Did you know that 53% of American homeowners live in communities managed by a homeowners association (HOA)? Many people prefer HOAs because they provide home maintenance services, amenities, security, and a strong sense of community.

If you’re looking for an HOA management company for your community, the process can seem overwhelming initially. The best thing you can do is learn practical tips that will guide you through the process smoothly.

Keep reading this guide to learn seven helpful tips for choosing an HOA management company!

1. Look for a Local Company

Remember, if you work with a local HOA management company, it will benefit your community. Local companies offer a level of service that HOA companies outside your local community cannot.

For example, local companies can efficiently address homeowner issues in person, like checking on compliance.

Local companies are more familiar with the community, so they’ll be more present and involved with block parties, neighborhood parades, concerts, and other events that help build a positive community.

Additionally, local HOA companies are more familiar with local laws and regulations. You’ll need to check that the company you choose has extensive knowledge of these regulations.

2. Choose a Company With Experience

When looking at your HOA options, focus on the company’s overall experience. You can begin by reading company reviews on Google. Pay attention to how the company responds to positive and negative reviews.

Next, check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You’ll be able to find ratings, reviews, and complaints. It’s also essential to research past complaints or grievances filed against a company.

Be cautious with your investigations and try to keep an open mind. Remember, some people are difficult to please and will give bad reviews regardless of what occurred.

The HOA company’s website is also a helpful place to look. Most of the time, you’ll be able to find client testimonials and a portfolio and get a good overview of their current clients.

Doing this research will help you find an HOA experienced in managing a similar community that shares the same issues.

If you’re looking for an experienced HOA Management company, Cedar Management is a great place to start your search.

3. Evaluate the Types of Services Offered

It’s essential to ensure that the company you choose offers many quality services that will benefit your community. At a minimum, HOA management services should include the following:

• Provides monthly management reports
• Prepares financial statements
• Deals with late notices and pre-lien letters
• Timely payment of bills
• Enforces community rules and regulations
• Responds to homeowner requests and complaints quickly
• Gets proposals and bids from vendors
• Schedules and guides board meetings
• Prepares income taxes
• Prepares the budget

In addition, the company should provide maintenance services and on-site inspections. When researching the company, pay special attention to how their current or former clients mention the quality of services offered.

4. Ensure the Company Offers Excellent Customer Service

Although an HOA may offer a variety of helpful services, if they don’t provide excellent customer service, they won’t be a positive force in your community.

Remember, the best HOA companies understand how important excellent customer service is. These companies make a considerable effort to form positive and long-lasting relationships with all their clients.

So, look for a company that has good relationships with board members and homeowners. They should also handle all concerns promptly and be respectful and professional when dealing with angry homeowners.

Ultimately, when you choose an HOA that puts its focus on customer service, it will feel like they’re a part of your community.

5. Find a Company That Pays Attention to the Details

Attention to detail is a quality you don’t want to overlook. The HOA company you choose will be in charge of managing your community, so they’ll need to be paying close attention.

Companies that are paying attention will create schedules and checklists. They’ll also have detailed maintenance plans to keep everything running smoothly.

When a company has good attention to detail, it’ll easily be able to spot minor issues before they become significant problems.

Overall, this proactive management approach will save you time and money long-term, so this is a key characteristic to look for.

6. Make Sure They’re Effective at Communicating

Good business communication is key, so you’ll need to keep this in mind while looking at your HOA management options.

An HOA management company needs to keep an open line of communication with vendors, homeowners, and board members.

A communication breakdown makes meeting deadlines and staying on a budget more challenging. If this occurs, it will significantly impact how your community operates. You’ll need to look for qualities like:

• Knows how to train board members effectively
• Provides quality feedback
• Mediates homeowners’ disputes using effective and calm communication

You can evaluate a company’s communication style during your search. Pay attention to key factors like how long it takes an HOA company to respond to your requests. In addition, make a note of how much detail they provide in their response.

If a company is slow to respond and doesn’t answer your questions thoroughly, it’s time to look elsewhere.

7. Check That They Have Access to Reliable Vendors

Finally, it’s best to keep in mind that not all HOA companies have access to a good number of reliable vendors in your area.

It’s essential to check that the HOA you choose has access to reputable contractors or preferred vendors that can meet the needs of your community. These contractors include:

• Plumbers
• General contractors
• HVAC technicians
• Lawn maintenance technicians
• Waterproofing services
• Attorneys

While researching, you’ll notice that some HOA companies have a list of preferred vendors on their websites. When you work with an HOA’s preferred vendors, you’ll get consistently available contractors who get the work done on time.

Choosing an HOA Management Company

Now that you know these tips, the process of choosing an HOA management company won’t feel so overwhelming.

Remember, choosing an HOA is a huge decision for your community, so you’ll need to take the time to do thorough research.

Be sure to visit the rest of our blog for more helpful lifestyle tips 5elifestyle!