Top Five Considerations for Selecting a Community Association Management Company
Top Five Considerations for Selecting a Community Association Management Company
As Board members of an HOA, you recognize the time and effort typically involved in conducting a search for professional community association management. In order to help with the search and to better evaluate management company candidates, below are the top five considerations for selecting a community management partner.
- Communication – Effective and prompt communication play an important role in community management and overall success of a community. Partnering with a management company that emphasizes and promotes a strong communication plan is crucial for Boards and homeowners to stay updated and informed on what is happening in their community.
A well-suited management company believes in always being there for their homeowners and Board members, treating them with the utmost courtesy and respect. They accomplish this by making themselves readily available to answer questions, solve problems, and address any issues that should arise, through email, web, telephone, or in person.
- Innovation in Technology – In today’s technology driven world, a well-qualified management company will continue investing in technological solutions and service offerings that enhance both management productivity and the user experience of their Boards and homeowners.
Ensuring that Board members and homeowners have access to the best technology available should be a top priority of your community management company. Technology services offered should provide the Association with an array of helpful tools, adapt to the community’s specific needs and be secure, productive, collaborative and efficient.
- Client Longevity – A well-established management company will have an extensive portfolio of long-term client partnerships and first-rate references. A significant percentage of its current client base will have been with the company for several years. This continued partnership speaks volumes about the level of services the community association management company provides.
Other factors to consider about a management company’s client base includes their size and growth. Is the company’s client base growing or stagnant? When’s the last time they added a new community? How many communities have they added in the past year?
Also, the HOA should evaluate the range of associations the company serves. In other words, is the focus broad or narrow? A full-range of association management would include master-planned communities, active adult communities, traditional neighborhoods, condominium properties and more. The HOA should select a management company with experience in its community type.
- Qualified People – The services of the community association management company will only be as good as the experience and expertise of the people providing them. Therefore, to deliver the highest standards, the company’s people must be highly trained and motivated. In certain positions, professional credentials are required. In particular, HOAs should evaluate the management company’s executive team, community managers, human resource department, accounting personnel, information technology department and support staff.
For example, do key personnel hold college degrees and/or professional certifications/designations? Does the company promote a positive culture that drives both success and employee satisfaction?
- On-going Education – Continuing education and training is essential for both the community association management company’s internal staff and the HOA’s Board members. The management company must make it a priority to invest regularly in staff training for everyone involved in managing the community, as well as providing training opportunities for Board members.
On-going education and training ensures that community management professionals have the skills needed to help communities succeed by keeping current on all issues, legislative updates and best practices concerning association management. Additionally, providing training opportunities to HOA Board members helps develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively lead their communities and make informed decisions.
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