СONDOMINIUM MANAGEMENT SERVICES

After 10 years in the industry, Nancy Easley broke out on her own and started Management Solutions, NW so that she could offer the level of service she knew was important but wasn’t always provided by other management companies. Typically, management companies assign Community Managers with too many associations to adequately serve. The manager becomes a “crisis manager” due to time constraints. These Community Managers often get burnt out and turn over is high. Perhaps you have had several community managers over a short period of time? The key to our success has been to find good people, with excellent customer service skills, and not burden them with numerous communities. Work-life balance is part of our company’s vision. Our managers work part-time and oversee only about 4-6 HOA’s or Condos. They really get to know their communities and the people that live in them. We truly feel that we become a key ingredient in a community’s success because of this structure and the support that we provide to our team of professionals.

In Condo Management, we focus on collections and strengthening the Associations financial stability so that maintenance plans are proactively pursued. Developing and maintaining solid business relationships with vendors and establishing a Management Plan is crucial for a Condominium Association’s success. Deferred maintenance can lead to special assessments and homeowner contention.

We have helped Condos recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in delinquent assessments; navigated challenging and complicated special assessments; assisted with construction defect lawsuits and overseen major repairs and replacements. We have helped implement security and safety enhancements; improved curb appeal with routine maintenance schedules; and we provide effective and considerate communication.

Relationship to the Board:

Condo Management Companies, like us, are hired by the Board of Directors to support their efforts and advise on industry standard practices, state statutes, and oversee day to day operations and administration of the Associations affairs. The Management Company takes their direction from the Board and works for the Association.

The Board works directly with our Community Managers who prepare for and attend all Board and Association Meetings. As a liaison between the Board and Homeowners, a manager will compile all requests, concerns and reports and share them with the Board of Directors for consideration.

Monthly management reports are provided to the Board with financial reports, highlights, violation overview, updates on work orders and maintenance projects, collections, etc.

One of the first things we do with a new Board, and update annually, is Strategic Planning. Over the course of a few meetings, we help the Board brainstorm and then identify and prioritize their goals, both short and long term.

Effective communication is fundamental. We find it helps to cultivate trust and develop rapport with Board and Community members.

We hope that you’ll take a few moments to review more of our website, read about the services that we provide, our company philosophy and how we can help.

Board Basics:

Thank you for stepping up to help your community as a Volunteer! We hope to help you feel prepared and offer some of the tools and resources best suited for success. There are some key aspects of your position we want to introduce you to or remind you of if this isn’t your first rodeo.

You have been elected by the homeowners to make decisions on their behalf. You are now a member of the Board of Directors. The group is the decision-making body of a Non-Profit Corporation. All votes are equal. Board Decisions are those that receive majority vote at meetings or unanimous consent via email outside of a meeting.

• Roles of the board and the manager. The Board sets policy and they make decisions about those policies. Community Managers implement the directives from the Board and handle day to day operations.
• Stand united. Once a decision has been made by the Board, it is important that all members stand behind it and make every effort to see it succeed – even if you voted against it. This helps to foster trust and long-term support from members and each other.
• Collaboration. Personality differences do not need to interfere with the work of the Board or the goals they are trying to accomplish. It may be impossible, and is not necessary, to have 100% consensus all of the time. Respect majority decisions for what they are… Board Decisions. Everyone benefits when the needs of the community are the focus and members are willing to cooperate and be positive.
• Be reasonable. Although boards have a big responsibility, they need not be overzealous or inflexible to fulfill it. Avoid snap decisions, act rather than react, and deal with real problems, not nuisance situations.
• Teamwork: We work hard to help the Board develop shared goals and priorities. At each meeting, it will be important to stay focused on them and finding ways to pursue the tasks ahead together, with our support and guidance; Rely on experts as much as possible. And remember that the Board is the group. The group is the governing body. No one Director or any one Officer position holds more weight than others and no individual should be making unilateral decisions or speaking for the Board on issues or requests where a Board decision has not been made.