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DeborahC2 (Texas)
Posts: 1
Posted:
I am trying to start a Home Owners Association Management Company, in Houston, Texas.

I do not know where to contact members of different HOA's to let them know we are now open and running.

Does anyone know how or where to find this information?

Our web site is:
www.camcompany.org

My email is:
[email protected]

Thanks
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
First you wouldn't be a homeowner's management company. You would be a Management company that involves homeowner's associations. Your NOT a homeowner and thus can not be technically called a homeowner's association. You manage the HOA's property since you would be their SUB-CONTRACTOR. The HOA still makes the rules and runs itself. The management company is there to keep records, accounting, and whatever the HOA assigns for them to do on their behalf.
You can advertise on websites involving HOA's or put your management company in the phone book/newspaper. If a board member needs a new management company, that's where they may look for resources. Think of where you would look for your company if you ever needed one, then advertise there.

Former HOA President
JM2 (Oregon)
Posts: 439
Posted:
Hi Deborah:

Try the corporation division of the Secretary of State's office, there may be a searchable database; start by searching "condominium," "homeowner," "home owner," "homeowners," "home owners," "homeowner's," "home owner's," "homeowners'" and "home owners'." That should overload you for a while.

The other way to get the word out would be to network with companies that serve HOA's - landscapers, attorneys, accountants, reserve specialists, etc. - check the website of your local chapter of CAI.

J. Patrick Moore, CMCA
PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347
Posted:
Deborah:
Most association Boards prefer signing a contract with a 'local' management company since part of the responsibility is to personally monitor 'common areas' and to work with local vendors (lawn maintenance, snow plowing, pool cleaning, etc.). So, if you are just starting out your mgmt. business, local is the way to go for many reasons. Your performance will build your reputation with communities in the immediate and surrounding areas, and hopefully, the builder, himself, will bring you on at the onset of the community development. You have much to gain if you can earn a good reputation with local municipalities and local developers.

I suggest making a concentrated effort to check the Real Estate sections of newspapers in your area and for as far as 10-30 miles away. Sometimes in the Sunday edition there are whole page spreads on community listings; there is also a published book of 'Communities' or Retirement Communities listed by county. The Community names will be noted if they are new or 'to be built'; they will also have the Developer's name with them. You can probably get this booklet from a Realtor, or sometimes they are in restaurants as free copies.

Network with municipality offices; find out if any new communities are in the works.

Lastly, and perhaps the most important, is to educate yourselves in community living. Community management is a multi-faceted task and a good manager can make a big difference for the resident
LIVING IN COMMUNITY rather than living in a community. It's knowing how to handle resident complaints, instructing Board members in the how-to's, being the middleman between the Board and the residents.

Seek out resources offered at Community Associations Network, noted in yellow to the right of this website screen. They
are the 'go to' source for community managers, boards and residents. Take courses, courses, courses, network with real estate brokers, drive around your area and seek out residents in community living (at the mailbox, working outside...) let them tell you what they like, don't like, ...and they will be glad to tell you, too!!!

You are in a unique situation, just starting out in a business venture whose need will surely increase with time. Good Luck to you.

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