Is it right for us
Who is this a good fit for?
Self-managed HOAs of about 50 to 500 homes, run by volunteers. If a property management company runs your HOA, it will usually want to manage the website itself. And if you need accounting, I'm probably not the right fit. Either way, I'll tell you so.
Why not just have a resident build it?
If you have a resident who's a developer and plans to stay on the board for years, that can work well. The trouble comes when they move or burn out and nobody else knows how it works. With me, the work doesn't depend on one volunteer, and the handover guide means anyone can pick it up.
Why not a $250-a-year HOA website builder?
They're a fine choice if a volunteer enjoys doing updates. They're cheap because your board does the work, on a template that looks like every other HOA. You're also limited to the features the builder offers, so the site can't bend to what your community actually needs. With me, the site is shaped around your community, and a person makes every change for you.
Who will we actually work with?
Me, every time. I'm one person, not an agency, so there's no account manager and no help desk. You message me in your portal and I reply.
Do you write our news and emails?
Your board writes its own posts, newsletters and announcements and sends them from the site. If you give me an outline, I can have AI draft something for you to edit, but everything published is ultimately your board's call and your responsibility. I build and look after the tools, move your existing pages and documents over at launch, and make updating easy. If posting something ever feels hard, send it as a request and I'll make it easier.
Do you build a mobile app?
No. I build websites that work beautifully on phones, so residents don't have to download anything or update an app. If they like, they can add the site to their home screen and open it like an app.
Requests
What does "unlimited requests" mean?
Your board can send as many requests as it likes. I work on one at a time, in the order you choose, and finish at least one every 30 days, often more. If something is too big for one go, I'll tell you and break it into smaller pieces, so it launches in an orderly way.
Why 30 days and not 48 hours?
Because HOAs rarely need things overnight, and a 30-day window lets me batch work, which is what keeps the price within reach of a volunteer board. Most months I finish more than one. When something truly can't wait, a rush change is done within 24 hours for $100.
What counts as a request?
Changing how a page works or looks, adding a new page or form, updating who has admin access, or turning on a feature another Crafted site already has. Writing posts or sending emails to residents isn't a request: your board does that with the site's tools. If you're not sure, send it and I'll tell you.
Who on the board can send requests?
One person your board chooses. I set up a portal account for them, often the president or the head of the communications committee. They send requests and set the order. If you want someone else to represent your community, just email me and I'll switch the account to them.
What if we want a feature that's a bit unique?
Let's try it. I want your site to stay easy to look after, so I'll help you think the feature through first. AI makes almost anything possible, but whether it's wise to build is another question. If it's bigger than a normal request, I'll quote it in writing before any work starts. Once it's built, it's part of your site for good.
Money
What does it really cost each year?
The plan price, plus services billed by those companies directly to your HOA. A public site is $1,000 a year plus about $250 a year for hosting and the domain. A members site is $5,000 a year plus about $550 a year, which adds the database that runs sign-in and the directory. There are no per-home fees.
Does a plan cover more than one website?
No. Each plan is one website, at one domain, for one HOA. A separate site, say for your swim team, clubhouse or a neighboring section with its own board, is its own plan. Extra addresses that lead to the same site, like yourhoa.org and yourhoa.com, are fine.
Can we cancel?
Anytime, in your portal. Plans renew every year by default. Once you cancel, your plan runs to the end of the year you've paid for and doesn't renew. Your site keeps running either way, as long as your HOA keeps paying for its hosting, domain and any other services it uses.
Are there refunds?
No. If you decide it's not for you, you can cancel anytime in your portal and your plan won't renew. The details are in the service terms.
Do you ever touch our money?
No. Dues go straight to your treasurer through PayPal, Stripe or Venmo, whichever you choose. I never have access to your bank or payment accounts, and I don't want it. If I ever need a developer setting or key from one of them, I'll ask, and we'll set it up together.
Ownership and data
What happens if you stop?
Your site keeps running, as long as your HOA keeps its accounts paid. Everything lives in your HOA's own accounts, with a one-page handover guide any developer can follow. If you want, you can connect the code to your AI tool of choice and keep making changes yourselves. If I ever end the service, I'll give you at least 30 days' notice.
What if something happens to you?
Your site keeps running. From day one, the code, hosting and domain live in your HOA's own accounts, not mine, so nothing depends on me being around. Any developer can pick it up with the handover guide, or your board can connect the code to an AI tool and keep making updates yourselves.
What happens when our board changes?
Nothing breaks. One board member owns your HOA's hosting and domain accounts, and hands them to the next person when they step down. A second owner as a backup is a good idea. Your portal has one account, for the person who works with me. When that changes, just email me who's taking over and I'll move the portal account to them.
How do we cancel?
Cancel in your portal. Plans renew every year by default, so cancelling stops the next renewal. Your plan runs to the end of the year you've paid for, and then I close your portal account. Removing me from your domain, hosting and any other accounts is up to your board. There's no exit fee, and you keep the code to use or change however you like. Hand it to another developer, or keep managing it yourselves with AI tools.
You use AI. Is that safe?
AI helps me work faster. I check that every feature works as you asked, and you approve a preview before anything goes live, so nothing reaches your residents without two sets of eyes on it.
Where does resident data live?
In your HOA's own database, behind sign-in, with rules about who can see what. Each household chooses what it shares in the directory. I don't keep copies of it, sell it or use it to train AI.
Getting started and launch
How long until our site is live?
Usually about two months: one for design and one for testing and launch. Much of it depends on your board being ready: knowing what you want, with your content, documents and photos gathered. I recommend having that ready before your subscription starts.
What do you need from us?
A kickoff call, the name of one board member to own the accounts, access to your current site and domain, and someone to approve the preview. I do the rest, including moving your pages and documents over.
What will our board need to set up?
A few free or low-cost accounts in your HOA's name, so you own everything: GitHub for the code, Vercel for hosting, Resend for site emails, your domain, and Supabase if residents sign in. If you collect dues online, your treasurer makes a PayPal, Stripe or Venmo payment link. Each takes about five minutes, and you add me with limited access. See the step-by-step guides.
Will residents have to reset their passwords?
On a members site, yes. Sign-in runs on Supabase, a widely used, open-source platform. Passwords can't be copied from your old service, so every resident sets a new one at launch, and I send the emails and reminders. The upside: residents' accounts live in a standard system your HOA owns, which makes it easier to move to another service in the future.
Can we see something before we commit?
Yes. Tell me about your HOA and, if it's a good fit, I'll build a free private preview of your own site from your public pages.