What is the average response time of managers in getting back to residents’ requests? For condo directors or managers that don’t know the answer, this is a must-read. This article will go over what analytics means in the condo management world, but more importantly, why it matters and how it can benefit management companies and […]
7 Reasons to Hire an HOA Manager This Year
How is your homeowner’s association doing? Is everything running easily and smoothly? Do you have interested members at each HOA board meeting? Is your reserve fund fully funded? What would you do if you were faced with a lawsuit or an unexpected project? If you answered no to any of these questions or don’t know […]
Sensors poised to transform property management
It’s an exciting time to be involved in residential property management. Technology is developing rapidly and permanently altering the residential landscape for managers, staff, and residents. Several companies are invested in developing the next generation of innovative tools for residential property management. Sensor technologies in particular are bound to make huge waves in the future. […]
Independent Contractor or Employee?
Many owners’ associations, especially the larger associations, pay workers to perform certain tasks for the benefit of the community. The kind of tasks these workers may perform ranges from landscaping, maintenance, and construction to teaching classes and operating recreational facilities. Paying workers to perform these tasks for the association is common and often necessary – […]
How to Avoid Burnout for Community Association Managers
It’s 2016, a week away from a new year and it seems that burnout has become a fact of life for community association managers. It is also a real possibility for dedicated Board members. Boards and managers are challenged by rudeness, confrontational and adversarial communications, even menacing behavior. And all the good you do is […]
Five ways analytics can improve condo management
What is the average response time of managers in getting back to residents’ requests? For condo directors or managers that don’t know the answer, this is a must-read. This article will go over what analytics means in the condo management world, but more importantly, why it matters and how it can benefit management companies and […]
Key Considerations in Hiring an Employee Subject to a Non-Compete: Part II
As discussed in Part I of this blog series, some of the most qualified candidates for employment are often current or former employees of competitors in your industry. Non-compete agreements are helpful to employers who wish to control and limit the competitive activities that an employee may engage in after his or her employment ends. […]
5 Apps That Makes Life Easier for Condo / HOA Managers
The tech world today is more advanced and sophisticated than ever. There’s a lot that the condo / HOA management industry can benefit from but with so many options out there, where do we even begin? That’s why we will be featuring some of the best apps and technology solutions that can benefit you as […]
What are Your Property Management Priorities?
Successful community management requires juggling many challenges, large and small. If not managed correctly, issues can pile up and cause gridlock. We see many Boards struggle to make progress on necessary projects simply because they have reached an impasse about which items should take priority. To receive the most support from your community’s property management […]
Your Professionals Should Stay Out of Board Politics
It seems to happen year after year after year: An entrenched board refuses to hold elections or annual meetings. At one such co-op with the same board members “for almost 20 years,” writes a shareholder, a meeting finally was scheduled for the first time in four years. “There was no list of nominees provided,” the […]
6 Practical Communication Tips for Busy Condo & HOA Managers
Effective, regular communication is your key to an efficiently managed condo or HOA community and happier residents. In fact, an official “communication plan” will help you better manage risk and relationships in your job. Here are 6 practical tips that you can start using today. Read the article………….
The Road to Self-Management: Independence Has Its Pros and Cons
Management by definition is a process; a series of ongoing systems and controls put in place with a specific outcome in mind. The management needs and requirements of HOAs, co-ops and condominiums have helped define the overall property management industry. Read the article……….
What’s in the Future for Property Management?
Many aspects of property management will always stay the same, but as technology expands, and more and more people prefer online over offline, the future of property management is changing. Check out these ways property management is evolving. Potential residents are no longer searching for homes or apartments in paper guides or newspapers. They […]
Independent Contractor or Employee: Know the Difference
Business owners must determine the type of workers they will utilize to operate successfully. In some cases, owners think they are hiring independent contractors but, in reality, those workers may actually be employees. Failure to properly classify workers can result in fines, penalties, and payment of back taxes, so it is important that business owners […]
3 Ways Community Management Adds Value
Deciding whether or not to work with a homeowners association management company is an important question that faces every HOA at some point. On one hand, it’s tempting to try to save the monthly management fees and direct those funds back into the association. On the other hand, the amount of work and expertise required […]
Fundamentally Altering the Employee/Employer Relationship between Community Associations and their Management Companies & Independent Contractors
Until last year, condominium and homeowner associations and their management companies understood the relationship between an employer and its employees and who would be considered the employer of those employees. However, a 2015 ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has placed that understanding in a state of flux. The new standard employed by […]
Traits of Effective Property Managers – Evaluating Your Management Team
A cooperative, condominium or homeowner’s association is more likely than not governed by a ragtag band of brave volunteers. Oftentimes, these folks have outside jobs that have little to do with maintaining a residential real estate property, and thus the day-to-day operation of a community can prove quite exhaustive. Fortunately, this is a job that […]
HOA Manager Balancing Act, Part II
The article HOA Manager Balancing Act seemed to suggest that if a management company was involved in a homeowner association’s management both before and after transition that there was an inevitable conflict of interest. It also begged the question “Can the manager really remain neutral?” The answer is “yes” when the following is included: The […]
The Benefits of Webinars
Community managers need to be trained in a variety of fields to successfully perform their jobs. That’s why additional training and education is essential. Luckily, this doesn’t mean you have to travel around the country from seminar to seminar. Instead, sign up for some webinars and get all the information you need. If you still […]
Managing New Startup Condominiums And Communities For Developers
Managing startup condominiums and communities is a unique job. There should be a community manager with experience working as part of a team, and that team should include other professionals in addition to the developer. Read the article………….
The HOA Manager Balancing Act
Homeowner association (HOA) management companies retained by developers often must balance the competing interests of the developer and the homeowners. They just as often find the developer pulls one way while the homeowners pulls the other way with the manager in the middle. Read the article……………
Managing Employees: Good People Means Good Business
However, for employees of a condo or homeowner’s association—property managers, maintenance staff, and doormen—your home is their work. Your home is the place they have to clock in to, and because you entrust these individuals with your safety and with the upkeep of the quality of your home, it is vital to make sure they […]
The Challenges of Managing a High-Rise Building: What Every Property Manager Needs to Know
Nearly every Toronto property management company offers administrative services, condominium services, financial services and maintenance management services. While most multi-unit properties will have the same requirements, the action plan will differ depending on the type of building. Read the article…………..
Turning Bad Habits Into Best Practices
Property managers can play a key role in ridding boards of some nasty habits. Most co-op and condo boards run reasonably well. And then there are those with some very bad habits: boards who pay themselves; boards who hire a vendor who’s a relative; boards who play favorites over garage spaces or storage bins. What’s […]
Community Management: 3 Things You Need to Know
Working with a community management company to oversee how your neighborhood or condo complex is run can be frustrating to those who lack a clear understanding of the purpose and role of a management company. Whether you are new to a community with a homeowners association (HOA) or have lived for decades in an area […]
Is Your HOA or Condo Community Manager Covered by the Attorney-Client Privilege?
For attorneys who practice community association law, there has been ongoing discussion at national HOA/condo legal events about whether a community manager is covered by the attorney-client privilege. In general the attorney-client privilege shields communications between an association and its attorney for materials prepared in anticipation of litigation or trial. Read the article…………
Duties of the Managing Agents and Liability for Failure to Carry Out Those Duties
A managing agent’s duties to the association can arise out of the common law relationship of an agent to a principal, or by virtue of the contractual relationship between the managing agent and the association, or both. In the same manner that the board has a fiduciary duty to the association and its members, the […]
Five Symptoms of Chronic HOA Board Fatigue
Most management companies claim to perform the “same tasks,” but the approach they take and whether or not they actually perform those functions are another question. Every day we get phone calls and emails from HOA board members who are frustrated with their current management companies. Often, they’ve been with one company for years, and […]
A Day in the Life of a Condo Manager
A number of years ago (2005) I wrote and article for the CCI Vancouver newsletter called….A Day in the Life…..which laid out a similar timetable but 11 years later I can say that things have not changed much. I have personally been working in the Condos Industry since May 1990 and became an RCM (Registered […]
The Seven Steps After You’ve Read the Monthly Management Report
As a board member, reading your building’s monthly management report isn’t enough. It’s just the beginning. Once you’ve finished reading the report, here are seven steps you need to take every month. Read the article…………
How Do You Know Your HOA Manager is Giving You Good Information?
If you’re a member of an HOA board, one of the reasons you chose to hire a property manager to help your community association is because you can’t keep up with all of the information you need to know. New and updated laws, reserve studies, annual meetings, trends, and resources are all things you need […]
The Most Important Document You’ve Never Read
If you’re like most co-op and condo board members, your eyes glaze over at the sight of the monthly report from your managing agent. Big mistake. That report may be the most important document you’ve never read. Read the article…………
Doing It Yourself: Does Self Management Really Work for Your Property?
Is it simply about the money? Condo associations that forgo the services of professional management are cutting what may seem like a major expense. But the belief that “we can do it ourselves” may work great for some time and for some properties but may not ultimately be a good value or work in all […]
Personality Checklist to Consider Before You Hire Your Next Property Manager
You’ve already invested in the property. You’ve made attempts at looking after the maintenance and repairs, screening through tenants and you may have even looked at hiring repairmen to fix everything you’re not sure how to fix. Read the article…………
6 Keys to Successful Property Management
As a property manager, do you ever feel stuck in the mundane routine of your weekly responsibilities? Are you overwhelmed by the magnitude of the responsibilities that define your important career? Read the article…………
Attorney-Client Privilege: Are Attorney Communications Received By, or Copied To, An Association’s Manager Privileged?
A recent Florida appellate decision reminded us of the importance of understanding attorney-client privileges when communicating with community association clients through their manager. Under the evidence code, a client has a privilege to refuse to disclose, and to prevent any other person from disclosing, the contents of confidential communications when such other person learned of […]
Wages Series Part 3: Overtime
Sometimes there isn’t enough time in the regular work week to get everything done. You may have a sudden influx of extra work, or turnover/employee vacations may mean you are short staffed. When this happens, you may need your employees to work longer hours, which means you may need to compensate them for their extra […]
Property Management Advice for New Professionals
In the theater world, it’s called stage fright. In love, you might say someone has “butterflies” or “the jitters.” If you’re starting a new job, especially in a management role, you may feel nervous, excited, or anxious, too. Read the article………..
Wages Series Part 2: Commission Pros and Cons
Some positions offer commission based on what was sold. For example, if shutterstock_303934220a community manager sells a condo, they may get paid a commission for the sale. Deciding to offer employees commission is a big decision, so check out these three important facts. Read the article…………..
Five winter safety tips for condo managers
December has been seasonably mild to date, so winter safety tips may not be top of mind for condo managers just yet. Prepared property managers have already begun proactively reducing the risks and impacts of this late, but soon-to-arrive winter weather. To further enhance resident safety programs and protect building operations, consider the following five […]
DIY Management in a Homeowner Association
Whether due to rugged individualism or perceived lack of viable alternatives, many homeowner associations are self-managed. One might suspect that most self-directed HOAs are small or lacking in common area amenities. Actually, many are quite large, complex and the kind that would typically have professional management. Read the article…………….
Property Management Horror Stories You Can Learn From
In property management, horror stories are not what you want to be a part of, and yet, anyone with any experience can tell you a few. Edgar Allan Poe was a master of horror stories. From the first lines of The Tell-Tale Heart, you’re in a state of suspense. Poe draws us into his world […]
Do Property Management Companies Need to Comply with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act? (FL)
Questions regarding compliance with the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act for the collection of community association assessments by property management companies have been a source of confusion in the industry for decades. Since the ruling in Harris v. Liberty Community Management, Inc., property management companies that fall within the exemption found in §1692a(6)(F)(i) of […]
Selecting a Management Company
Managing a community with an HOA is a lot of work and takes a lot of knowledge. If you think a management company is the better solution for managing your community, it’s time to start looking. However, searching for the best company to meet your community needs may seem overwhelming. Luckily, these tips can help […]
How To Write a Condominium Property Manager Job Description
A booming, reputable condo community that’s always at capacity doesn’t get there by hiring a bad condominium property manager. Read the article…………
The Challenges of Managing a High-Rise Building: What Every Property Manager Needs to Know
Nearly every Toronto property management company offers administrative services, condominium services, financial services and maintenance management services. While most multi-unit properties will have the same requirements, the action plan will differ depending on the type of building. Read the article………
3 Reasons a Manager is Seen as the Bad Guy in a Homeowners Association
Sometimes an HOA manager gets the short end of the stick, but it’s part of the job and a small price to pay to help an HOA board effectively manage its homeowners association. The manager is usually seen in one of three ways, but there are steps board members can take to help the community […]
How To Be A Good Property Manager That Residents Love
Wondering how to be a good property manager? Being respectful, organized, and efficient will make residents and your management company love you! Read the article……….
Top 10 Qualities to Have as a Community Manager
Being a community manager is a difficult job, and you have to wear many hats. To be successful, a good community manager must have many different skills. These are the top 10 qualities all community managers should have. Read the article…………
Manager Licensing: Taking the Fear Out of Being Licensed (IL)
The Community Association Manager Licensing and Disciplinary Act was adopted on July 1, 2010 after much anticipation. The intent, as stated in the Act, was to ensure that those who hold themselves out as possessing professional qualifications to engage in the business of community association management are, in fact, qualified to render management services of […]