start building for free, but requires a paid plan for features such as connecting a custom domain or collecting online payments.

That can be useful for an HOA that mainly needs a public community overview, contact details, and links to an existing resident portal.

However, treat the advertised starting price as the beginning of the comparison, not the final budget. Ask what the finished website will cost with the actual features, storage, support, and subscriptions your board expects to use.

A useful starting point for design

An AI builder can help a board move past an outdated design or an overwhelming number of template choices. Squarespace’s builder, for example, creates coordinated layouts, copy, imagery, colors, and fonts, while allowing users to make direct changes afterward. Its websites also support responsive layouts for different screen sizes.

Use that starting point to focus the discussion on residents rather than personal design preferences.

Is the meeting calendar easy to find? Does the navigation make sense to someone who has just moved in? Is the resident login visible on a phone?

Also, replace generic imagery with authentic community photos wherever practical and appropriate. An attractive picture of a fictional clubhouse is not a substitute for showing residents the clubhouse they actually use.

Help with routine website content

AI can also be useful after the initial design. Google’s guidance recognizes that generative AI can help organize original content, while emphasizing that published material should remain accurate, relevant, and useful.

For an HOA, consider using an approved tool to turn confirmed information into a clearer first draft.

For example, the board could provide the verified date, time, location, and registration instructions for a community cleanup and ask for a short website announcement. It could also request a shorter version of an existing welcome message or a clearer introduction to the maintenance request process.

The strongest use is not asking AI to decide what residents need to know. It is giving AI the correct information and asking it to help communicate that information more clearly.

The cons of using an AI website builder for an HOA

A finished-looking website may not support your HOA’s processes

A polished homepage is not proof that the website can handle the work your community needs it to do.

Consider a maintenance request. Your board might need a resident to submit a description and photo, receive confirmation, and check the request’s progress. The person handling it might need to assign responsibility, add updates, and retain a record of the resolution.

A contact form alone would not satisfy all those requirements.

The same distinction applies to documents. Uploading a file is one task. Organizing current and archived versions, assigning the correct audience, and making the right document easy to find are additional requirements.

Do not assume a general-purpose builder cannot support these functions. Instead, ask the provider to demonstrate them. Identify which are included, which need an additional application, and which depend on manual work.

Evaluate the complete resident experience, not just the appearance of the page.

AI-generated information still needs fact-checking

AI-generated content can be incorrect or omit important context. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advises users to validate AI outputs against reliable sources before relying on them.

For an HOA, a plausible-sounding mistake could be consequential. Imagine a draft stating that guests can use the pool unaccompanied when the community’s actual rules require a resident to be present.

The wording might sound professional. It would still be wrong.

Use current, approved documents as the source for community information. Check dates, fees, contact details, restrictions, and instructions before publishing. Treat summaries of governing documents as explanations to be reviewed, not replacements for the documents themselves.

Privacy and access controls require careful review

There are two separate privacy questions to consider: what the website allows people to access, and what information the AI tool receives.

For the website, hiding a page from the navigation is not the same as protecting it. Access controls must cover the underlying files and resources, not just the page that links to them. OWASP’s security guidance specifically emphasizes protecting static resources and checking whether users are authorized to access them.

Ask the provider to demonstrate access using sample documents and different account types. Confirm what a visitor, homeowner, and administrator can see, including when someone opens a direct file link.

For the AI tool, avoid entering resident details or sensitive community records into prompts without understanding how the provider handles that information. Review retention, deletion, and model-training terms. Government cybersecurity guidance specifically cautions against including personal or sensitive information in AI prompts. (cyber.gc.ca)

These concerns do not make every AI builder unsafe. They make security and privacy questions part of the buying decision.

Mobile-friendly does not automatically mean accessible

A website can resize neatly on a phone and still create barriers for people with disabilities.

Accessibility involves more than the layout. It includes whether someone can navigate with a keyboard, understand form labels, distinguish text from its background, and access meaningful alternatives to images. W3C’s preliminary accessibility checks address these and other common issues.

For an HOA, test practical tasks such as opening the navigation, finding a document, and completing a request form. Include residents with different access needs in testing where possible.

Do not rely solely on an automated accessibility score. W3C states that no tool alone can determine whether a website meets accessibility standards; knowledgeable human evaluation is also necessary.

AI assistance, a modern template, or an accessibility feature can support the work. None should be treated as proof that the entire website is accessible.

Creating a website does not establish legal compliance

An AI builder should not be treated as a legal compliance service.

For example, Florida’s HOA statute requires covered communities to make specified documents available through a website or application. It also addresses protected access, document posting, and redaction of restricted information. Simply publishing a public website does not satisfy all of those requirements.

Before selecting a platform, determine what your community must publish, who must be able to access it, and how updates and notices need to be handled.

Then ask the provider to show how its product supports those requirements. The same standard should apply to a general-purpose AI builder and an HOA-specific platform.

This is general information, not legal advice. Have your community’s legal counsel confirm the obligations that apply to your HOA and review the proposed publishing and access process.

Ongoing costs and platform limitations can be overlooked

The first version of the website is only part of the investment.

When comparing options, request a complete breakdown of the website subscription, domain renewal, additional applications, storage, messaging tools, support, and any expected implementation work. Include the volunteer or staff time needed to keep everything current.

Also, ask what happens when the community needs to change providers.

For example, Wix explains that its websites must run on Wix’s infrastructure, even though users retain ownership of their content. That distinction illustrates why owning the content and being able to move the complete website are separate questions.

Ask every provider what can be exported, in what format, and at what cost. Find out whether moving would require rebuilding page layouts, recreating forms, or reorganizing files.

These limitations are not unique to AI. They are platform considerations that can be easy to miss when the sales pitch focuses on speed.

Someone still needs to manage the website

Before approving the project, assign responsibility for the work that continues after launch.

Who removes expired announcements? Who uploads approved meeting documents? Who changes administrator access after an election? Who responds when a form stops working?

Document account ownership, billing contacts, renewal dates, and the handover process. Use individual administrator accounts where supported, and enable multifactor authentication, which cybersecurity guidance recommends to help protect accounts.

A useful test is to have someone other than the original builder complete a routine update. Ask them to replace an announcement, upload a sample document, and find the support contact.

If those tasks depend on undocumented workarounds or one person’s technical knowledge, address that before launch.

When an AI website builder may be a good fit

Consider an AI website builder when the project is mainly a public information website and your board has someone prepared to review and maintain it.

For example, imagine a community that already uses a separate system for resident accounts, payments, and private documents. Its public website only needs to introduce the neighborhood, provide general contact information, and direct homeowners to the correct portal.

In that situation, the board can evaluate the AI builder against a relatively focused set of requirements.

An AI builder can also be useful during planning. A draft can help the board agree on page structure and priorities before deciding which platform should host the final website.

The key is to keep the scope realistic. Do not choose a basic public-site solution and then assume it will become a complete resident platform without additional evaluation.

When an HOA-specific website platform deserves a closer look

Give an HOA-specific platform serious consideration when the website needs to support ongoing resident activities rather than simply provide public information.

That might include controlled document access, maintenance requests, amenity bookings, community communications, and administration that can transfer smoothly between boards.

The value of specialization is not the label. It is whether the product and service fit the tasks your community needs to complete.

For example, HOA Sites offers homeowner document organization, maintenance request tracking, amenity reservations, and restricted access to website features. Those are practical functions to compare against your requirements when evaluating a general-purpose builder.

Ask for a demonstration using your community’s likely scenarios. Confirm the applicable package, setup requirements, and support responsibilities rather than assuming every capability is included in every proposal.

How to evaluate your options before committing

Start with resident tasks, not a preferred technology. A useful shortlist might be:

• Find the latest approved meeting documents.
• Submit a maintenance request and understand what happens next.
• Locate current amenity information and complete any required booking.
• Contact the right person without searching through several pages.

Use these tasks during demonstrations and trials. Ask a board member who did not configure the website to attempt them.

Next, test the administration. Can someone replace an outdated document, correct an announcement, and adjust access without needing custom development?

Finally, compare the complete proposals. Put ongoing costs, support, security controls, accessibility work, and exit options alongside the design features.

A good purchasing question is not, “Which tool can generate the most impressive homepage?” It is, “Which option will let our residents and board complete the necessary tasks reliably?”

A practical way to use AI without handing over judgment

Your board does not have to choose between doing everything manually and letting AI handle everything.

A sensible middle ground is to use approved AI tools for drafts and ideas while keeping publishing decisions with designated people.

Start with verified, non-sensitive information. Ask for help with structure, clarity, or tone. Review the result against the original material, then publish it through the platform that best supports your community’s needs.

For instance, provide the confirmed facts for a landscaping update and ask for a clear announcement. Do not ask the tool to invent the work schedule, interpret an unresolved contract issue, or promise an outcome the board has not approved.

Use real community details and useful explanations rather than filling pages with generic text. Google’s guidance on AI-generated website content similarly emphasizes accuracy, relevance, and value for readers.

Choose the website your community can rely on

An AI website builder can make it easier to get started. Its value is strongest when it reduces setup work without creating gaps in the functions your HOA actually needs.

Before making a decision, look beyond the generated pages. Review document access, content accuracy, accessibility, ongoing costs, support, and the work future boards will inherit.

For communities that prefer help with both the website and its administration, HOA Sites offers tailored website design, an assigned Personal Project Manager, and support by phone or email.

The goal is not simply to build an HOA website faster. It is to give residents a dependable place to find information and complete everyday tasks, while making the website manageable for the people responsible for it.

Talk to HOA Sites about your community’s website needs and the features that would make the biggest difference for your residents and board.

New York, NY, August 29, 2025: Property Control today announced the launch of its parent brand, bringing together Condo Control, HOA Central, HOA Sites, and Patrol Points to create a single command center for mixed portfolios, including condo towers, HOAs, commercial sites, and mobile patrol teams. With multi-brand single sign-on and a unified subscription, Property Control consolidates resident services, operations, and security oversight into one seamless solution.

“Property management leaders need fewer systems, clearer data, and faster outcomes,” said Brian Bosscher, CEO, Property Control. “By unifying our sister brands under Property Control, we give executives one dashboard for every door, KPI, and document, along with AI automation and white glove support, so they can reduce costs, boost satisfaction, and scale without adding headcount.”

  

What is in the portfolio

· Condo Control. Condominium and homeowners association management excellence with resident engagement, board governance, and day-to-day operational efficiency.

· HOA Central. Dedicated platform for HOAs and self-managed communities with communications, compliance, and member satisfaction.

· HOA Sites. Turnkey, mobile-responsive public websites for HOAs and management companies that inform and engage owners.

· Patrol Points. Security and compliance operations with geo-verified tours, incident reporting, and real-time dashboards.

  

Why it matters

· Unified portfolio command. Executive dashboards highlight arrears and at-risk communities across regions.

· Resident and staff experience. Consumer-grade portals, a 24/7 AI help desk, and mobile guard apps drive adoption.

· AI automation. Natural language bylaw search, smart routing, and automated workflows cut manual work.

· Security and compliance assurance. Patrol logs, e voting records, and audit ready archives.

· Connected ecosystem. Native integrations to Yardi, Stripe, Zego, and VMS, plus an open API.

· White glove success. A named CSM, structured onboarding, training, and certification.

  

Availability

The Property Control brand and website are live today. Existing customers continue on their current products with no disruption. Cross brand features can be enabled through single sign on. New customers can request a tailored demo for condo, HOA, commercial, and patrol operations.

  

About Property Control

Property Control is the enterprise-grade operating system built for property management firms that oversee diverse portfolios. As the parent platform behind Condo Control, HOA Central, HOA Sites, and Patrol Points, Property Control unifies operations, automates workflows with AI, and delivers live portfolio intelligence that powers portfolio-wide performance.

So you need a website for your HOA, but you aren’t sure if your team can manage building one without professional help. This article will help you decide what options are available to your association. 

 Table of contents

• What is a website builder?
  • How it works
• What is a custom website?
  • How it works
• Costs
• Which option is right for me?

What is a website builder?

A website builder is a software program or tool that allows you to design and create a website without having to use code. In theory, you should be able to design the entire website by yourself without requiring assistance from a designer or developer.

Drag-and-drop builder software lets the user upload images and add text to a template provided by the program/company.

How it works

Select a website builder

Start by selecting the website builder. Some website builders will offer free websites, but those plans are not recommended for an HOA community (more on that later).

Both online and offline website builders exist. Offline website builders need to be installed first, making them more secure, but less convenient. You will have to use the same computer in order to get to the program and make updates or changes to the site. Online website builders are used in a web application like Google, meaning you can access it from any computer.

Choose an appropriate template

Next, explore the templates available to you. The template will define the look and feel of your website. HOAs will probably need a membership or community type template, but there may be other options that work for your association.

Make sure there is an option to create a password-protected section. HOAs in Florida (and condominiums in Wisconsin) are legally required to have a password-protected section on their sites, but every community can benefit from having a members-only section to keep sensitive materials inaccessible to the public.  

Look for an example that has a “login” option, usually located on the top right of the homepage.

Plan before you build

Figure out what pages you will need before you get to building. This will make the creative process easier to complete.

Usually, HOAs need a homepage, an about us section, contact information and an amenities page. Some will also have pages for sales and rentals, events, reservations, forms and online payments. Decide what should go in the password-protected section, and what will be available to the public.

Make your website

After you have a plan, it’s time to get to work. Build your HOA website using the template you selected. Drag-and-drop images and enter your text. Ensure the website reflects the tone and personality of your HOA. Your logo and colors should be easy to spot.  

Pick a domain name

Select a domain name that makes sense. Ideally, you want to just use the HOA’s name so that members can find the site right away. However, if the name is already taken, you might have to get creative. 

Many website builder companies offer a free domain name search tool so you can see what names are available. While you don’t have to choose a “.com” ending, that is the most common and easiest to find.    

Once you’ve found the right name, buy it through an official registrar. It’s important to know that if you are publishing your site under a free account, the company may give you a default domain name that may not correspond with the HOA. This won’t be helpful to owners.

Alternatively, you can pay for a custom domain name, or upgrade to a paid plan.

Select a web host provider

Web hosting is like a storage house for your website. A host ensures it is accessible on the internet. There are different types of hosts, including virtual private server, shared hosting, managed hosting and cloud hosting.

You may not need to think about this step though. Many website builders bundle hosting services with security, domain registration, site building, and other tools to simplify the process.

Examples of general website builders

• Wix
• Squarespace
• Jimdo
• WordPress

Examples of HOA-specific website builders

• HOA Sites
• HOA Start
• HOA Express

What is a custom website?

Custom websites are websites that have been designed in a personalized way based on instructions from a client. A designer or developer works with you to find out what you are looking for, and creates something truly unique.

It’s not just design that makes a website different from others. Some clients, including HOA communities, may need specific functionalities that most website builders don’t offer.  

How it works

The person, company or association contacts a developer or designer. You provide information such as what the goal of the website is, what pages are needed, and what the site should look like.

Another great thing about working with a professional is that you can share information about who will be using the website. This allows you to provide your community with an amazing user experience.

 In most cases, the developer will provide a quote.

Since the website is customized, the price range for a custom site can be very big.

If you agree to the price, the developer will get to work. There could be two, three or four rounds of edits depending on the complexity of the site and your expectations.

You will still need to select a domain name, and may need to find a web host provider if the developer doesn’t do that for you.

Costs

Website builders cost much less than custom website services.  

You can technically build a website for free using a website building platform. However, free hosting plans come with several limitations and have very limited storage. You might even see unwanted ads on your website. 

In most cases, you can expect to pay $200 – $1000 to create and publish your HOA website, depending on many variables like storage and feature requirements, level of support, and how many users will need access to the backend of the website.

A custom website can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 (or more) depending on the complexity of design, features, and functionality. However, a basic site typically ranges between $2,000 and $5,000 when built by a professional designer or agency. 

Which option is right for me?

Now that you have a clearer understanding of your options, you can make a more informed decision.

There are pros and cons to each option. If your HOA has a tight budget, or you are a small community, then creating your own site with the help of a website builder is recommended.

If you have a large community, need very special functionalities, or want to promote the site to attract buyers, then consider hiring a professional to create the website for your association.

But, there is a third option. You can work with HOA Sites to enjoy the best of both worlds!

Choose the option that combines affordability with customization  

HOA Sites provides clients with a platform that makes it easy for them to build their own sites. But the templates they offer are not mass produced. Instead, the company’s web designers make a custom template for every community. And, the websites are designed specifically with HOAs in mind.

In addition to having standard HOA pages, you will have access to over 60 features including accounting, online payments, email, text messaging, maintenance requests, document storage, and much more.  

From there, clients can add text and photos directly to the pages. If you can use Word or Google Docs, you can use HOA Sites.  

One of the best parts about working with HOA Sites is the Personal Project Manager. Every client gets one. This person offers suggestions and their expertise while you build your web pages. That means that even though you build the web pages yourself, you still have someone to assist you during the process.

They will also make sure you understand how to use your website, ensuring you get the most out of it.

Finally, HOA Sites uses one of North America’s greatest data centers, Rackspace, to host its servers. Rackspace employs best practices to provide a secure and stable hosting environment for all of its sites.

Now for the cost. You’re going to be surprised. HOAs can get a unique website from HOA Sites for as little as $600 a year. You’d be hard pressed to find another HOA website company that offers so much at such an affordable price.

Conclusion

Every HOA should have a website. Websites make it easier to communicate with residents, free up time for staff, and can even reduce delinquent payments. If you feel uncertain about building a community website on your own, but aren’t in a position to spend thousands of dollars, consider HOA Sites. Enjoy a custom HOA website at a fraction of the cost.   

Time is money. Often, self-managed HOAs need to be careful with both, as they are limited commodities when managing their communities.

Self-managed HOAs typically have 200 units or less in a single community and are run by a volunteer Board of Directors without the help of a professional property manager or property management company.

As a result, the volunteer Board and the community it manages must rely on their knowledge to best manage their time and community finances.

Let’s look at some of the ways self-managed HOAs are successful at saving time and money starting with how they operate.

Requirements to operate a self-managed HOA

A self-managed HOA has unique needs for it to run optimally.

As noted earlier self-managed HOAs don’t use a paid property manager, so all the tasks a property manager would usually take on are performed by the Board. These tasks include:

1. Collecting fees
   Self-managed associations need to ensure
2. Managing fees
3. Enforcing rules and regulations
4. Sending out communications to members
5. Administrative tasks
6. Ensuring maintenance requests are addressed
7. Connecting with members for feedback and inquiries

As you can imagine, all of these tasks consume a lot of time, often spilling over into evenings and weekends. Also, keep in mind that they are repetitive. So, it’s a revolving door of ongoing tasks.     

Saving time and money is the goal that self-managed HOAs want to reach.

Let’s explore some of the ways they can achieve both.  

Useful time-savers for self-managed HOAs

As a volunteer Board, with no support from a property management company, consider the following time-saving tactics.

Use technology
Technology is becoming a preferred choice for self-managed HOAs to save them time. Both offer similar time-saving features, but depending on the size and complexities of your HOA self-managed community, you can choose between HOA management software or an HOA website.

Here are some features they have in common that will save you time.

1. Online document filing
   The ability to file numerous documents online means efficient record-keeping. You’ll save time with quick and easy access to documents, maintenance files, and reports.
2. Online payments
   You can collect fees online. No more waiting for checks to be mailed in or dropped off. You’ll get your accounting done much faster.
3. Speedy communication
   Send as many mass emails and text messages as required, in mere minutes, to keep residents informed.  You’ll save time by avoiding printing and hand-delivering communications or sending communications through the mail.
4. Member amenity booking
   Members can book community amenities themselves online, instead of using the Board’s valuable time to reserve dates.   
5. Post announcements
   Posting community updates online, as they happen, will keep residents informed and save the Board a lot of time answering questions repeatedly.
   
   

Call out for volunteers
The self-managed HOA Board can’t do it all themselves. It’s fine to share responsibilities with other community members via committees to help save time managing various tasks.

For example, you can have a garden committee or an events committee. These and other committees can save Board members a lot of time as the committees conduct research and create proposals for the Board to review and approve.

You can also have one-off volunteer days where residents come together to do small projects around the community like putting a fresh coat of paint on fences, cleaning up litter, or making small repairs.

These are some great starting points to save your self-managed HOA time. Let’s look at some strategies to save you money.

Useful money-savers for self-managed HOAs

Often, time and money are connected. If you are managing one well, you’ll find that the other is following suit. So, you won’t be surprised that some of the strategies used to save time will also save self-managed HOAs money as well.

Use technology
When you use HOA management software and/or an HOA website they will provide you with features that will save you money.  

Technology helps self-managed HOAs save money in the following ways.

1. Paper, printing, and mailing costs
   Self-managed HOAs can save thousands of dollars on communications when they are distributed digitally. Think of all the money your HOA can save by making newsletters, announcements, notices, and voting materials available online, instead of printing them on paper and sending them through the mail.
   
2. Built-in accounting
   Using accounting software built into your HOA website or HOA management software keeps your financials accurate and coordinated in one place. This ensures accuracy and timely updates to ledgers. Accuracy is an important aspect of tracking and saving money. 
   
3. Automatic reminders
   You can set automatic invoicing reminders to be sent to residents; ensuring fees are collected on time and your community finances are not lacking.

Prevention is best
Save your self-managed community a lot of effort and money by conducting regular inspections on major equipment and amenities. By doing regular maintenance, you’ll avoid downtime for these assets.

Budgeting
A well-planned budget is necessary for self-managed HOAs. Having a budget and adhering to it is like having a road map that leads you to where you want to be financially.

Energy saving items
Try implementing energy-saving models of things your HOA community uses like light fixtures and light bulbs. Solar panels may be supplemented with government funding to save energy too.

These are excellent ideas for saving your self-managed HOA money.

Self-managed HOAs can save time and money

A well-managed HOA is always conscious of saving time and money in addition to managing the community effectively.

There are many ways you can do this, starting with using technology, which will free up both time for the Board and help to reduce costs.

You can also get more help via establishing volunteer committees and individuals to lend a hand when necessary. Doing regular maintenance for common elements and amenities is a must. Adhering to a strong budget plan will help when surprise repairs arise and using energy saving features in common areas will save you bundles by the end of the year.

Self-managed homeowner associations (HOAs) operate without a property management company. Instead, they are operated by a Board of Directors who are members of the communities and volunteer to be elected to the Board.

Of the estimated 370,000 homeowner associations in the U.S., between 30% and 40% are self-managed; that’s between 11,100 and 14,800 communities with millions of people managed by volunteer Boards.

With so many self-managed communities, volunteer Board members must have the tools they need to operate their communities as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Several tools can be invaluable, but first, let’s explore some of the challenges self-managed HOAs experience to determine how certain tools can provide solutions.

    

Challenges self-managed HOAs experience

There are thousands of self-managed HOAs, which suggests that they can be successful. However, managing a community is never simple.   

Some of the challenges self-managed HOAs experience include:

    

Professionalism and branding
Self-managed HOAs may not appear professional and efficient to members and visitors without a professional property manager. The community may not have an image that members can connect with. This could make members and prospects think the community is not well operated, even though it is.   

    

Poor maintenance upkeep
Connected to volunteerism, many Board members in a self-managed HOA also have jobs elsewhere. So, their time is limited. They don’t always have the time and commitment required to ensure maintenance requests are addressed promptly, leading to ongoing neglect. 

    

Communication
Self-managed HOAs can sometimes struggle to get community announcements out to members promptly. Announcements and meeting dates are printed on paper and then hand-delivered or mailed to homes. It works, but it’s not an effective use of time or resources.  

    

Money management
If a self-managed HOA is lucky, they may have someone on the Board who is excellent at accounting on behalf of the community. However, that’s uncommon, and even if they do have some experience, that particular Board member can’t be on the Board forever. When that person leaves, the Board and community may fall into a vulnerable position.

 

Maintaining files
Administration may not seem complicated but it’s very involved, especially when it comes to legal requirements of filing documents and keeping accurate and accessible records of Board and community meetings and governing documents. Too often, hard-copy files are misfiled, lost, or buried in a filing cabinet.  

    

Community engagement
Engaging members in a self-managed HOA can be problematic. Organizers need to devote time and raise awareness about community announcements and events. Many times, paper notices get ignored, or members forget about them. Additionally, if there is usually a low turnout, members just don’t bother to attend events or get involved. 

    

Reserving amenities
No Board member wants to spend their time booking amenities for homeowners. Their volunteer time is valuable, and reserving community amenities is not the best use of it. Yet, it’s an important administrative task as members pay monthly for amenities in their fees. It needs to be done, and done fairly.

These are just some of the ongoing challenges self-managed HOAs face. Now after considering these challenges, you might be wondering why self-managed HOAs even exist. Well, there is a good side to self-managed HOAs too. Let’s explore what they are.

    

Benefits of self-managed HOAs

There are benefits to self-managed HOAs that might not be obvious. Let’s highlight them now.

    

Affordability  
When an HOA is self-managed, the members and the community save money. Fees tend to be lower because they don’t have to pay a property manager’s salary or annual fees to a property management company. This results in saving thousands of dollars that homeowners would otherwise have to cover.

    

Genuine care
Because Board members of a self-managed HOA volunteer their time and live in the community, they really want to see their community do well and care about small details that keep their community vibrant.

Quick decision-making
Self-managed HOAs tend to make decisions quicker because they are invested in their community. They also know community members as neighbors, so it can create an environment where Board members feel and act on a greater sense of responsibility to address issues and/or developments in a time-sensitive manner.

As you can see, there are both challenges and benefits to a self-managed HOA. If you want to keep the benefits, then you have to explore ways to help self-managed HOA communities address challenges.

Let’s examine the ways to improve self-managed HOAs.

    

Tools that improve community management for self-managed HOAs

The reality is that tools are necessary to improve self-managed HOA communities. Tools offer:

• Increased efficiency
• Time savings
• Money savings
• Support to enhance the Board’s skills and abilities

Let’s look at some of the top tools self-managed HOAs use to maximize community management.

    

1. HOA community website

The primary tool a self-managed HOA should have is an HOA community website. Why? Once you have an HOA community website, you’ll have the foundation for all the other tools you’ll need to address your top challenges.

Right off the bat, your HOA community website will give your community a polished and professional image to members and visitors as you select an appealing design. You can promote your community with ideal images and its amenities on your website image gallery. Your community image will immediately improve.  

Your HOA community website acts as a hub for all kinds of important information the Board can share, and where members can access it 24/7. It’s a foundation you can build on to foster trust and transparency in your community.

Let’s consider other tools you can include within your HOA website to improve self-managed HOAs.

    

2. Maintenance services
Maintenance response time will improve greatly with a maintenance and repair online tool. Using this tool through your community website allows you to keep on top of service and repair requests from members and track their status with maintenance tickets and email notifications.

This process ensures maintenance requests don’t fall through the cracks and are dealt with sooner rather than later.

    

3. Mass emails and text messages
Talk about a time saver. If you add a tool that allows you to send mass emails and text messages to your entire community all at once, you’ll save an enormous amount of time. Members will be informed as you reach your entire community in mere minutes. This tool, combined with the ability to post important announcements on the home page of your HOA website ensures information is available to members promptly.

    

4. Accounting software
Accounting skills are not always readily available from Board members. However, having access to easy-to-use accounting software can serve as an asset to self-managed HOAs who need to keep the books accurate and current.

With accounting software, you can invoice all homeowner units at once and avoid time-consuming individual invoices. You’ll be able to track and monitor your HOA community expenses in real-time, as they occur, for improved record keeping.

You can automate repetitive accounting tasks. If you include it as a feature in your HOA website, it can be used as an online accounting tool to access and manage financial documents in one platform for better organization.

    

5. Online calendar
Missing an HOA meeting will be far less likely when members can check your HOA online calendar for upcoming meetings and events. This tool is perfect for giving members a heads-up about important community meetings so they can plan to be there after glancing at the online calendar on your HOA website.

6. Online document filing
As time goes by and new HOA Board members join, paperwork can get misplaced, destroyed, and lost. With an online document filing tool you can file documents in chronological order, in folders, for easy access to the Board and members (with permissions).

Documents can be divided into categories on a documents page and/or added to any other pages you choose to have on your HOA website. It is completely flexible.  

Additionally, you’ll save money on copies, postage, and administrative time as members view online documents at their leisure.
    

7. Self-serve amenity booking
An online amenity reservation tool, accessible through your HOA website, is an efficient way for your community to book specific time slots for various amenities. Members can book amenities themselves, and mini calendars appear on an amenity reservation page. The calendars also display color-coded dates which reflect availability.

This tool will give your community flexibility and relieve the Board of unnecessary administrative work so they can use their time more effectively.    

    

Self-managed HOAs benefit from online tools

There are thousands of self-managed HOAs doing a great job and software tools greatly enhance their efforts. It makes sense to use software tools to improve community management operations and help Board members fulfill their roles more effectively and efficiently.

Remember that starting with an HOA website is the foundation that helps to bring operations together into a central hub. Then, you can add any additional tools you may need that act as solutions to current challenges your self-managed HOA faces.  

We all may have heard the term resolution, usually in context of New Year’s Eve. It signals a change, clarity or decision made going forward. HOA resolutions facilitated by Boards can be thought of in a similar way.

HOA resolutions are a common practice and applied in the areas of:

• Rules and regulations
• Laws (Federal, state and local)
• Conflicts
• Operations

Let’s take a deeper dive into HOA resolutions and the role they play in your HOA.

What is an HOA resolution?
An HOA resolution is a decision or guideline agreed upon by the Board to help clarify, provide direction and/or make a decision pertaining to contents that appear in your HOA Governing Documents.

The hierarchy of HOA Governing Documents are noted in the diagram below.

HOA Governing Documents Hierarchy

Why would an HOA resolution be necessary?

At times an HOA resolution is needed because HOA governing documents can be:

• Vague
• Open to interpretation
• In need of parameters

When this is the case, the Board comes together to create a resolution to address an issue in the governing document.

HOA resolution example

In this example, your HOA has a policy that the exterior pillars of your home must be painted creme. Seems pretty straightforward. All homes must have cream pillars. Members might think they are abiding by the policy even though you start to notice that the pillars are beige, off white or white.   

In this case, in order to bring clarity and provide added guidance to members the Board can put forward a new HOA resolution whereby members must choose a paint color from a Board-approved color palette. If a member does not comply, they may incur a fine.

This example shows that even though members think they are complying, the policy was too ambiguous and needed a resolution to add some useful parameters to the policy.

Let’s see how an HOA resolution is implemented.

How an HOA resolution is accepted

HOA resolutions can’t just be implemented however the Board chooses. There is a process it must go through to be accepted. In general, it goes like this:

1. The draft
   The Board prepares a draft document indicating why the resolution is needed and how the resolution will make an impact.
   
   
2. The review
   Once the draft is complete the entire Board reviews it, makes any suggested edits and agrees this resolution is something they want to put forward as a Board.
   
   
3. The members
   The resolutions may or may not require feedback from members. If it does, then the draft resolution can be raised at member meeting included in, surveys and other communications, online or in print.
   
   
4. The vote
   Once the content is reviewed and discussed. The Board votes, and if necessary, members vote. If it is a majority vote in favor of the new resolution, the resolution is passed.

5. The implementation
Once the vote is passed, the resolution is formally adopted and put into action.

6. The records
Once adopted and implanted the HOA resolution must be added to official records, so it can be found and referred to.

These steps keep HOA resolutions orderly. There can be many resolutions that take place depending on changes to state laws, by-laws, rules and regulations and so on. So, the question arises then, how can an HOA keep track of all of them.

File and keep track of HOA resolutions on your HOA website

Filing tons of paper resolutions is an antiquated way of processing administrative tasks for the Board and property managers. However, if you have an HOA website, you will be more efficient and ensure HOA resolutions and can be found and referred to by date and topic.

With an HOA website you can:

File and post documents online, ensuring members and the Board always have access to the most current resources and information at their fingertips. There is no need to request information to be mailed or emailed to them.  

HOA resolution documents can be divided into categories on a documents page and/or added to any other pages you choose to have on the website. It is completely flexible to make sure everyone gets the documents they are looking for without hassle.

In case documents are not in Adobe PDF format, free PDF tools convert documents to full color PDF on-the-fly.

Multiple files can be selected and uploaded together to the website. A progress bar shows the upload status of each file. Images are automatically resized to be web friendly during the upload process.

Is an HOA resolution the same as an amendment?

No, an HOA resolution and HOA amendment are not the same thing. Some may mistakenly interchange resolutions and amendments in speaking about them, but they are not the same.

Here are two distinct differences between an HOA resolution and an HOA amendment.

• HOA resolutions are created to provide guidelines and parameters to existing HOA  Governing Documents.
• HOA amendments directly change the contents of the Governing Documents.

Both HOA resolutions and HOA amendments require votes of approval. However, HOA resolutions require Board votes and members votes can be optional; whereas HOA amendments require majority votes by both the Board and members for them to be passed and adopted.

HOA amendments supersede HOA resolutions because amendments change the contents of Governing Documents directly.

Now that we understand the difference between an HOA resolution and amendment, we can explore types of HOA resolutions.

Types of HOA resolutions Boards facilitate

HOA resolutions typically fall into three categories.

Governing Documents
As noted earlier, HOA resolutions are implemented to bring clarification to documents that are open to interpretation and may be too vague. They may revolve around clarifying rules about amenities, community aesthetics, enforcing rules etc.

Procedures
Administering processes in an HOA community often requires a lot of steps. You can’t just go from step 1 to step 10. So, procedural resolutions are implemented to create a more detailed step-by-step process so it can provide consistency and fairness.

For example, in the case of community voting, it may be that the procedure suggests homeowners can cast their votes. However, a procedural resolution may be created to indicate that homeowners must cast their votes before a certain time, they can only have one vote, and votes sent in online through the HOA community website will be counted as a legitimate vote.

Special
In unique situations a new HOA resolution may be proposed as it relates to an individual case, or outlier situations that are not common. In this case, a special HOA resolution is created but it must still align with the HOA Governing Documents. It cannot be contrary to HOA Governing Documents.

These are usually the types of HOA resolutions a Board will need to create. It’s a good idea now to look at how a Board creates HOA resolutions.

Your steps to creating new HOA resolutions

To be clear, HOA resolutions are in fact legal documents. Therefore, there is a process that must be followed to ensure HOA resolutions can be accepted and adopted.

Let’s take a look at that process now.

To begin, the Board needs to identify that the HOA bylaws and CC&Rs gives the Board permission to create HOA resolutions.

Then, the HOA Board should make sure the newly drafted resolution does not conflict with any government laws (federal, state, local).

Research and buy-in from the community, when necessary, is also important when creating new HOA resolutions. The reason(s) for creating a new HOA resolution must be clearly laid out so the Board and members understand the details and the impact it will make.

Once the HOA resolution gets enough Board votes (and member votes if required) the Board president and secretary are required to sign it and to indicate the full date.

The only thing left to do then, is to implement the new HOA resolution.

Again, for transparency and easy access, you can file your HOA resolution documents online on your members-only portal of your HOA website.  

Some of these steps may not always follow the same sequence, but this is a good framework of how you can start your HOA resolution and bring it to completion.

Creating HOA resolutions for better community management in 2025

HOA resolutions are legal documents that support your HOA Governing Documents by providing clarity, detail and parameters.

In the hierarchy of HOA documents resolutions, HOA resolutions are superseded by all other HOA Governing Documents, but they still play an important role when managing your HOA community as they are applied to those documents, procedures and unique situations.

HOA resolutions are also easier and quicker to implement than HOA amendments because amendments make changes to the actual Governing Documents which always require member votes and can take longer.

Remember to follow the process for creating a new HOA resolution for legal reasons and make sure they can be filed and accessed in an orderly and timely manner. The best way to do that is by filing them on your members-only HOA website, where members and the Board can easily refer to them.  

If your HOA still doesn’t have its own website, now is the time to invest. The first website ever was developed over 34 years ago. Since then, websites have evolved immensely. They are a must have for every single industry, including HOAs (homeowner associations).

The chart below shows the growth of the number of internet users in the U.S. from 2015 to 2024. The number continues to rise with the use of laptops, mobile phones, smart watches and other devices.

Basically, if you don’t have an HOA website, it’s like your HOA doesn’t exist. That’s because 75% of people judge a business’s credibility based on their website; and HOAs are essentially a business.

Yet, some HOAs, especially self-managed ones, still don’t have their own websites. If this is your HOA, we’ll share all the reasons why your HOA needs one, the benefits of having one and how you can go about creating a website for your HOA that delivers value to the Board, property managers and residents alike.

Let’s start at the beginning.

What is an HOA website?

An HOA website is essentially a collection of digital (online) pages, populated with information that addresses one or more topics relevant to community living and HOA operations. It is managed by a person(s) or an organization. All digital pages are accessed through a single website address/domain name.

Basically, an HOA website is an online hub where HOAs can upload and manage all kinds of information that impact members and operations such as:

• Announcements
• Event dates
• Governing documents
• Accounting management
• Maintenance requests
• Mass communications
• Member engagement
•  and more

Members will see information available to the public as well as access information that is only available to them through a member-only area on the website. The public, on the other hand, would have restricted access and would be unable to see member-only information.

The impact of not having an HOA website

You may be thinking that you’ve done without a website all this time, why should our HOA get one now?

First let’s look at what is usually taking place in HOAs that do not have their own websites.

1. Fragmented community
   Inadequate and poor communication are common complaints in HOAs that don’t have their own websites. Communication to homeowners is often on paper that gets tossed into a pile. It’s sent in the mail, which delays the information, and is generally forgotten about because there is no quick way to look up information.
   
   
2. Overworked Board  
   With no single place to make information accessible to members, the Board and property managers end up answering the same questions repeatedly. They also end up doing extra administrative work by booking amenities, receiving and tracking maintenance calls and collecting and processing fees manually. As volunteers, the Board can be overwhelmed with all the manual tasks.

3. Lack of community
Members can feel cut off from their community by not knowing what developments are taking place or suspect some members know about developments, while others don’t. They are seeking clarity and want increased transparency.


4. Unorganized documentation
With Board members coming and going every two years, it’s very easy to misplace paper files or even store them in cabinets that no one has extra keys to. Poorly organized documents make running an HOA more difficult than it needs to be.

5. Legal compliance
HOA laws and requirements change state by state at different times. Members and HOAs can fall behind in compliance when new laws or amendments are not made available quickly or homeowners aren’t aware of updates.  

These are just a few of the challenges self-managed HOAs face without an HOA website. The answer to these challenges is to have their own HOA websites. Let’s explore all the benefits.

Top 10 ways HOA websites improve community living   

The question is, can an HOA website help with all the above challenges? It certainly can, and in many ways. Here’s how.  

1. Enhance communication
   When community announcements and news need to be circulated, they can be posted to your website immediately. Your HOA website acts as an information hub where members can get information as it becomes available. You can even include an online event calendar so members can see what meetings and events are coming up so they can plan to attend. This keeps everyone current and engaged.
   
   
2. Free up the Board’s time for better community management
   With an HOA website, many of the manual tasks, such as placing a maintenance request call, or printing and mailing out documents, are replaced with members using the website to place their maintenance calls online. They can also easily access the documents they need online, with the ability to download them. The Board will have more time to focus on community management and decision making.
   
   
3. Increase community participation
   Members can’t get involved if they don’t know what is happening in their community or where to find information. Your HOA website is the ideal place for members and visitors to find out news about their community and how they can participate in meetings and events. Your HOA website can include a community marketplace and member-only message boards.

4. Organize important documents for quick access
An HOA website lets you organize and file documents online. Documents are easily found, and the Board and members can have quick access to them.

5. Collect fees early and on time
No need for members to drop off checks to the HOA office. Instead, they can pay fees online from the convenience of their home. You can also send automatic reminder emails from your HOA website before and after due dates to make sure fees come in as soon as possible, keeping your bottom line in the black.  

6. Community promotion
Don’t let homes for rent and for sale in your community sit on the market indefinitely because no one knows about them. An HOA website helps you promote and showcase the best of your community online. You can display your community amenities and attractive property, so rentals and sales happen quicker. Your community remains vibrant with interested renters and buyers.

7. Save money and time
Don’t throw away HOA funds on unnecessary costs on paper, mailing and administrative costs. These things consume money as well as precious volunteer Board time. Your HOA website makes information available to members and visitors in a single platform.

8. Escape rigid office hours
Operating within standard office hours no longer apply with an HOA website.  Homeowners and visitors can access the information they need anytime of the day or night.

9. Improved maintenance response
There are always maintenance requests that need to be addressed immediately, like a broken laneway light needed for safety or flooding in a common area. It can be overwhelming managing maintenance calls, getting all the details, and then following up to make sure problems are being addressed. Through your HOA website, residents easily submit maintenance requests online.

10. Immediate updates
Timing is everything. When an emergency occurs, like a power outage or weather that damages property, you can use your HOA website to post your most important announcements as they happen. So, it’s the first thing members and visitors see.

These are the most popular reasons HOAs get their own website, and the optional features you can include make it operate exactly as you like.

Let’s take a look at some of the best features to make HOA operations and community living better.

Why certain features are must-haves for your HOA website  

HOAs have both common and unique requirements to make their communities operate at their best. You can choose from the many features available to best suit your HOA.

Here are some must-have features you’ll want to include on your HOA website and why.  

• Document distribution and downloads
  When you send documents via email through your website or allow members to download certain documents themselves, like Rules and Regulations and other Governing Documents, your Board saves a ton of time and money by avoiding paper and mailing costs.
  
  
• Amenity booking
  Is your time taken up with booking party rooms and community assets for members? Members will be able to book amenities themselves through your website. They’ll have transparency to see when dates are available with an online calendar and feel like the amenities are more accessible to them.

Maintenance calls
No more taking phone calls about maintenance requests and manually tracking them. You can keep on top of service and repair requests through your website and track their status with maintenance tickets and email notifications.

Online voting
If you live in a state that allows online voting, you’ll reach quorum quickly due to the convenience of members casting their ballots online. Plus, as Website Administrator, you’ll view results in real time.

Online payments
Collecting fees can be a challenge. Sometimes checks come in late or not at all, and you have to chase the money. Members can pay their fees conveniently online through your website, and you don’t have to change the HOA bank account.

Community marketplace
This feature is excellent for promoting items for sale in the community. Through the online classified ads members can post their items they’d like to sell.

Directories
Having a Member Directory as well as a Pet Directory included in your HOA website, is the perfect way to create familiarity among members. They’ll know who their neighbors are, and who their furry pet friends are too.

Automatic invoicing
Manually sending out invoices after every transaction is a time waster. Through your website, homeowners can pay online with debit or credit cards and receive automatic invoices.

Financial reports
With all the financial accounting that takes place in an HOA, your HOA website keeps track of your HOA finances in a single platform. You can download reports, track sales, see profits and make real-time Income Statement adjustments.

• Mass communication
  You can reach your entire community in minutes through your HOA website by sending mass emails and text messages.

All of these features used in your HOA website makes managing your HOA and engaging members much more effective.

So, now that you know the features your HOA website could include, let’s consider its design.

What HOA website design best suits your HOA?

Your HOA website design is important because it’s the face you will show to the online world.

As indicated earlier, websites have greatly evolved over the years. Just as in fashion, you don’t want an HOA website design that looks outdated.

You want a design that puts your best image and brand forward to members and visitors.

 

Responsiveness
Did you know that more than half the people that visit websites use their cell phones, 67.56 percent in fact. This means the content on your website needs to appear and operate properly, whether someone is looking at your website from their laptop, phone or tablet.

Clean
You don’t want a cluttered HOA website with tons of information posted on every page. Think about the essential content you want on each page and what images might complement the information. Less is more as long as you include what is important.

Fonts
Fonts are either “serif” or “sans serif.” This means that the letters either have little lines attached or not. For example, “A” or “A”. Today’s modern websites typically use sans serif. No little lines attached.

Images
Images speak louder than words. Make sure you have high-quality, clear photos of your community and amenities to use on your website. Consider having professional photos taken. It’s worth the investment to make your HOA look its best.

Ultimately, your HOA website should be visually appealing and represent your HOA community at its best.

Now that you know some the elements that would make your HOA stand out online, you might be thinking how do I actually get an HOA website created. Good news, you don’t have to create one on your own.

Ways to have your HOA website created

You have options when it comes to creating your HOA website. You can:

1. Hire a website designer
   This would be ok, but if you don’t know what will make your HOA website really stand out, chances are your every-day website designer will not either. HOAs have their unique needs and wants.
   
   
2. HOA website designers
   If you are going to do it, you may as well do it right from the start by using website designers who specialize in creating websites for HOAs. An operation of this kind often has years of experience designing HOA websites, so they know what works and what doesn’t. You won’t need any technical experience, and some providers have Personal Project Managers to walk you through the process from start to finish.   

You have a choice of which option you’ll take to create a website for your HOA. It’s a best practice in any industry however, to use specialists in the field.

Building your HOA online presence through your website

Your HOA greatly benefits from having a website specific to your community’s wants and needs. An HOA website offers digital pages for you to promote your community as well as engage members.  The features you’ll choose for your website increase productivity and efficiency while saving you time and money in the areas of: 

• Communication
• Accounting
• Operations

Additionally, the design you choose for your HOA website is your opportunity to present a professional, attractive image to members as well as to visitors to your website.

Finally, you don’t have to build your website from scratch by yourself. It’s recommended that you get professional assistance to build your website, preferably a company that has expertise developing websites specifically for HOAs.

These days having an HOA website is an expectation that all HOAs should meet for the benefit of the Board, the community and visitors.

Learn more by downloading Essential Tips for Your HOA Website: Operating, Engaging and Promoting Your Community

Florida’s HOA website requirement 2025 – Everything you need to know

Written by: Adeel

Published on: December 22, 2024

Florida has passed a law that requires HOAs to have and maintain a website. So, if you belong to an HOA with 100 or more homes, you’ll want to keep reading to find out if your community has met all of the requirements.

Table of contents

Does my HOA really need a website?

I thought this requirement was just for condos

Why were HOAs exempt from having a website before HB1203?

What official records need to go on the HOA’s website?

We need a website asap – what should we do?

HOA Sites: A top choice for associations

We already have a website. Do we need to do anything else?

Does my HOA really need a website?

Yes! Most HOAs are legally required to have a website. That’s because in 2024, the state of Florida passed House Bill 1203. This bill was designed to promote transparency and accountability across homeowners associations. The bill consisted of several new requirements, including conditions related to record keeping:

• associations with 100 or more parcels, must maintain a digital copy of specified official records for download on the association’s website or through an application on a mobile device
• they must provide a copy of records or otherwise make the records available that are subpoenaed by a law enforcement agency within 5 days of receiving a subpoena
• they must maintain official records for at least 7 years, unless the governing documents of the association require a longer period of time

The deadline for HOAs to set up a website and make documents available to owners is January 1, 2025.

If your HOA has less than 100 homes, it would not be legally required to have a website at this time. However, the law could be amended to include smaller communities in the future. Small HOAs still benefit from using a community website, even if they are not required to maintain one.

I thought this requirement was just for condos

That used to be the case. HOAs were not mentioned in the first website law (House Bill 1237) directed at condominiums.

As of January 1, 2019, all condo associations with 150 or more units (excluding timeshare units) were legally required to have a website, or application that could be accessed through mobile device, that complied with specific requirements.

Then, HB 1021 was passed in 2024, lowering threshold requirements from 150 units to 25 units. Small condo communities have until January 1, 2026, to establish a website where owners can access records.

Additional changes were made in 2024 to address small condo communities. Now, condos with 25 or more units must also have a community website and make documents available to owners through the website.

Why were HOAs exempt from having a website before HB1203?

HOAs were never specifically mentioned in HB 1237, but back in 2017, Senate Bill 398 did state that “each association shall designate on its website” certain items.

The language in this bill simply wasn’t strong enough to compel HOAs to get a website if they had no motivation to do so.  

Furthermore, since condominiums are so densely populated, lawmakers may have felt that website requirements targeted at these communities would be more impactful.   

 Nevertheless, HB 1203 makes it clear that HOAs need a website, just like condominium communities.

What official records need to go on the HOA’s website?

Documents that are considered “HOA records” should be posted on the website. This does not mean that the general public will have access to these items.

Documents must be shared on a private, password-protected section of the website. Only members and staff of the association would have access to the password, ensuring sensitive information is guarded.

Below are the key items that HOAs must post on their website. To see the requirements in their entirety, click here:  

• The articles of incorporation of the association, and each amendment thereto
• The bylaws of the association, and each amendment thereto
• The declaration of covenants, and a copy of each amendment thereto
• The current rules
• A list of all current executory contracts or documents to which the association is a party or under which the association or the parcel owners have an obligation or responsibility and, after bidding for the related materials, equipment, or services has closed, a list of bids received by the association within the past year
• The annual budget, and any proposed budget to be considered at the annual meeting
• The financial report and any monthly income or expense statements to be considered at a meeting
• The association’s current insurance policies
• The certification of each director as required by s. 720.3033(1)(a)
• Any contract or document regarding a conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest as provided in ss. 468.436(2)(b)6. and 720.3033(2)
• Notice of any scheduled meeting of members and the agenda for the meeting, as required by s. 720.306, at least 14 days before the meeting occurs. The notice must be posted in plain view on the homepage of the website or application, or on a separate subpage of the website or application labeled “Notices” which is conspicuously visible and linked from the homepage
• Notice of any board meeting, the agenda, and any other document required for such meeting as required by subsection (3), which must be posted on the website or application no later than the date required for notice under subsection (3)

Additional requirements

1. In addition to posting all of the required documents, an HOA must ensure that the website or application is accessible through the internet. 

• It must contain a subpage, web portal, or other protected electronic location that is inaccessible to the general public and accessible only to owners and employees of the association

2. When requested in writing, an association must provide an owner with a username and password and access to the protected sections of the association’s website or application.

3. The association shall ensure that the information and records that cannot be shared with owners are not posted on the website or application. It must redact private information if it appears in an HOA document before it is posted on the website. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the association or its authorized agent is not liable for disclosing information that is protected or restricted under paragraph (5)(g) unless such disclosure was made with a knowing or intentional disregard of the protected or restricted nature of such information.

4. Finally, the association shall adopt written rules governing the method or policy by which official records are to be retained, and the time period such records must be retained. This information must be made available to owners through the association’s website or application.

We need a website asap – what should we do?

DIY vs professional

You’ve got a few options when it comes to adopting an HOA website. First, you need to determine if the association is comfortable developing and maintaining the website on its own, or if the board requires help from a professional.

There may be a group of volunteers willing to take on the responsibilities of running the website. Wix is a great program for beginners, while WordPress is more appropriate for people who have some experience building websites.

Don’t forget that you will need a website host, too. In some cases, web hosting is offered with website building, but you can get these services separately.

If this all sounds overwhelming, then your board should create a shortlist of website companies they would like to work with.

Determine the HOA’s needs before hiring a design team

Before making a hiring decision, the board must have an understanding of what it requires (types of website pages, level of customer support, access to the backend of the site, hosting, costs, etc.). Companies will generally have multiple packages to choose from, and a basic option that makes sense for a smaller HOA may not meet the needs of a large HOA.

Evaluate cost, functionality and attractiveness  

A design company will happily answer your questions and tell you why they are qualified to build you a website, but the best ones will be able to show you what they are capable of doing.

Take some time to explore the “examples” or past projects” page. If you get access to a live site, assess how easy it is to navigate. Functionality and user experience will often be the key reasons behind a website’s success or failure.

Looks also matter when it comes to websites. Clean, simple designs have been proven to stand the test of time.

Not only does an aesthetically pleasing website draw owners in, but it also makes a good first impression on prospective buyers.

Finally, ensure the cost fits with the association’s budget. While the cheapest option isn’t usually the best one, your community doesn’t need to pay top dollar, either. The goal is to receive value in return for the money the association pays. On average, HOAs can expect to pay between $800 to $3,000 annually for a functional, professional site.

HOA Sites: A top choice for associations

Your board won’t have too much difficulty finding qualified website development teams. The bigger challenge will be making a final decision.   

Though we encourage you to consider multiple options, we also recommend adding HOA Sites to your list of candidates.

There are several reasons why HOA Sites is the preferred choice of small and large HOA communities, but the main reason is that we create custom websites specifically for homeowners associations.  

HOA website experts

HOA Sites has a keen understanding of what HOA communities want and need for their websites. We have worked with hundreds of board members and property managers, and have successfully met the needs of our clients. 

We have over 2 million active users, and have created over 6,000 websites for HOA communities.  

If you are in a hurry to launch your site, we can help you do it right, and do it relatively quickly.

Refreshingly easy to use

Our clients do not need any prior website experience to use HOA Sites. We know that most people don’t have coding experience, which is why we create templates that anyone can work with. Simply add text to a textbox, upload as many documents as you need, click save, and you’re done. If you can use email, you can use HOA Sites.

Unwavering customer support

Customers can’t say enough positive things about the support they receive from us.

We assign a personal project manager to every client so that they aren’t left to figure things out on their own. When building their website, this person helps the customer every step of the way.

On top of that, our response time for customer support is the best in the industry. During business hours, we respond to support tickets in under 3 minutes, on average, and post our response times as a way to keep ourselves accountable.

24/7 access to your website

One of the best parts of having an HOA website is the barrier-free access to information. That is the main reason Florida passed the website law for HOAs. Residents can view community documents, check announcements, and download forms on their own at any time.

With information always at their fingertips, they can better understand the challenges that their community is facing, and make strategic decisions that will benefit them now and in the future.     

But a website doesn’t help just residents. Staff and board members can work more efficiently when HOA information is consolidated and organized.

Additional features to simplify HOA management

In addition to making it easy for HOAs to upload and update documents and send communications, HOA Sites has several features that HOAs approve of. For example, communities can take advantage of accounting to collect payments online or track expenses. By managing finances through the website, associations improve financial accuracy and transparency.

HOAs can also handle maintenance requests, event registration, classified ads, and much more with HOA Sites.

HOA Sites has the experience and skills to help your association comply with legal mandates, and streamline manual processes. As a result, you can reduce the time that staff and board members spend completing tedious admin work, and empower them to take on the challenges that really matter.

We already have a website. Do we need to do anything else? 

If your HOA already has a website, you may not need to do anything more. However, just having a website is not enough to meet legal requirements.

Your website must have a password-protected space that only residents and staff can access. This space is where official records should be posted.

Check to make sure the HOA has posted all records required by HB 1203 (there are a lot of them). Records need to be updated when they are amended.

Be prudent when it comes to redacting any information that should not be viewed by residents and staff.

Ensure every resident has the password or code required to access the private area of the website.

Finally, share the method or policy by which official records are retained, and the length of time these records are retained, on the HOA website.

If a third party, such as your management company, is taking care of your website, now is a good time to review the content to ensure it complies with HB 1203.

In addition to that, find out or confirm who owns the website. Having ownership is important because if the relationship between parties suddenly ends, you won’t lose access to your site. Conversely, if the site is owned by the management company, the HOA would need to quickly build a new site or find someone to do it on behalf of the association.  

Conclusion

Florida’s new HOA website law aims to improve transparency and accountability within governed associations.

By requiring HOAs to post current community records, owners can check bylaws and rules, financial statements, insurance policies, meeting agendas, and more, without asking a manager or staff member for assistance.

The improved access to information allows members to stay informed and can assist with engagement and rule compliance, too. This convenience is especially helpful to members who don’t live in the community full-time. They stay connected to the HOA, even if they are not physically there.  

Even if a report doesn’t look good, it’s better to let owners see the numbers and prepare for a tough resolution than take them by surprise. 

While uploading documents to a website may require a bit of extra work, staff and board members will find that they actually spend less time fulfilling individual requests.

As a bonus, HOAs that share documents online also use less paper since not all items will need to be distributed to every owner.

If your community still wants to know more about HB 1203, your attorney is your best resource. And, if you would like to inquire about an HOA website, please contact us!