In a community association, condo, or HOA, the property manager has a large role. There are a lot of things that the manager wishes that homeowners knew. Find out 10 keys to community life.

Property Managers Wish Homeowners Paid Their Dues

Most property managers will only give you a problem if you’re late paying your bills. No one likes to be reminded they have bills to pay. However, all of the community’s services, such as amenities and landscaping, are paid for with dues. So the property manager has to ensure that all those payments are made in time. So, if you want to have a good relationship with your property manager, a great way to start is to always pay your bills on time.

Managers Wish Homeowners Were Polite

Being polite always helps. When you have a major problem, such as a water leak, electricity cut, or any kind of issue communicate the problem calmly to the property manager, with as many helpful details as you can. Staying calm in these situations can be difficult. However, frustration won’t help you solve the problem. Communicate so that the management team can help you.

Property Managers Wish Homeowners Followed The Rules

The fastest way to get in trouble with the property manager is by breaking the community’s rules. Before you join a community association, read the HOA rules as the board does enforce them. If you move into the community, then you’ll have to follow the rules. 

A lot of problems can be avoided if the rules are crystal clear for everyone. The property manager and board must make sure that all of the owners and tenants are aware of what is and isn’t allowed. If, for some reason you don’t like a particular rule, you can always communicate this to your property manager and get your board to discuss it at the next meeting. 

Community Managers Wish Homeowners Differentiated

Homeowners can’t expect the property manager to work 24/7. In an emergency, residents must be able to reach a member of the management team. It can be difficult to decide what is and isn’t an emergency. Issues involving water damage, fire, security problems, electricity shortages demand a prompt response. In case of any of these problems, check your community emergency response plan and act accordingly.  

Not all problems are deserving of a 4 AM call to the property manager. For instance, if your pet runs away, your internet connection is down or you think a possum may have broken into your trash can. Most likely than not, that call can wait until morning comes.  

Managers Wish Homeowners Would Come Forward With a Problem ASAP

If you discover a problem with your washing machine or find broken glass in the playground, don’t wait until the last minute to let the property manager know. The sooner all problems are reported the faster they can be tackled. And the sooner the management knows about any problems, the costs of any repairs can be reduced and any health and safety threats can be minimized. 

Tenants need to remember that the community’s management team has internal processes they must follow, which may take some time. For example, if a homeowner makes a reservation of the poolhouse on a Friday night for Saturday morning, chances are that the amenity won’t be ready for use on time. To avoid this plan your activities and be sure to give the management team enough time to do their job. 

Managers Wish Homeowners Would Communicate

One of the core benefits of opting for community living is its connections and communication flows. If you’re traveling and need a pet sitter, talk with your neighbors and find someone who can help you. This becomes easier with a communication portal, like Vinteum. 

If you’re having financial problems and can’t pay your bills outright, then talk to your property manager. Don’t make excuses or start avoiding the bills, that will only make you look bad. Be honest and remember that your property manager is a person too. They should work with you to find a solution. 

Property Managers Wish Homeowners Were Honest

If there’s any kind of damage in your condo, always be truthful about what caused it. This will make any repair works easier, faster and a better experience for both residents and the community. Remember that your property is your responsibility and that it always pays to tell the truth. The property manager will only intervene if the damage comes from an external cause, outside your own doing. 

For that reason, if a property gets damaged by any external cause, the property manager will analyze what happened. Then, if necessary they will investigate to find who caused the damage. So being truthful can help avoid unnecessary delays, costs, and infighting inside the community.  

Another example, if a resident reserved the tennis court and damaged the net while playing. It’s their responsibility to take care of the damage. Amenities belong to all the owners and they are all responsible for taking care of them. Now, if the owner refuses to, this will only delay the problem and keep other residents from using the tennis court. Telling the truth will help the community work better, and it will also avoid potential conflicts. 

Managers Wish Homeowners Would Work Together

With everyone’s fast-paced daily life it’s easy to forget that you, your neighbors, and the property manager are all on the same team. You all care about the community and want to see it thrive. It’s important to work together to keep things running the way they should, and everyone plays a part in doing this. 

Remember that the owners are the ones who hold the decision-making power inside a community. If you’re an active, and responsible resident you can create the change that needs to happen. Community meetings are important. In meetings, you can make your opinion heard, and make change happen. During meetings, the community will elect the board of directors. They, in turn, will hire a property manager if you don’t have one. And if the community does have one, they’ll work with them. So being an active part of your community ensures that you have a say in those decisions.

You and everyone inside your HOA are on the same team, so working together and helping each other can go a long way into making your community life awesome.

Property Managers Wish Homeowners Would Be Empathetic

No one likes when people are careless with their property. Try being empathetic and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. For example, if you accidentally knock over your neighbor’s trash can, it’s a good idea to say “Sorry” and clean up the trash. Likewise, if you throw a party, remember that you have neighbors that wake up early to go to work and keep the volume to a moderate level. Empathy is key living community lifestyle. 

Remember that causing damage to someone else’s property is a fast track to be on the bad side of your neighbors and property manager. It’s a good idea to think about how your actions may affect other people. 

Community Managers Wish Homeowners Would Be Kind

There are very few more unpleasant tasks for a property manager than that of mediating arguments between the owners. Before getting into one, remember that you are not the only homeowner in the community, and everyone has the same rights and duties as yourself.

We understand you want to live your life the way you see fit. But inside a community, you need to think about your neighbors. A good way to avoid conflicts and potential fights are to show consideration and respect to your neighbors. Find a way to keep doing what you like without disturbing others. There’s always a solution to a problem, sometimes it just needs a little compromise. 

Conclusion 

The relationship between the property manager and community residents is a delicate one, to say the least. As well as one of key importance for the community. We hope that the article provided some insights into what the property managers would like their tenants to know. In turn, it will help you, your community, and your own property manager build and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship. 

You can start improving your community communication and management with Vinteum. Find out how we can help your community