How to Deal with a Property Management Company?

Answer 1

If you live in a condo or town home, most likely there is a property management company that has been hired. You pay condo fees, also known as home owner association fees. A part of that fee goes toward paying the property management company.

When a condo or town home is still in the early stages of development, the builder runs the place. A builder may offer good deals on association fees to get people in. Once the property has a certain percentage of owners, a board and a property management company will be put in place.

Once a Board is elected, the property management company is hired. Since board members have regular full time jobs of their own, it is the management company that oversees the property. They normally work 9 to 5 and have a small office somewhere onsite.

If a home owner has a problem, such as a neighbor with a loud dog, the home owner needs to approach the property management company employee and talk to that person about what their options are. One thing that upset home owners frequently do is they run into the management office and scream and yell. That type of action will not get you anywhere. You need to talk calmly and rationally. Explain your problem and give details of the situation, the person’s unit number and name. It is up to the property manager to follow the association’s rules and regulations to try and remedy the problem for you.

Let the property manager do his or her job. That is why that company was hired, to handle problems when home owners or their renters break the rules. The property manger will keep you informed of the situation.

If you see something wrong, for instance if the grass was not mowed in your section of the property, calmly point that out and the property manager will take care of it. Remember, they don’t cut the grass, so if the maintenance crew is not due for a few days; the grass won’t be cut until then.

A smile and a thank you can make the day for a property management company’s employee.