COMMUNITY SITES, PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC
I recently had an HOA cancel its website because they were convinced that the site was no longer needed, as the management company provided a secure portal that offers another way for community members/homeowners to access secure community files.
HOMEOWNERS and RENTERS
The community website with the domain name offers more than just a place to store community files; it provides public access to community information for public announcements for renters who don’t typically have access to information for the property owners—for example, scheduled improvements to the common area, upcoming meetings, community announcements, and more.
REALTORS and BUYERS
The community website offers a public space for potential buyers to better understand the area they plan to move into. It also provides a link for realtors to familiarize themselves with the region, often helping realtors who are seeking a place for a client outside the area.
WEBSITE SUMMARY
In summary, a public community website offers secure file access for members and nonsecure public information for those not belonging to the association, including renters, buyers, visitors, realtors, and others. Cancelling an existing public website is a mistake, and HOAs that do not have one are encouraged to establish one.