The simple answer is that with Website Development Svcs (WDS), you probably can.

Simplicity & Standardization: We develop our websites using the industry standard WordPress system and widely used vendor-supported components. These include:

1. Themes -- Website development starts with the selection of a theme from hundreds of available business-specific themes (templates) or with one of our customized themes. Many themes are available at no charge, or they may have a premium version available for a nominal fee.

2. Plugins -- Our websites' major functions utilize a variety of code-modules called plugins. There are two types of plugins, those visible to the web user/customer (login/registration, newsletter & bulletin email blaster, forms management, button display, events management, document control, etc.) and those working behind-the-scenes to perform housekeeping functions (cache management, security, website backup, anti-spam, search engine optimization, website analytics, media management, etc.). Many of the plugins that we used are available at no charge, but if extensive functions are needed, have premium priced versions.

3. Widgets -- We use a variety of widgets to control the display of information on the web pages. The widgets control text, document, image and index display, and standard sets of these come with WordPress, themes and plugins.

All of the above, including the WordPress system itself, are fully supported by a cadre of software vendors who update their components on a regular basis assuring that they all continue to work together. In other words, someone other than you or the website developer performs most of the maintenance. The customer's or developer's responsibility is to design the website, select the themes and plugins, and provide the website's media (text, images and documents).

Low Overhead: We have low overhead as demonstrated by our office doorway (see image). Our corporate assets consist of a desk, a chair, and a computer.

Our website design and development activities are a hobby and not the prime way to earn enough to pay association dues. Our minimal expenses result in fair pricing for both development and any of the desired support options.

Community association have unique requirements which can be best addressed by individuals who live in the communities and are licensed to manage them. I believe that association websites should do more than serve as a document container. Frequently association members elected to leadership positions (board members and officers) have little or no knowledge of property maintenance and Florida regulatory requirements. Bad decisions that they may make could cost associations substantial legal fees or saddle the association with burdens lasting for decades.

As an advocate for knowledgeable and experienced association leadership, I endorse training programs, planning exercises and value-added websites. By this I mean websites that teach community leaders and members about the community in which they live and the documents and laws governing them. Please see my sample condo association website which demonstrates the teaching aspects of a community website. Click on the following link to view the website, and feel free to register as either an owner or guest: www.FLCondoWebsiteDevl.com.

Board members and property managers get caught up in the day-to-day property maintenance activities and the unexpected events that monopolize their time. Many decisions addressing the needs and concerns of the community are made on the spur of the moment without consideration for their longer-term implications. Rarely are decisions considered within an overall framework or strategy that ensures consistency while targeting an overall preferred future state. As an Association transitions from one board to another, a new set of agendas are brought forward, oftentimes without considering prior board objectives and directions.

All associations should consider the longer-term needs of the community in providing an improved and more enjoyable lifestyle for unit owners.

To address the Association’s need to provide a desired future state with a roadmap to get there, it is advantageous for the Board of Directors to appoint an advisory committee of homeowners to assist the board in establishing long range (strategic) and intermediate range (tactical) plans for the Association. The Strategic Planning process begins with the establishment of mission, vision, and core values. From these, the committee documents their understanding of the current state of the community and then proceeds to develop goals and action plans to achieve the more desirable future.

Strategic Plans are important in enabling the Association and board to be more responsive to the owners by:

• Facilitating decision-making,
• Governing and guiding operations,
• Establishing a framework for assuring proper prioritizing of competing projects,
• Influencing budgets and the allocation of scarce resources,
• Setting direction to ensure a more desirable future state, and
• Benefiting the overall best interest of the community.

Please contact us for assistance in your association’s development of a Strategic Plan.

Click on the following link to visit my Strategic Plan model: Strategic Planning Model