4 Signs It’s Time for New HOA Management

October 30, 2018

Although your Community Association is the leading figure of control in the neighborhood, they are still a team of volunteers that lead normal lives. Association management can help them with the finer details of the community and handle the issues that go beyond volunteer qualifications.

However, not all management companies are created equal, and sometimes you could end up stuck in a contract that just isn’t working out. Here are four red flags that it’s time to start shopping around for a management team that will strive to meet your community needs.

1. Current HOA Management is Unresponsive

Communication should be a core value to your management company. Responding in a timely manner to emails and phone calls, general inquiries, and having required information prepared to share with the community is essential.

If your management team fails to meet even these basic communication expectations, this should be a major red flag that something isn’t right. When signing a contract with a management company, make sure that there is no question about who the most reliable point of contact is, otherwise you may be facing some confused and irate vendors or community members.

2. Hidden Costs Creep Up

The fee structure between your Community Association and management company needs to be crystal clear. If you sign a contract and then notice surprise fees and charges in the coming months, address your management team. If these hidden fees were something that was swept under the rug during negotiations, then it may be time to work with a management team you can trust.

3. Project Completion is Slow or Nonexistent

Association management ensures that community projects and improvements are handled in a timely fashion. From large projects to smaller ones, your community manager needs to be able to complete their tasks promptly. Not doing so creates a strained relationship between the Board and community members.

Oftentimes, when project completion is slow-moving, it’s because a professional HOA management company was never hired to begin with. Sometimes, DIY HOA management can be successful, but usually, it’s best to leave it to the pros.

4. Compliance Becomes Secondary

Your management company needs to remain on top of compliance situations in your community. The creation and distribution of violation letters and the supervision of compliance adherence need to be consistent and a key priority.

Goodwin & Company Helps You Make the Right Choices for Your Community

Community Association management is essential to the success of a community. Poor management can easily bring a successful community down. If you are a member of your Association Board and don’t feel like you are getting the most out of your management company, Goodwin & Company can help.