The set of skills an HOA property manager needs to master is a never-ending one.

While the market is full of highly competent professionals, how could we distinguish the average HOA property manager from an exceptional one? Here are 5 key attributes that we have spotted in some outstanding professionals we’ve had the pleasure of dealing with. 

1 – Knowledgeable and eager to learn 

This first aspect may seem like an obvious one, but it’s always good to go back to basics. Having a solid knowledge of the local market and being aware of the jurisdictions and changes in the law will always be a key attribute. However, expertise not only comes with experience but also with a commitment to continuous learning and a constant curiosity that also helps to find new opportunities.

In Florida, CE classes are a great opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and also to network with new people who work in the same industry as you.

Tip:

The internet offers a lot of opportunities for continuous learning, since the pandemic started the amount of offers has exploded. Attending webinars, and taking online classes, are some of the best manners to stay up to date.

There are now a lot of CE classes online. We normally host some every month, sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.

2 – Communicate

Having different stakeholders makes being responsive a very hard task. With so many requests, questions, or complaints to deal with, communication is essential. Dealing with an unavailable or hard-to-reach HOA community association manager is very frustrating for board members. For the manager, it can be stressful, feeling like they aren’t keeping up.

Tip:

An exceptional professional needs to be able to communicate information proactively, respond quickly, and be available to hear and listen. This is the basis of a solution-oriented approach. Fortunately, using HOA software allows for efficient communication. 

You can also set out clear Service Level Agreements, so that board members know what they can expect from you.

3 – Work with Technology

You can no longer work with a paper system and get away with it. Especially since the pandemic,  even the most reluctant of us had to make that shift into a more digital space. In property management, technology means convenience. Having management software that eases up some of the administrative processes makes everything more convenient and efficient for all parties involved.

Tip:

Various tools and software are available out there to make your life easier. From communication tools to financial ones, but also marketing ones that allow you to create your website. 

If you’re not ready to start using software, there are tons of free resources such as templates that can be downloaded for your personal use. 

4 – Focus on Sustainability

An HOA property manager that works to be more sustainable is definitely a professional that is aligning with our new reality. Shifting to being more eco-friendly means paving the way for new sustainability practices within the industry that are slowly becoming the new standards. This will benefit every community you manage, and a large scale, the planet.

Tip:

Adopting new standards of sustainability for property management will reduce the carbon footprint and the energy usage of your property. This will positively impact the community. 

5 – Be Organized

When you’re working with a lot of different clients, and visiting properties daily, or weekly, then you need to be organized. Every day, carve out 10 minutes to plan out your day or the next day so that you know what you’re doing and follow a schedule. If you’re not naturally organized, then this is a struggle but it’s very important to cultivate.

Tip:

Use a tool to help you. You can use a notebook, it’s a classic and works well. Otherwise,  you can have a task management tool like Asana or Trello on your phone so you can easily adjust your to-dos.

Conclusion to Exceptional HOA Property Managers

In conclusion, knowledge, responsiveness, and organization are key attributes that most good HOA property managers have but that should constantly be improved to reach excellence. 

Being sustainable and working with are recent qualities that we feel are missing in today’s market but which represents a high differentiation for professionals who possess those. 

“Companies(or individuals) do not become exceptional by believing they are exceptional but by understanding the ways in which they aren’t” -Ed Catmul 

HOA property managers that can spot their areas of improvement and reinvent themselves to keep up with a changing market are certainly exceptional.

If you’d like to learn about how to improve the marketing for your management business, learn how to create your branding, website, a blog and a newsletter in our free ebook.