When selecting an association manager, there are some characteristics that will help you separate the good from the great! When interviewing candidates, be on the lookout for some key traits that make for a great association manager.
1. Proactive
A great manager will notice problems, take care of maintenance needs, and come up with recommendations on how to improve your community without being asked. You want an observant property management company that can jump in to help out as soon as they’re hired. A great manager will take the initiative and be a huge asset to the board. They will be a person to keep your HOA board informed, rather than another person the HOA board needs to inform.
2. Outstanding Communication
A great manager will answer phone calls and return missed calls promptly, send quick email responses, and take action when the HOA board makes a request. It shouldn’t take several tries to connect with someone, and they should always keep you informed on the items they’re helping your association manage.
3. Strategic
Understanding your community’s short-term and long-term wants, needs, and goals is a great trait for a good manager, but a great manager will have strategies in place to help your association meet those goals and stay on track. They will keep your board objective and help you look at the bigger picture, rather than getting tunnel vision and risking the longevity of your community.
4. Mediator
HOA boards are full of different personalities, and the same goes for the rest of the community. There will be disagreements, competing ideas, and even struggles to make decisions that are in the best interest of the community as a whole. A great manager will be able to smooth over conflicts and get conversations back on topic. They will have the ability to make everyone feel heard and validated, and they will be able to offer compromises or a voice of reason to help the board make the right decisions.
Being able to go above and beyond for clients is the crux of what separates good association managers from great association managers. If you’re in need of a great association management company to help your HOA board and community excel, contact Prism Realty Management. Give us a call at 512-676-5842 — we’d be happy to talk to you about who we are, the services we offer, and our process.