One of the hardest things a property manager must do is manage, process and respond to abounding information. I was reminded of this when I read a recent forum on the subject of ‘motion spreadsheets.’ By my understanding, the question was — what is the best way to keep a searchable history of the Boards decisions (motions). 
Whether you’re thinking of investing in a document management system or are planning a process improvement around to record HOA decisions, I recommend starting simple with Microsoft Excel. Its versatility makes it a great tool to track and snapshot a ton of information in a searchable and easily tailored format. When creating your spreadsheet, start with the end in mind
- Focus your categories on filter search ability
- Identify and code stakeholders
- Set policy, time and place
Focus on Categories
Think about what questions you want the sheet to answer:
- When did the board approve xxxx?
- Who made the motion for xxxx decision?
- When were the minutes posted to the HOA website?
- What minutes have not been approved and made public?
- How much did we spend on xxxx project?
Your headings will allow you to record specific data and filter the data using relevant keywords in the future, like “aerating project” or “special assessment”.
Identify & Code Stakeholders
I’m big fan of color coding spreadsheets. Colors can be used to define who is supposed to do what. In this sample spreadsheet I’ve used blue, green and purple to delineate board, management and committee action items. Sample Motion Spreadsheet: 
Policy, Time & Place
Before you roll out this process improvement establish 1.) what the objective of the tool is, 2.) who is accountable for the tool and when the data entry will happen, 3.) an annual review process and 4.) a historical archive plan. Consistency is your key to success. Calendar dates and times when you will update your spreadsheet. If your HOA meets monthly, perhaps you’ll block one hour bi-weekly. If they meet quarterly, perhaps you’ll update it once a month. Either way, protect your time and place by placing a high priority on your consistency goals.
Rachel is grateful for her journey, through which she found her true calling as a real estate agent. Rachel now serves as a Realtor in Passaic, Bergen and Morris counties, NJ. When you work with Rachel, it's all about you, because her dream is to see your dream come true!
- Do HOA Buyers Know What They’re Getting Into? - May 1, 2019
- Avoiding HOA Meeting Déjà Vu - May 11, 2017
Help
This is an amazing and invaluable tool! We’ll start suggesting this to all our boards immediately!
Great to hear, Tina! Give me a shout if you need any help.
As the president of a self-managed HOA, I feel a particular kinship to the guy in your cartoon this time…especially noting that part about forgetting what we all were talking about As it happens, one of our board has heroically taken on the task of making just such a spreadsheet. I’ll forward this article to her and the rest of the board.
Cheers from Seattle.
Hi Ken! That’s what made me laugh so much at this comic; how true it is. Thank you for serving in your community. I hope the article adds value to your existing system.
To clarify, we are not property managers, we are Association Managers.