A Community Association Manager's Job
Community associations today employ highly qualified professional community association managers, and residents should know what the manager has—and has not—been hired to do.
Some residents expect the manager to perform tasks outside of the job. When the manager doesn't meet those expectations, residents are unhappy. In short, the manager has two primary responsibilities: Carry out policies set by the board and manage the association's daily operations.
Trained Managers
Having trained managers is vital for safety. The manager knows how to deal with conflict, but he or she typically will not get involved in quarrels you might be having with your neighbor. However, the manager is the right person to notify if someone violates association rules.
While the manager works closely with the board, he or she is an advisor—not a board member. Also, the manager is not your advocate or conduit to the board. If you have a concern, send a letter or e-mail directly to the board.
Who the Manager Works For
Although the manager works for the board, he or she is available to residents. If someone needs to see the manager, they should call and arrange a meeting. The manager must still drop everything to take a neighbor's call.
The manager is always happy to answer questions, but he or she is not the information officer. For routine inquiries, like the date of the next meeting, community members should read the newsletter or check the association website or bulletin board.
Contractors are responsible for supervising their personnel. The manager is responsible for monitoring contractors' performance rather than watching them. If someone in the community has a problem with a contractor, notify the manager, who will forward your concerns to the board. The board will decide how to proceed under the terms of the contract.
The manager inspects the community regularly, but even an experienced manager will only catch some things. Your help is essential. If you know about a potential maintenance issue, report it to the manager.
What the Manager Doesn’t Do
The manager does not set a policy. If you disagree with a policy or rule, you'll get better results sending a letter or e-mail to the board than arguing with the manager.
The manager has a broad range of expertise, but he or she is not a consultant to the residents. Neither is he or she typically an engineer, architect, attorney, or accountant. The manager may offer opinions but doesn't expect technical advice in areas where he or she is not qualified.
Contact Us
Although the manager is an excellent resource to the association, he or she is not available 24 hours per day—except for emergencies. An association emergency is a threat to life or property. Getting locked out of your home may be an emergency to you, but it isn't an association emergency. If this ever happens, or you have other questions, please contact Condominium Associates!