Category: Building Management

Keeping the Peace Difficult Conversations with Neighbors

Keeping the Peace: Difficult Conversations with Neighbors

In community residences, good fences do make good neighbors.

But with some pressing issues when you have no choice but to be vocal about your problems.

Community boards and homeowner associations often hire third-party services like Community Management Associates to have these difficult conversations. 

These people are professionals who assist homeowners’ associations (HOA) in improving the community. 

Advice from a Community Management Company

The associate manager is their primary point of contact. Aside from accounting and management experience, they must also have well-developed communication skills. This particular skill set is necessary to maintain a professional relationship with the residents.

Here’s how managers keep things cordial while still being stern. 

  • Never Be on the Offensive

It is crucial to be open to resolution when raising an issue with your neighbors. Make sure your priority is solving the problem. Never use it to vent at your neighbor.

Blindly reacting in the heat of the moment does more harm than good. You want a dialogue, not an argument.

  • Do Not Add Past Grievances to the Issue at Hand

This piling up of old complaints is the worst thing you could do. An allegation immediately puts your neighbor on the defensive. 

Your conversation should only center around the issue at hand. People often make the mistake of pulling other residents into the mix. Instead of strengthening your argument, this only makes your neighbor feel attacked.

They are more likely to lash out in anger, turning your issue into a full-blown fight.

  • Try to See Things from Their Perspective

 For example, water from your upstairs neighbor may be trickling into your terrace daily. Instead of stomping there to argue, investigate a bit. They may be simply be watering plants, unaware of any issues downstairs. You can now calmly approach them after being adequately informed of the situation.

Sometimes conflicts may be unavoidable. A neighbor’s damaged car may block your gate. 

In such cases be as accommodating as possible. Chances are they’ll do the same for you when the time comes.

  • Build a Healthy Relationship

Say hello when you run into them, help them carry luggage upstairs when possible. This practice helps build healthy rapport. 

So, when the time comes, they are more likely to be amenable to your grievances.

  • Keep Track in Case of Repeated Offenses

Some neighbors don’t seem to get the memo. If they are not open to resolving things peacefully, make it a point to note down details. 

Since the culprit has chosen to ignore your repeated requests, you can inform the associate housing manager about the issue. Since it solidifies your argument, your log is sure to come in handy during this time.

  • File a Complaint with the Board Only as a Last Resort

Inform the board only if the issue with your neighbor persists despite your repeated requests. Filing a complaint can damage relationships and should be done only as a last resort. 

After deliberations, the community members and the board to discuss your issue may introduce new penalties and fines preventing such violations in the future. 

This decision affects the entire community rather than just you and the offender. So, it is essential to make communication and resolution the primary weapons in your arsenal.

 

What Does a Community Management Association Company Do

What Does a Community Management Association Company Do?

Ever wondered why your cul-de-sac was so peaceful growing up? No fights, clean lanes, friendly neighbors- your local community association probably had something to do with all this.

Local Community Associations 

Neighborhood homeowners play an essential role in maintaining common spaces and improving community welfare. 

A community association comprises volunteers, as well as elected and mandatory members. Larger communities often have member fees, while smaller neighborhoods are mostly civic bodies.

When to Hire a Community Management Association Company

With an efficient community association at the helm, people don’t easily notice things like property taxes or association fees and vendor rates. It is when this system breaks that they realize the importance of their roles in their daily lives. 

In dire cases, a community management association company is called to help oil the gears of this resident community.

Role of the Community Management Association Company

 It offers assistance to the HOA (homeowners association) in administration or finance. This service helps the community association a great deal. More prominent neighborhoods benefit particularly from the budget sessions and vendor billing tips that the company associate provides.

Community management association companies have been around for some time. Businesses like Atlanta’s Community Management Associates have over three decades of experience.

They are usually hired by overworked community presidents or stressed boards of directors. And after signing relevant paperwork, the company starts on its role. 

Role of Community Association Company Manager

A community association manager is dispatched to the neighborhood as a representative. The manager also helps the struggling local association in tasks like neighborhood budget planning, professional billing and common area maintenance.

While his roles may include finance and administration, his goal is always to enrich the entire community.

Finance and Administrative Skills

 The company manager is skilled in community management while being an expert in negotiations and conflict resolutions. If the board of directors are hesitant about loan applications, they can consult with the community association manager. 

The same can be done for advice on tax returns, service contractors and venue management.

All good community management association companies interact with the people of the neighborhood. The residents provide crucial feedback on necessary changes for protection against vandalism or the monthly billings.

Importance of Community Management Association Company

A neighborly bond is a valuable thing, but it can be a con in some instances. Community volunteers and the board of directors are often reluctant to broach the topic of finance with their fellow residents. 

Hiring the service of a management company like Community Management Associates can easily solve this problem. A third party will have no problem talking bills, fees and finance with the neighborhood residents.

Even tricky conversations regarding complaints and fines can be presided over by the community management association company. The manager relieves an enormous load off the community president/board’s back. As a result, they can focus on more important work like budgets and community safety.

Hiring a community management association company is the answer if you want your neighborhood to work like well-oiled clockwork.

What Is The Difference Between A Condo And An Apartment?

Condos and apartments are two of the best assets for building management firms. Whether you’re renting or selling, demand for both has always been high.

According to Stayfi’s 2020 compilation of vacation rental statistics, the majority of Gen-Z travelers prefer condos for rental. Last year was also a milestone for apartment demand, according to The Real Deal.

You can find countless articles about living in them. That’s why our focus for today is the building management side of things.

How are condos and apartments different for a property manager?

Building management differences

In terms of attributes, they’re actually very similar. The main difference actually comes from ownership.

Building management for apartments usually goes for the entire building instead of per apartment. Everyone looking to rent or buy an apartment has to speak to the same entity. It’s why apartment management is a lot more centralized than condo management.

Speaking of condo management, condos are more “individualistic” than apartments. Homeowner Associations typically manage condos. This management centers around common area maintenance instead of the entire space.

In other words, building management often includes complete ownership of the apartment buildings. For condos, building management is mostly that: management instead of ownership.

Renting

For condos, rent is quite different from apartments. The HoA manages common amenities, like concierges and general security. Homeowners and tenants pay fees every month for these benefits. However, utilities are mostly every tenant’s responsibility.

For apartments, building management companies are responsible for all bills and maintenance. Therefore, the company will charge for security, cleaning, and most utilities. That’s because the same public services go into the entire building instead of every apartment individually.

Maintaining

Maintenance for condos is the responsibility of every owner. If the owner fails to pay his utility bills, they can lose the corresponding service. However, all other condos won’t face any consequence for their own utilities. HoAs fees are solely for amenities benefiting all owners.

On the other hand, building management for apartments is more involved with maintenance. That’s because everything outside every apartment space is basically “common areas.”

Regulations

The condo’s HoA is in charge of creating community rules for everyone. That’s often a communal agreement on what’s acceptable within the areas. That said, individual owners can create their own rules within the condo.

Apartment rules begin and end with the owning building management firm. The building’s owner can decide what’s allowed and what isn’t, even within the apartments.