Understanding the Role of Community Managers and Dispelling Common Misconceptions

Homeowners’ Association (HOA) community managers play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning and upkeep of residential communities. Often misunderstood, their duties encompass various responsibilities, ranging from administrative tasks to facilitating communication between residents and the board of directors. Let’s delve into the intricacies of their job description and dispel some common misunderstandings surrounding […]

Unveiling the Evolution of the CMCA Exam Blueprint: Changes Go into Effect December 2024

The Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB) is poised to usher in a new era for the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) exam, offering a revamped blueprint that mirrors the dynamic landscape of association management across the globe. These changes, stemming from a thorough job analysis study conducted between 2021 and 2022, reflect […]

Elevating the Homeowner Experience in Community Association Management

Many factors contribute to how community association management companies can enhance the quality of life for their homeowners and boards. To ensure a positive relationship with their associations, management companies must be mindful of their homeowners’ needs, the role of technology in the relationship, transparent communications strategies, understanding how to solicit and incorporate homeowner feedback, […]

Hiring an HOA Company: How to Reduce Conflict and Improve Community Services

It’s no secret that homeowners associations have proliferated in the United States. We’ve gone from 10,000 in 1970 to an estimated 365,000 associations in 2023. It’s virtually impossible to find a home for sale these days that isn’t part of an association.  Homeowners associations provide huge benefits to their residents, but they also have no […]

Ask the HOA Expert: Professional Management Perks

All too often a homeowner association board of directors approaches problems as would a renter looking after the apartment building…reacting by crisis rather than by a long range plan. Guess what? Many HOAs are in constant turmoil because of this approach. A professional HOA manager can smooth out the bumps in this rocky road by […]

Unlocking Hidden Revenue: Innovative Strategies for HOA Management Companies

…..you’ll discover the secrets to transforming your HOA management business by identifying untapped revenue sources and implementing innovative strategies. Learn how to maximize profitability, enhance client satisfaction, and stay ahead of the competition in the ever-evolving world of HOA management.    Listen to the vlog………………………….

The management company answers to the HOA (NV)

Q: We live in an older homeowners association of 385 single-family homes. We’ve lived here 14 years and in the last few years have had several community management companies, each seemingly worse than the last. These big national companies increasingly despise committee and volunteer involvement.    Read the Q&A……………………………

Recruit, train, retain: Attracting young professionals to community management

If you talk to community association managers these days, they seem to agree on a few key things about the state of the profession. Business and career prospects are booming. Job candidates are not. The future of the industry depends on hiring young professionals—soon.    Read the article………………………………..

The Property Management Contract (NY)

Retaining a new management company is not unlike getting married, but instead of romance, there’s a management contract. Each company has different clauses in their standard contract, and it’s important to understand the scope and limits of these terms. You should also know that you can negotiate a property management contract.   Read the article………………………………..

Preserve HOA sues Hammersmith Management (CO)

On August 28, the Preserve at Greenwood Village Homeowners’ Association filed suit in Arapahoe County District Court against its former management company, HDM2 d/b/a Hammersmith Management, Inc. (HMI), which provided management services to the Preserve neighborhood for X years until August 2022, when the HOA terminated its relationship with Hammersmith.   Read the article…………………………………

New Community Association Management Rule Takes Effect (IL)

New administrative Rules governing Community Association Managers and Community Association Management Firms (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1445) became effective June 2, 2023. The new Rule represents a major overhaul to the prior Rule, which was adopted in October 2011.  Read the article………………………..

The Role of an HOA Management Company: A Comprehensive Guide

Many Americans live in common-interest communities, such as homeowner’s associations (HOAs) and condominium associations. In fact, in 2022, about 26% of Americans lived in HOAs alone. That means thousands of communities nationwide designed to govern themselves and enhance home value for their residents.   Read the article………………………..

Some condo workers released from shadow noncompetes by FirstService Residential (MN)

Residents of the River Towers condominiums in Minneapolis like their building’s staff. The building’s staff like the residents — many have worked in the building for years.  But a provision in the contract between the condo association and the building’s property management company, FirstService Residential Minnesota, means neither the residents nor the workers have a […]

Minnesota banned noncompetes. A major property manager has a workaround.

When the property management company FirstService Residential Minnesota announced it was dropping noncompete clauses in employment contracts, it said the change aligned with the company’s values.  But a provision persists in its management contracts with condominium associations that says FirstService workers (including desk attendants and caretakers) may not be employed — either directly or indirectly […]

The Myth Of Full Service Management

Many homeowners associations mistakenly believe that they require full-service management for smooth operations. However, this kind of mindset might cause associations to overspend on an expense they don’t even need.  Read the article………………………..

Bids vs. Contracts: Warnings and Legal Liability (CO)

We have previously addressed the importance of Associations having proper, legal contracts that protect the Association and how proposals are not to be signed in lieu of contracts, etc. Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more issues with bids & contracts that produce liability for the Association and at times managers. Please note the following […]

Condo Adviser: Condo boards are not legally required to hire management companies (IL)

Q: I live in a sprawling, suburban condominium association that comprises 25 separate buildings with condominium units in each building. The association is self-managed because the board has refused retaining a professional management company to save money. Does Illinois law require a management company to be retained if there are a certain number of buildings […]

What Are the Responsibilities of an HOA Management Company? (TX)

Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are organizations where homeowners work together to manage their properties and ensure a high standard of living for all residents. Managing an HOA might be a complex process because HOA’s volunteer board members often have jobs and other responsibilities.   Read the article………………………..

B.C. facing a critical shortage of strata property managers, industry says

British Columbia is facing an acute shortage of property managers as a growing number of people make their homes in strata properties.  More than 1.5 million people are estimated to live in B.C.’s 30,000 strata properties.  But finding people to manage those properties is getting increasingly difficult,   Read the article………………………..

It May Be Time to Review Your Management Contract (FL)

Last week I blogged about the possibility of Board members walking off with your association bank accounts. Bank accounts that are about to explode with mandatory reserves and huge construction contracts that are on the way. Today, let’s talk about what you need to know about your management company.   Read the article………………………..

Managers wanted: Solving the talent shortage

Anyone working in community association management is likely aware that the industry is facing a talent shortage. At CAI’s event for management company executives in October, attendees were questioned about the scarcity, with 85% of respondents reporting current openings. In a time of high turnover and the so-called “great resignation,” how do we attract and […]

Florida Professional Service LLC Personal Liability Protections: Perks and Pitfalls

Managers and members who provide professional services in Florida often choose to organize their businesses into Limited Liability Companies (“LLCs”) because LLCs generally provide freedom from personal liability for the obligations of the LLC. This blog post discusses exceptions to the general prohibition on holding LLC members or managers personally liable for the LLC’s obligations […]

HOA Homefront: Managers’ New Year’s resolutions

Previous columns proposed resolutions for directors and HOA members, so today I share my ideas for managers. Next week, I’ll dig into resolutions for service providers.   Read the article………………………..

Ask The HOA Expert: Changing The Management Company

Question: Our management company seems too busy to handle our HOA business. The board wants to evaluate other management options. Is there some form or checklist we can use? There are many management companies. How do we determine which one is best for our needs?   Read the Q&A……………………………….

What you need to know before hiring a property management company

The good news is that selecting the right property management company will make your job as an HOA Board Member a lot easier. On the other hand, there are a lot of property management companies to choose from, so finding the ideal fit for your community association will take some time.  Read the entire article……………………………….

Ask The HOA Expert: Manager Fees & Services, Quorum

Question: Our professional manager charges a 5% oversight fee for renovation and insurance repair projects that the homeowner association enters into. Is this common?   Read the Q&A……………………………….

HOA Homefront: Why selecting a management company based on price is a mistake (CA)

This column is the second in a two-part series on selecting HOA management. The previous column discussed the different types of association management services.  After selecting the management service type and candidate firm, carefully consider the proposed management contract.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Prevent Automatic Contract Renewals in Service Contracts (OH)

Community association boards execute contracts on the association’s behalf with various types of contractors to maintain, repair, and replace their associations’ common elements. Project specific contracts involve a contractor completing a particular project, for example, replacing the roof of a building. Project specific contracts should always include a start date and completion date requirement.   Read […]

Considerations in Choosing a Property Manager: the Management Contract (MI)

A healthy working relationship between a residential association and its professional manager goes a long way toward making a successful residential community. Property managers typically have years and years of experience in community management and are able to provide advice and guidance on all sorts of matters that affect a community.  Read the entire article……………………………….

How To Do An HOA Manager Performance Review

Homeowners associations and their boards should routinely conduct an HOA manager performance review. In doing so, they can objectively evaluate how their manager or management company is doing and decide whether or not it is time for a change.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Illinois Condominium Law Alert: New Implied Cause of Action a Warning to Condominium Owners, Directors, and Property Managers

Every condominium owner, director and property manager will be impacted by a recent Appellate Court decision in the case of Channon v. Westward Management, Inc. It gave every condominium seller the right to sue the property manager, as agent of a condominium association or board of directors, based on allegations that the property manager charged […]