What to Look for When Selecting an Association Management Partner
Managing a community is hard work. From maintenance issues to complaint resolution, it is easy for untrained local volunteers and homeowners to get overwhelmed.
Why Do You Need an Association Management Partner?
In many community bodies, the board mainly consist of homemakers who volunteer for the role. They lack proper training in accounting and conflict management.
As a result, their community associations responsibilities are not executed efficient. In such cases, a third party enters to guide them and provide necessary assistance.
Many homeowners’ associations hire community management firms to improve, maintain and resolve community management.
After signing a contract, companies like Company Management Associates send a representative as a point of contact to advise and guide them. These are experienced agents excelling in finance as well as interpersonal skills.
With over 345,000 community associations in the country, there is plenty of demand for partners.
Homeowner associations must pay careful attention to these traits in management companies to bag the best of the lot.
The Business Model
Some companies have a fit-all approach to community management. They apply the same model to all localities and locations.
A model customized for a large community will not work for a minor association. The governing bodies in these communities are usually volunteers. They cannot dedicate the same amount of time to their responsibilities as their more formal counterparts in more prominent associations.
Small communities tend to be civic-oriented, while prominent neighborhoods focus more on finance and administration.
To get the best results, it is vital to choose a partner whose values align with those of the community.
Work History/Experience
Reviews from past customers are key to getting a ground-level knowledge of the company. A comprehensive of their daily workings can be unearthed with a bit of research.
Experienced companies like Community Management Associates are always more likely to be more efficient partners. With 32 years of professional management work, they know the little quirks acquired only with experience.
Larger, more established companies also have more employees. As a result, they have more varied talents and can provide a broader range of services.
Connections
From drain cleanings to gas leak repair, local service providers are crucial for every community. Almost every maintenance issue requires their service. So, a good association management partner must have a wide range of such connections.
Besides this, the service providers must be reliable and trustworthy. Sometimes these workers may get injured during work. If they are not appropriately insured, hefty charges may be incurred by the homeowners’ associations.
Therefore, it is essential to validate the certification, license and insurance of these service providers.
Relevant Certifications/Credentials
A partner must possess relevant documentation and certificates to back up their years of experience.
It is crucial to verify the company’s trade associations certifications. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) is a leading international trade organization focusing on developments.
The Professional Community Association Manager is a prestigious title that the CAI grants only select partners. If you find this tag on the company, their partner service is a cut above the rest.
Other noteworthy designations include Association Management Specialists (ACM) and Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA).
Latest Technology
Often, stagnation in technology goes hand in hand with the years in the industry. A working website and dedicated social media presence are the norms for most companies these days.
But only a few provide the best in the membership registration technology, emergency response and billing systems.
Keep your eyes peeled for these firms.