Whether you are starting a new HOA, self-managing your HOA, or are unhappy with your current association management company, there are certain qualities to look for and questions to ask when searching for an HOA management company for your community.

Differences Between Community Management and Property Management

First of all, community management and property management are different. Property management is typically for rental type property. Community management requires skills and knowledge of rules, laws, and procedures specific to HOAs. Any HOA management company should have the staff, expertise, resources, and education to handle the challenges that communities face.

Regardless of the type of experience your Board of Directors possess, the staff of an association management company will complete the checklist of necessities for a successful HOA.

Your HOA management company should be educated, experienced, informed, and have a focus on customer service.

A Well Educated and Experienced HOA Management Staff

An educated manager is constantly learning, retraining, and staying up to date on all pertinent information in regards to their field. Changing laws are also a focus for any good manager. Having an HOA manager that has proper education and certification will allow your Board to be confident in trusting the management company to direct and support the HOA. Whether you have single family homes, townhouses, or condos, experience with your type of neighborhood is an imperative quality. There may be similarities, but each neighborhood is unique and requires an experienced HOA manager.

Informed and Resourceful HOA Manager

Informed management companies can’t know everything, but they should have the resources and responsibility to respond to and solve any HOA related issue. An informed HOA manager must have excellent communication skills, and keep in touch with the Board, residents, vendors, and law-makers. They can answer questions quickly and study constantly on issues that affect their communities.

Customer Service is Key Quality for Your HOA Management Company

Unfortunately, unpleasant people are part of an HOA manager’s tasks. A superior HOA management company has a strong emphasis on professional customer service. The manager is a representative of the Board, therefore, must treat all residents with respect and professionalism. Homeowners are the HOA, so the management company technically works for the residents. It is a partnership and should always be respectful. Responsiveness is a key characteristic to look for in your community manager. This is part of quality customer service. Emails, phone calls, and letters should be responded to immediately. This applies to residents, Board members, vendors, and local lawmakers. A great HOA manager will take care of business swiftly and efficiently.

Other Important Qualities to Look for In an HOA Management Company

HOA management companies are also very helpful when it comes to neighborhood finances. Collection of dues, overdue payments, budgeting, and special project funding are all aspects of association management that can cause concern for Board members. Bank liens and foreclosures are a specialized aspect of HOA management that requires working directly with banks. An HOA management company is usually more experienced than Board members in dealing with these concerns.

Maintenance and improvements require advanced planning, bidding, hiring vendors, and project coordination that an HOA management company can provide. These jobs require additional man-hours, attention to detail, and planning that most Board members do not have the time or the expertise to handle. This is another reason to look for depth in experience…a quality highly appreciated in an HOA management company.

Are you getting the level of service you need from your current HOA? Are you just setting up your Homeowners Association? Or, is time to stop running your HOA on your own? Contact Goodwin & Company for a quality expert HOA management service and skills you and your community desire.

There are mixed thoughts out in the busy world of HOA management. Some think bigger is better and others believe that personal service is what matters most.

Can an HOA Management Company be too big?

Here at Goodwin & Company, we think the answer is yes, it can be too big.

If your internet search for “HOA management company” comes up with companies in many cities with multiple offices throughout the country, you could assume that this is the company to go with. But the question to ask is: “Is HOA management all they do?”. Usually, the answer to that is “NO.” Their full listing of services is likely to include real estate sales, rental property management, commercial property management, HOA management, and maintenance, etc. HOA management could possibly be one of their primary services but is not their single focus. This is a sign it’s time to start shopping around for a management team.

Find a Local HOA Management Company for Personal Service

Goodwin & Company was founded in 1991. We are a family-owned and operated business. Our service is focused on Community Association Management, which allows us to be responsive to your specific HOA and condo association needs. We assign one Community Manager and one Administrative Assistant to each community so that your association is never lost in a shuffle of personnel or out-of-state offices.

As an association management company, we do utilize similar accounting and management programs as the less personal, over-sized firms. The administrative management processes are similar, pricing is comparable, and the goals are the same, but we excel in providing a level of customer service that can’t be matched.

So why go with an HOA company like us?

At Goodwin, we offer specialists in every service area offered. Because of our personal service with each community association we partner with, we can react more quickly to their immediate needs. We can offer flexibility, personal service, and direct problem solving while keeping costs low. We build and maintain a close bond of trust between our HOA managers and the associations we partner with. Your HOA is never lost in a shuffle of staff members or moved to another office. The partnership we establish is what makes our HOA management company stand out from the over-sized management companies that spread their services and staff too thin.

There are a growing number of HOA management companies out there, but not all can offer the personal and high-quality service that Goodwin & Company offers. Since we were established in 1991, we have seen management companies come and go. We have seen companies grow larger than they can manage, but have gained clients as those companies lose them due to changing market conditions, layers upon layers of management, staff turnover, and the dwindling of that personal, direct partnership. Because we directly focus on association management, we can do what is a priority to do best…provide high quality, personal service at a reasonable cost.

Goodwin wants to partner with your community association, and we want to build a strong partnership with you, your Board, and your community!