Rude Property Manager..

I have lived in my own building long enough and have served on our board in the past to have the opportunity to work up close with what appears to be rotating managers from our company. I think last calculation is 7 different manages in the 10 years I have lived here. I assume that is fairly standard for the industry.

Our most recent "new" manager has made a pretty harsh impression on our homeowners. Opinionated and dominant. I personally attended a board meeting where this persons personal opinion was tossed out there to the point she was raging about "how those fake medical marijauna cards, and the people who use are just druggies ruining our neighborhood. Instead of arguing the fact. I mentioned to her in open session, she should be cautious with that judgement as I have seen multiple people some with cancer who live in this building frequenting the neighborhood dispensery.. it shut her up. Yes this is a hot topic for discussion, just not the right forum.. Our managers opinion should have NO bearing at our meetings.

None the less, I emailed this manager regarding a maintenance issues ( yes my post on the termites) I mentioned in my email that one of my neighbors also called a couple of times ( and according to the neighbor never had any return calls ). MY return email from the manager said that the neighbors concerns were addressed and being looked at and "he calls alot with alot of concerns and issues"

Really it's a personality issues here. I have seen on some level everyone of our hired managers express a better than you attitude, but this is sort of over the top.

As homeowner we have to call in issues from time to time, I encouraged the homeowner who"calls all the time and has multiple issues to take my email and confront her supervisor.

Is there a better way to deal with something as simple as a personality/ power issue?? PM's don't get paid that well, I feel that her higher than you attitude eludes from the fact that they pay our bills, and in fact have power for our HOA.

I was off base for referencing more than several homeowners using a medical marijuana dispensory when our hired employee called them druggies?? I am not sure I understand. I guess this is not the right place to ask for support or how to deal with rude managers. Truth is, they make little money, are hired and weather or not someone is a PIA I don't need her to tell me one of my neighbors is a bother more or less.

I work with the public, I am a professional on the outside of condo. I would never tell one of my clients that the other one is calling alot with multiple issues. That is none of clients business, ans it wasn't mine either.

Biggest concern is the fact that I am so easily told about a "problematic" neighbor by our hired manager I wouldn't want that said about me to my neighbors.. true or not..

I guess it will take me to tell her that comment is unprofessional and none of my business next time I hear something along those lines.

With managers track record she will gone soon anyway. 7 in 10 years..

I actually think everyone's opinion should have some bearing at every meeting. In the case of a property manager, the Association (hopefully) hiring them for their knowledge and expertise in property management. One can certainly disagree with an opinion but if the opinion (professional or personal) isn't going to heard and given some bearing by the Directors (each may make their own decision as to how much weight to give it) then I would ask why is the Association spending the money on a property manager?


If you are currently on the Board, then following up about a members complaint would certainly be appropriate.
If you are not serving on the Board, I'm not sure why you included the neighbors comments to you when you made your request/complaint.

If it was to demonstrate that you are aware others have also called the issue in, I'm ok with that but don't really think it was necessary as you reporting an issue should have the same weight as anyone else reporting the issue. If I were the person you were calling, I wouldn't give the comment any weight as it reminds me (and please don't take this the wrong way),since I have children, it reminds me of a child claiming "everyone is doing it" and I just tend to tune that part out. That's not saying the comment was invalid, it just happens to be how I filter those comments.


Yep, I agree that the final comment should not have been included. However, perhaps it was a compliment to you. Since the manager knew you had(are) serving on the board, perhaps they thought you would understand how some individuals have a tendency to report anything and everything and by doing so, that individual might get things done but are considered. . . well the best way I've heard it in this forum is, they are considered the chief complaining officer (CCO) of the Association. Everyone in the Association knows that they must treat every issue equally no matter who reports it but, gee, can it be someone else who is reporting the issue because dealing with the CCO seems to take all the available time and nothing else gets done

I'm just saying, perhaps the PM thought you would understand and they were just trying to be friendly. Granted, not the best way of being friendly but gossiping (unfortunately) does bring groups together.


Not really. As a supervisor, if there is a personality issue between two individuals I supervise, it's actually very difficult to separate any complaints from the personality issue. The best way to make a complaint on someone you have a personality conflict with is to stick to the facts and let the facts speak for themselves.

Michelle,

You could always ask the Board to switch management companies if you are unhappy with the current manager. If you are Northern California I am more than happy to make some suggestions to you. I work with approximately twenty management firms.

I concur, frequently changing property managers is a clear sign of board dysfunction. The managers will also tend to very in skill and ability. Although we have our own CCO and sometimes it's hard to be diplomatic when referring to them.

I think the OP stated that their Management Company has rotated 7 managers in the role during the ten year period. I do not think the HOA has switched management companies during the ten years. I agree that changing management companies every 17 months may indicate a dysfunctional HOA.

However, I don't think that was what the OP stated. More likely it appears that the Management company is using her HOA as a sort of training ground for their entry level managers (I am reading more into this I am sure. Sorry about my bias.) The reason I say this is based on what the OP said about the manager making unprofessional comments about other owners. This is the sign on inexperience in the manager, someone who is still learning their craft. Also, this supports the reason why the management company is rotating assignments with this particular HOA.

We do not know how many units, what type they are (building condo or town homes or ???) or how old the HOA is.
Are the management changes HOA initiated or is the management company doing it? This is important info we should have before determining fault on any one or group.

Changing actual management companies can be an arduous undertaking from what I hear (never witnessed myself). But a single management rotating people out from what they might consider as a good training ground (HOA) may be a good thing for the company and cause some issues for the people of the HOA as the OP described in the first post.