Used Car Salesmen?

Started by JoannE • 5 replies • 1188 views

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JoannE (California)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Did you know that majority of property management companies are not required to have any license or certification to operate and manage a HOA in California? Is this why most management companies (the ones I have dealt with) remind me of used car salesmen...so many empty promises???

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

Joann,

Same here in AZ! But, my assn really lucked out. We have the best property manager -- very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Frankly, I think it's just like any other profession -- there are some good and there are some bad. There's been a lot of talk about requiring HOA prop mgrs and mgmt co's to be licensed but so far nothing has been done about it. Perhaps this next leg. session we'll have a regulatory bill.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Florida does have a somewhat law on property managers. Anyone managing any association with more than 50 units is required to have a State license. Unfortunately, IMHO, the education requirements are not strict enough. I know a few of them and some are great and some--not so much

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

The main thing to remember about management companies is that for them, this is a business. This is not their community. They have no altruistic goals. Whether your development matures as a strong community, as opposed to just a bunch of people living in the same geographic area is of no prime concern for them.

Having said that, it would still be in the MC's best interest to form a good working relationship with the board, develop trust and perform to at least a minimum standard of competency and efficacy.

That's just good business.

But, in the end, they are not your "friend," simply a business relationship.

The board (and any residents who interact with them) should also keep that in mind and hold the company to the standards for which they are being paid.

If they are not working to those standards, review the contract and look for a better "fit."

JeanneK3 (Maryland)
Posts: 562

Posted:

I find it ridiculous that the person who does my hair must have a license but an association manager who handles millions of dollars of other people's money does not.
A bill was introduced in the Maryland legislature to license community managers last year but it failed. I expect it will be reintroduced in 2010.

The advantage to licensing is that there will be a place to file complaints and truly incompetant managers could lose their license. Virginia passed a licensing law last year and I suspect any one who can't get a license in Virginia will just come to Maryland to work. Sad.
Jeanne

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

I don't have an opinion one way or the other on the licensing.

But your hairstylist could cause serious physical damage, considering the chemicals she or he must deal with.

So, sorta apples and oranges.

Money is money.

Chemicals. . . can cause severe problems.

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