Looking for help finding a few Management Companies in Katy, TX to Sugar Land, TX area

Roger

I suggest you look at staying self managed but hire a bookkeeper to handle collections, payments, etc. This could be done for $300 or so a month.

It probably would not change situation much, but edit: #8 was written incorrectly. My subdivision is in an "un"incorporated area (not in a city limit nor in a MUD or other utility district - we have private water wells and septic systems.)

I will call some real estate companies to see if realtors, in my area, have opinions of ones in my area.

Something on the search, when I do a "Google" search for my area and HOA management companies, the first three results I get are the three companies the lady, at my POA, said she "researched." I also did a search in other browsers and devices so my search would not be tainted by my search histories. I got the same three in all the searches I did - likely paid to be top of search results.

The lady brags about her extensive search for a management company, and others complement her on how much effort she put into it. It appears all she did was a simple search and then called the first three results, one of which was a company she already knew and is the one she is pushing. I.e., she likely put no effort into an important endeavor.

Actual the goolging came up with many results. It is a useful tool, and I appreciate the suggestion because at this point it is a starting tool for me. I am just frustrated that it is the biggest decision my POA has taken, and I think the lady tasked with finding one putt little to no effort into it. So, I was venting that frustration in a swipe at that lady (not you.)

in my area, if I Google a specific HOA, their Home page says who their MC is. Another possibility is to drive around and in HOAs that are similar to yours, get a sense of how well they're maintained (if that matters to you) and Google the HOA to see who manages it.

I'm curious about why you want to present three to the Owners at a meeting of the members? I can't recall--are you on the board?

Roger

I am not sure something smells but a national company may well have a larger overhead which translate into a minimum per home charge thus maybe the $1,100.00. A smaller local company probably has a lower overhead thus the $700.00 bid. I do not find this strange.

You didn't say if you're on the board (if so, have you discussed any of this with your colleagues?) Just because there's a cheaper option doesn't necessarily mean it's better for your community. You have to consider what the community needs and if you can get it for $700 a month, great, but if the other company provides more services the homeowners want anyway, it might be best to go with that company. It's not that the smaller company can't get it done, but you may have to deal with additional costs and by the time you add them up, you might find you were better off paying $1100.

You say you'd rather not have a management company, but as I said earlier, you have to consider if the board members are willing and able to take on the additional tasks self-management requires. If not, are there other homeowners (like you?) willing to take on those tasks? Are you willing to work under the board's direction? What happens if you or someone else isn't available when something needs to be done? What happens if you or someone else decides you can't or don't want to take on the task or tasks anymore - can you find someone willing to step up and take over.

If this is going to be discussed at the annual meeting, you'll have to make your case and see what happens. Hiring a property manager is no small thing, even if you're a small community - maybe you should offer to help the board do a deeper dive into what it wants the manager to do and determine who can provide the biggest bang for the buck. I agree with Kerry the annual meeting seems to be a weird setting to discuss all this - the association might be better off doing its due diligence first, then inviting interested companies to make a presentation at a special homeowners meeting where people can ask questions.

The board could then take those comments plus their review of the RFPs to make a decision. This IS a board decision, not necessarily something the homeowners vote on because the board is responsible for overseeing the overall operation of the community, and they have to determine the best way to do that.