HOA Board members usually have a hunch something isn’t working out with their management company long before they can put a finger on what it is. With over two decades of community management experience, HOA Consultants helps HOA Boards confirm their suspicions, and initiate a formal process to select the best HOA management company for their community in the Phoenix, AZ area.
HOA Consultants works with HOA Boards to determine what they want from a new management company and works rigorously to help. The most effective way to seamlessly achieve an HOA Board’s objectives:
- Prepare an RFP that matches the Board’s needs.
- Select the right companies to bid.
- Interview 3-5 companies that most closely match their needs on paper to see if they meet the needs when doing their presentation and Q&A session.
- Secure a solid contract that protects the Board and community as well as the management company (where everyone is a winner).
- Present the new company properly to the owners and assure transition goes properly.
As a result, from Goodyear to Phoenix and Scottsdale, and everything in between throughout Maricopa County, AZ, HOA boards have come to count on HOA Consultants when it is time to replace their community management company.
4 Signs Your HOA Property Management Company Isn’t Working Out
Poor Communication
One common sign it is time to replace your HOA management company is a lack of timely and transparent communication regarding financial matters. For instance, the management company may not promptly provide detailed financial reports or updates on budgetary concerns, leaving the Board uninformed about the association’s financial health. In addition, inadequate communication about rule enforcement can strain the relationship between the management company and the Board. If the company does not clearly convey the status of rule violations or the enforcement process, it can create confusion and frustration among Board members who rely on this information to maintain a well-functioning community. Not only are financial matters sorely lacking, but it could also even be a larger issue with poor communication across many topics. To quickly gauge if this applies to your HOA, ask yourself:
- Are owners reporting to the board they aren’t getting return calls within two business days from the property manager?
- Are email inquiries, requests, and questions regarding when a vendor will be coming to do work at the property from the board or owners to the property management company going unanswered?
When a property management company fails to communicate with the HOA Board and owners, it is usually a sign it is time to replace your property management company.
Novice Manager
Novice property managers can also trigger a need to replace your HOA management company. Some common missteps the novice property manager engages in include:
- Untrained in effectively conveying information to the Board or owners. This can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, or potentially contentious situations.
- Lacks experience with conflict resolution and addressing owner concerns. This can escalate disputes within the community. An inability to mediate disputes or enforce rules consistently may result in dissatisfaction among residents and erode the effectiveness of the HOA.
- Struggles with budgeting, understanding, and explaining financials. This can lead to poor advice which contributes to poor decision-making at the Board level which could affect long-term planning for the association’s future.
- Gives poor advice to a volunteer HOA Board. This could create expensive litigation if the advice is related to building codes, state laws, and even hiring vendors without proper licenses, certifications, and insurance.
If your HOA is dealing with issues caused by a novice property manager, a novice property manager can be replaced with an experienced one, but at that point, the HOA Board and owners may have lost confidence in the property management company. This is another sign it is time to replace your property management company.
Neglected Maintenance
Another example could involve maintenance and repair issues. If the property management company fails to promptly report and address maintenance issues or even emergency situations, such as landscaping problems/leaks or structural concerns such as balcony repairs or carport damage, the Board may remain unaware of potential risks and unable to make informed decisions. Not knowing or tracking annual repair or inspection schedules can significantly impact your community and lead to health issues or even litigation.
If you feel like you are being exposed to this type of poor management by your current company or any of its employees, it is time to search for a new one.
Contact Mickey at 602-402-1955 to discuss your situation and he will help match you with a better company.
Vendors Not Showing
Up
The most visible sign it is time to change property management companies is when vendors fail to fulfill their responsibilities for a Homeowner’s Association (HOA). First and foremost, the community’s overall aesthetics and property values may suffer if essential services like landscaping, maintenance, or repairs are neglected. This neglect can lead to dissatisfaction among owners, potential legal issues, and a decline in the appeal of the community. Additionally, poor vendor performance can damage the Board’s reputation and credibility within the community.
HOA Consultants Can Help You Replace your Property Management Company
If your HOA board is dealing with poor communication, problems with a novice manager, neglected maintenance, and vendors not showing up for repairs, it makes sense for the HOA Board to find a new property management company. Alternatively, if you just aren’t happy with the quality of services being performed by your current property manager or feel the money you are spending on management services doesn’t match your expectations, HOA Consultants can help you get into a new relationship.
Steps to Replace Property Management Company
Our expert guidance is what you need. We work closely with HOA Board members utilizing a consultative approach, and systematic process and take the complexity out of the equation:
- First, we will assess your community’s needs to determine your board’s desired outcomes.
- Secondly, we’ll identify management companies that are potential matches.
- Third, we’ll draft the request for proposal (RFP).
- Next, we’ll jointly interview 3-5 companies that most closely match your needs on paper to see if they meet the needs when doing their presentation and Q&A session.
- Then, we’ll negotiate and secure a solid contract that protects the Board and community as well as the management company (where everyone is a winner).
- Finally, we’ll facilitate the transition from the old to the new management company.
Replacing your current company is a big decision with long-lasting ramifications that touch every owner. Mickey was on the other side of the interview and selection process for 20 years. Now he can take that knowledge and help you pick the best company for your community.
Why Choose HOA Consultants?
Mickey Latz is the founder of HOA Consultants and has two decades of experience running his own mid-size management company in the Phoenix, AZ area. In 2022, Mickey sold his management company. Mickey has a proven track record in exceeding his client’s expectations and matching his services to his clients’ needs and improving profitability through technology.
HOA Consultants can help your Board replace your property management company. HOA Consultants works with HOA Boards to determine the desired outcomes and works rigorously to help reach them in the Phoenix, AZ area and statewide.
For a no-obligation consultation, contact Mickey at 602-402-1955.
