Advantages of Association Management
The decision to hire a professional association management company for a homeowners association is not one that should be taken lightly as it will affect the HOA long-term. The board of directors should evaluate all of their options to determine what is the best option for the community. But, it is equally important to know the advantages of community association management.
Self-management may seem like the best course as management fees can be used towards reserve funds and maintenance projects. Moreover, in this scenario, the board retains all control of every aspect of the association. But, managing a homeowners association is a full-time job within itself. And, with most board members having their own full-time jobs, many will turn to a professional.
Here are some association management benefits to consider:
Knowledge and Expertise
The role of a property manager is to assist, working in coordination with the board of directors, who remain in control and make all of the final decisions. More often than not, though, board members lack the background and experience to effectively carry out some of their duties. One of the advantages of association management is gaining access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
A professional property manager will have the training and experience to not only handle day to day duties but also solve problems before they occur. This ensures the community is protected in both the long and short terms. Additionally, it alleviates much of the pressure from the board of directors.
Professional management companies have the ability to:
- Track and process all payments from homeowners and to vendors
- Assist in the creation of the annual budget
- Enforce the board’s collections process
- Provide regular financial reports to the board
Working Around the Clock
Most companies and managers are on call 24/7, 365 days a year to deal with urgent maintenance problems. They are able to coordinate with vendors and insurance companies to ensure every situation, such as a water line break in the early hours of the morning, is taken care of properly. Managers can also coordinate normal maintenance requests, scheduled and preventative maintenance, and contract negotiations with vendors.
Uniform Covenant Enforcement
Another one of the advantages of association management is uniform covenant enforcement. They can perform regular inspections, then report their findings to the board of directors to confirm which issues should be issued violations as per the association’s governing documents. Moreover, a management company is less likely to selectively enforce rules. This consistent enforcement will help the community’s appearance remain neat and its property values high. It will also protect the association and the board from potential legal liability.
Where Elite Management Services Comes In
The trust associated with hiring an association management company is incomparable. The homeowners of the association can be confident their assessments are in good hands and that the board gets appropriate guidance to make decisions in the best interest of the community. In turn, board members can trust the association management company to carry out their decisions in a timely and professional fashion.
Elite Management Services is a member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) offering homeowners association management solutions in the tri-state area. Here at EMS, our goal is to lead your community to success while keeping costs low and property values high. With our help, your association can reap all the benefits of HOA management. Contact us today for more information!