My condo is is preparing for its first ever board elections. I'm thinking about running, since I think my background would be beneficial for the condo. However, I already have a very busy schedule. I leave for work everyday at 7:30am and get home around 7:30pm. In addition, my first child is due in two months. Do I really need the hassle of also serving on the condo board?

Have anyone here ever been involved on a condo board? How much time does it take? Any pros or cons?

 

You got a kid coming so NO. I have friends that do this and it's a very frustrating, thankless job that you don't get paid for. True you help yourself out by helping values increase by maintaining the neighborhood but you personally have a tough situation.

 

NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously.

 

lol

That's what I thought people would say. My only knowledge of condo boards is from that Seinfeld episode when Kramer tries to run for board president.

It's too bad, since I think I could really help the condo.

 

I joined once and I wanted to kill myself....Luckily I moved out of the place instead...

 

How about getting involved on one of the various committees like landscaping, insurance, etc. It's much less of a commitment than board member, and you are still contributing.

 

Hmmm, sounds interesting. I'll have to look into it.

 

After 10 years of living in my T/H I joined the HOA last November. Many of my neighbors were not following the rules, house looks like shit and trash was being placed outside anytime they felt like it, not just the days of pick up. Things are looking a lot better now. I JUST LOVE THE POWER, j/k.

It is some work, but someone has to do it, and I don't want my home value to drop because of others. Those others are mainly renters, so we have to keep the owners on their asses.

 

Morty says DO IT!

 

Yeah, but Morty's retired.

 

Just to give you an idea and I'm sure NYC is pretty bad. My friend told a lady that she can't hang her carpets and towels on the handrails in the common area. She told him FU!!! and then he fined her $125. I'd be nervous because who knows what vengeful neighbors would do to your personal property.

 

Yeah, I thought about that, too. I can't bear the thought that someone might key my TSX.

 

No idea in whats involved in being a condo board member but you'll be missing that time with your child. There's never enough time for your kids.

 

What does the Mrs. say? It is really a joint decision.

 

I was voted onto the "original" HOA board for my new neighborhood. We took over the HOA from the developers. I won't bore you with the details, but being very busy like you (wife, 1 daughter, another on the way, demanding job, PhD program, etc.), I have still found the HOA to be a worthwhile venture. You can "make" the time for it, the question is "why" do you want to do it. My reasons were simple- wanting to ensure that somebody rational (could be a misperception of mine ) was on the Board and able to represent "normal/average" viewpoints. I did not want a nazi-like police force developing on the HOA board and pushing forth the perspectives of the vocal minority. In my old neighborhood, I found the retirees ruled the HOA and worked towards taking away the qualities of the neighborhood that appealed to younger people and families. I did not want any part of that to develop in our new neighborhood.

Like any leadership group, things never happen as quickly/easily as you would hope. Nevertheless, I've enjoyed it and will be running again in March when my 2yr term ends.

 

I don't think there are any retirees in my condo. The condo is mainly DINKs and a few DISKs.

 

I'm on mine, by we are single family houses and don't have much to deal with. The time commitment is really minimal. We meet about once a month for an hour.

 

I'm on my condo board. The place was run so pathetic before the whole board turned over. Board members were pocketing $$ left and right, thye promised no common charge increases but then hit up the community with assessments and more assesments, drained the reserves from $750k down to $150k, giving out 10 year service contracts with no cost of living increases factored in, or even one case, the treasurer gave out a 10 year elevator service contract for a company that was renovating our elevators before they even started . Its a lot of commitment for our part even though they said 2 hours a week 2x a month, we meet like 3-4 hours a week, 3x a month because there was so much to straighten out . In a way, its nice to be on cause you know whats going on but sometimes, the commitment is just too much