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After years managing eight e-commerce brands, I’ve seen one thing clearly: AI is rewriting how customer service works. I wrote about it this week for EO. How the right tools can turn every customer moment into leverage, not labor. If you’re serious about scaling smarter, this is where it starts. Read the full piece.

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🎯 This Week’s Strategy:

• Cross-Community HOA Collaboration Models

🌐 Boardroom Brief:

• Landscaping Missteps Highlight Need for Smarter HOA Oversight
  

Strategy

🎯 Cross-Community HOA Collaboration Models

In today’s interconnected landscape, many HOAs face similar challenges such as rising vendor costs, limited volunteer bandwidth, and growing resident expectations. Yet, few communities realize the potential of cross-community collaboration as a strategic solution. By forming cooperative models among nearby HOAs, leaders can share resources, pool purchasing power, and exchange proven governance practices. This approach transforms isolated efforts into a collective network of smarter, stronger, and more efficient communities.

Imagine multiple HOAs in the same region jointly negotiating landscaping or waste management contracts. Or board members from different communities meeting quarterly to share lessons on budgeting, technology, or enforcement policies. Collaboration reduces duplication of effort, improves service quality, and fosters a sense of regional community beyond property lines.

How HOA Leaders Can Implement a Cross-Community Collaboration Model

1. Identify Common Goals and Shared Challenges

Start by pinpointing the issues your neighboring HOAs are also facing—such as rising maintenance costs, compliance confusion, or communication bottlenecks.

Action Steps:
✅ Reach out to neighboring HOA boards or management companies to discuss overlapping challenges.

✅ Identify 2–3 areas where cooperation could bring immediate value (e.g., vendor contracts, shared events, or bulk service agreements).

✅ Document potential benefits and cost savings for presentation to your board.

2. Create a Regional HOA Network or Council

Formalize collaboration through a structured council that meets regularly, virtually or in person.

Action Steps:
✅ Establish a small working group with representatives from each participating HOA.

✅ Set clear objectives, such as improving vendor negotiations or standardizing best practices.

✅ Rotate hosting duties for meetings to build engagement and visibility.

3. Pool Resources for Vendor Negotiations

One of the most practical collaboration benefits is collective purchasing power.

Action Steps:
✅ Identify vendors used by multiple HOAs (e.g., landscaping, security, insurance).

✅ Negotiate bulk contracts or multi-community service packages to reduce per-unit costs.

✅ Establish shared service agreements with clear billing and accountability terms.

4. Share Knowledge and Best Practices

Cross-community collaboration is not just financial—it’s intellectual.

Action Steps:
✅ Create shared online folders or chat groups for policy templates, vendor reviews, and board management tools.

✅ Host quarterly workshops or webinars to exchange operational insights.

✅ Develop shared “case studies” to document what works (and what doesn’t) across communities.

5. Communicate Collaboration Benefits to Residents

Transparency builds trust and participation. Residents appreciate knowing their HOA is leveraging partnerships to deliver more value.

Action Steps:
✅ Highlight collaborative wins in newsletters or town halls.

✅ Share measurable outcomes—such as cost savings, service improvements, or new amenities.

✅ Encourage residents to suggest areas for joint improvement (e.g., recycling drives, safety patrols, or neighborhood events).

Why It Matters

Cross-community collaboration redefines what it means to lead an HOA. Instead of operating in isolation, progressive boards can now act as part of a regional ecosystem, one that shares expertise, reduces costs, and elevates standards across entire neighborhoods. By pooling insight and resources, HOAs can overcome common challenges more efficiently and strengthen community identity on a larger scale. Collaboration isn’t just a strategy, it’s a leadership evolution.

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Boardroom Brief

Landscaping Missteps Highlight Need for Smarter HOA Oversight

A viral Reddit post this week drew national attention after a homeowner shared images of a newly planted palm tree left sitting in stagnant water for over two weeks, the result of a broken irrigation line that went unfixed despite repeated reports to HOA management. The soggy scene, quickly dubbed “a mosquito nursery” by commenters, underscores a recurring issue in association management: inadequate vendor supervision and delayed maintenance responses. For HOA boards, this incident serves as a reminder that landscaping isn’t just about aesthetics - it’s about environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and community health. Poor drainage and overwatering can lead to root rot, pest infestations, and unnecessary water waste, especially in drought-prone regions. Proactive leaders should ensure vendors follow clear installation protocols, conduct post-project inspections, and establish rapid response procedures for resident-reported issues. Smarter oversight not only protects community assets but also strengthens resident trust in the HOA’s commitment to responsible management.

Game

🎉 Fun Finale: Play & Poll

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