Getting Those Sweet, Sweet HOA Dues: A Guide to Actually Getting Paid on Time

🐪 Hump Day Hoodey: Getting Those Sweet, Sweet HOA Dues: A Guide to Actually Getting Paid on Time

Howdy, and happy Hump Day folks. 5 minute easy read with high value. Deep topic discussion, industry news and information comin’ in hot! And if you hear an lol from a few cubicles away… yeah, they’re reading this too 😄 

Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving…unless you have today off and you are reading this on Monday. If so, Hello from the past!

So, either Happy Thanksgiving or Happy December! Either way, we’re got a month left before annual assessments are due. for. every. association. in. the. country 😱Let’s discuss how to get those payments made on time!

💸 Getting Those Sweet, Sweet HOA Dues: A Guide to Actually Getting Paid on Time

Let's face it – collecting HOA assessments is about as fun as watching paint dry in a snowstorm. But since we can't run our community on good intentions and potluck dinners alone, here's how to boost those on-time payments without losing your sanity.

🗓 Why December-January Payments Matter (Besides the Obvious)

You know what's not on anyone's holiday wishlist? HOA dues. Yet here we are, competing with Black Friday deals, holiday gifts, and Uncle Bob's emergency dental work for your residents' hard-earned dollars. The thing is, starting the year with full coffers means we can actually do all those fancy things promised in the budget – like fixing that tennis court net that's been hanging on by a thread since 2022.

📃 5 Tips to Make Your Collection Dreams Come True

1. The Early Bird Gets the Check

You’ve sent your payment reminder campaign before the Thanksgiving turkey even hits the table, right?!?! Ok, good (assuming, you didn’t say no). Ideally, you’d want to send out notices in early November when bank accounts aren't yet decimated by holiday shopping. Include a friendly reminder that paying HOA dues before December 31st might have tax benefits (consult your accountant, folks – we're not the IRS).

2. Make It Ridiculously Easy to Pay

Welcome to the 21st century, where people expect to pay for everything from their phones while sitting in their pajamas. If you're still expecting everyone to mail checks like it's 1985, you're doing it wrong. Set up online payment portals, autopay options, and maybe even one of those fancy payment apps. The easier it is, the fewer excuses you'll hear.

3. The "Early Bird Special" That Actually Works

Consider offering a modest discount for early payments – say, 2-3% off if paid by December 15th. Yes, you'll take a small hit on the total amount, but you'll be swimming in on-time payments like Scrooge McDuck. Plus, it's cheaper than hiring a collection agency later.

4. Communication That Doesn't Put People to Sleep

Instead of sending another boring payment reminder, try something different. Create an engaging newsletter highlighting exactly what those dues accomplish. "Remember that gorgeous new lobby furniture? Yeah, that wasn't delivered by HOA fairies – your dues made that happen!" Include some before-and-after photos of community improvements. Make them feel like they're getting their money's worth.

5. The "Breaking Bad" News Approach

If all else fails, remind homeowners about late fees and interest in the most transparent way possible. Create a simple chart showing how much more they'll pay if they delay. Nothing motivates quite like seeing "$50 late fee + 1.5% monthly interest = Why didn't I just pay this in December?"

🤔 The Secret Sauce: Psychology Meets Practicality

Here's the thing – people aren't usually late with payments because they're trying to drive you nuts (mostly). They're late because of poor planning, holiday chaos, or simply forgetting. By making the process painless and even slightly rewarding, you're working with human nature instead of against it.

Remember, your goal isn't to become the neighborhood Grinch – it's to maintain a well-funded community where everyone benefits. And if you can achieve that while keeping your sense of humor intact, well, that's what we call a holiday miracle.

So there you have it – your roadmap to collection success. Now go forth and collect those dues with the confidence of someone who actually knows what they're doing (even if you're just faking it till you make it, like the rest of us).

Need a printable version of these tips? Contact us, and we'll send you one – right after you pay your dues, of course. (Just kidding... mostly.)

Onward! 📈

Happy T-Day 🍗🦃

😎 Cool tools should check out to help you work better:

1. Still need a last minute side dish to take to Thanksgiving tomorrow? Here’s 97 (yes ninety seven) side dish Recipes - Click Here to Be a Hero

👔 Gigs