Self-Managing Your HOA: When It Works - and When Extra Support Starts to Make Sense
If your community is self-managed, chances are it didn’t happen by accident. A board member stepped up. Then another. Systems were built, vendors were lined up, and somehow everything got done - usually after work, on weekends, or during what was supposed to be “free time.”
Self-management can absolutely work. Many communities do it successfully for years. The real question isn’t whether self-management is good or bad - it’s whether it still fits your community today. Here’s an objective look at self-management from the perspective of communities already doing the work.
1. Cost Control: Clear Savings, Hidden Tradeoffs
Self-managed communities often pride themselves on keeping costs lean. Without a management fee, dues stay lower, and boards maintain tight control over spending. That’s a real advantage, especially for smaller associations.
Over time, though, savings can be offset by less obvious costs - missed vendor efficiencies, time spent renegotiating contracts, or financial tasks that take longer simply because they’re handled part-time. Professional management doesn’t eliminate costs, but it can introduce predictability, leverage, and processes that reduce surprises.
The money saved is real - but so is the time and mental load required to maintain it.
2. Time & Burnout: The Slow Creep No One Plans For
Most self-managed communities start strong. Emails are answered quickly. Maintenance issues get handled. Board meetings are productive.
Then life happens. A key board member moves. Another gets busier at work. Suddenly, one or two people are carrying a disproportionate share of the workload. The community still functions - but it feels fragile.
Professional management adds redundancy. Tasks don’t live in one inbox or one person’s head. Coverage doesn’t disappear when schedules change.
3. Compliance & Complexity: Growing Pains Are Real
Self-managed boards become experts in their own communities. That knowledge is invaluable. But as laws change, reporting requirements increase, and expectations around transparency rise, staying compliant becomes a moving target.
Professional managers track these changes as part of their job and help boards stay ahead of deadlines and documentation requirements. It’s not that compliance is impossible - it just keeps getting harder to stay current without dedicated, professional support.
4. Neighbor Dynamics: When “Volunteer” Meets “Enforcer”
In self-managed communities, board members often wear multiple hats: neighbor, volunteer, decision-maker, and sometimes rule enforcer. That closeness can be a strength - but it can also create tension when difficult conversations arise.
Professional management introduces a buffer. Communication becomes more structured, enforcement more consistent, and personal relationships less strained.
5. Systems & Continuity: What Happens When Someone Steps Away
Self-managed communities typically build systems that work for their board. The challenge comes when leadership changes. Files are stored “wherever they’ve always been,” processes are passed down informally, and continuity depends on goodwill and memory.
Professional management centralizes records, standardizes workflows, and ensures the community doesn’t have to reinvent itself every election cycle.
A Thoughtful Next Step
Self-management isn’t a failure - it’s often a sign of an engaged, capable community. But many self-managed boards eventually reach a point where the question shifts from “Can we do this?” to “Should we still be doing all of this ourselves?”
At Garfield, we frequently partner with communities that have been self-managed for years. Our role isn’t to replace engaged boards—it’s to support them with technology, structure, and professional depth that reduces risk and burnout while preserving local control.
If your community is running - but running a little too much on volunteer horsepower - it may be time to explore what modern, proactive professional management could add.