HOA payments should be simple and streamlined for both the homeowner and the board.
There are a lot of benefits when it comes to automating your HOA payments for your homeowners. It makes things easier for everyone involved, including the board and the homeowner. The benefits of paying HOA dues online are extensive, including but not limited to:
- Decreased Expenses: The HOA doesn’t have to spend as much on supplies such as paper, ink, and postage. You can send collections statements via email, which incurs almost no expense.
- More On-Time Payments: When residents can settle their payments however they choose at their convenience, they’re more likely to pay on time. If they can also set up recurring payments, it’s far easier for them to pay on time. This way, the board doesn’t have to waste time following up with delinquent homeowners.
- Easier Accounting: Online payments are received and processed instantly. This means less staffing is required to manage them, and you’ll have an electronic record of all of your transactions.
- Environmental Impact: Online payments are better for the environment. Currently, 50% of waste comes from paper. HOA businesses that receive payments online can significantly cut down on paper waste and improve green initiatives.
This article will discuss the aspects you should consider when switching over to automated online payments for monthly HOA dues.
Choosing a Platform
There are many options for choosing a platform for your online payments. Different HOAs all over the country use all of these different options, so it is up to you to consider which option works best for you.
- Bank: Many HOAs use banks to oversee electronic payments via bank transfers. Most banks already have an electronic platform that associations and homeowners can use. These platforms also offer recurring payments and electronic withdrawals.
- Payment Service Provider: Payment service providers will provide homeowners with different payment options, as long as you can input some code into the HOA website. Just be sure to check the level of support that they offer.
- In-House Online Payments: This option gives you the most control. However, it requires the most work, as you have to build your payment page, set up a secure server, receive SSL certification, and test the platform before implementing it.
Consider Costs
There may be costs associated with the payment platform that you choose. Often, banks have fees for setting up accounts and withdrawing money, or online payment providers have monthly fees for their services. Furthermore, these services may collect a fee per transaction or a fee when you transfer funds to your bank account. In-house systems may help you circumvent many of these fees. However, there may be more of an upfront cost due to the labor involved in getting it set up. When considering any option, it is important to consider all of the potential costs before making a decision, so there are no surprises down the line.
Reporting
As we mentioned previously in this article, one of the best benefits of online payments is simplifying accounting and bookkeeping processes. You’ll have electronic records of all of your transactions, and you can do a lot with this information. You should pick an option that allows you to track payments easily. Some options even offer reporting, which helps you view the information in a digestible manner and integrate data in any way you need to make important decisions. Reporting and tracking are worth so much to your HOA, so you should certainly look
Transition to Online Payments
Of course, it is always important to consider your homeowners when making any significant decision. While online payments are convenient to most people, especially in the modern age, some homeowners may have difficulty adopting a new process. If your system involves setting up an account, there may be a learning curve while everyone gets used to the new interface. During the process, communication between the HOA and homeowners is vital so that everyone is on the same page. Otherwise, a system meant to simplify things may have the opposite effect.
Try Enumerate Central for Your Online Payment System
If you’re looking for a state-of-the-art payment system with all of the features mentioned in this article, you need look no further than Enumerate Central. Our online payment services empower owners to create one-time and recurring credit card payments and features completely free recurring ACH direct debits. You can even offer your owners online e-check payments. You can read more about our payment services on our website and see a demo as well. Get the best of the best with the experts who have been in the business for over 30 years.
