Question about fees for approvals from your HOA. (Austin, Avery: condo, homes)

[EzPeterson]

Originally Posted by scm53

I wouldn't own any place that didn't have a professional management company. There are too many financial, legal and regulatory issues for amateur management.

It's very rarely the HOA leech, errr "management company", that processes architectural, landscape or CC&R approvals. Too much liability exposure for them.

Generally speaking, you have a Board of Directors (neighbors), elected by the few that show up to meetings. They then appoint a Covenants/Architecture/Landscape Committee (more neighbors). The vast majority of the time, these are - and always should be - volunteer positions.

Everything breaks down when people forget that it's all neighbors and make it an us v. Them equation.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by EzPeterson

It's very rarely the HOA leech, errr "management company", that processes architectural, landscape or CC&R approvals. Too much liability exposure for them.

My daughter, the "leech" as you call them, would be happy to regale you with hours worth of stories of ignorant, unreasonable, and downright dangerous homeowners. They earn every penny they are paid - in not the least because people discount them as mere "leeches".

[Trainwreck20]

Certain aspects of an HOA are better done by management companies - handling the money, probably the contracting out of work, etc. Other aspects are better left to the homeowners, such as approving plans, enforcing (as necessary), and fining (or not fining).

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Certain aspects of an HOA are better done by management companies - handling the money, probably the contracting out of work, etc.

And that was the point about a board member contracting with themselves - something that would never happen with a management company.

[EzPeterson]

Originally Posted by scm53

My daughter, the "leech" as you call them, would be happy to regale you with hours worth of stories of ignorant, unreasonable, and downright dangerous homeowners. They earn every penny they are paid - in not the least because people discount them as mere "leeches".

You don't earn money from perception. However, if being thought of as a leech is epidemic to the point that is should be factored into compensation, well, maybe it's that whole "smoke" and "fire" thing.
There are equally as many stories of shady, incompetent, and downright dangerous HOA "management" companies. I have yet to deal with one that could not be replaced by software and some common sense.

Everyone's experience is different in life.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by EzPeterson

There are equally as many stories of shady, incompetent, and downright dangerous HOA "management" companies. I have yet to deal with one that could not be replaced by software and some common sense.

Which would be totally open to board members putting themselves on the payroll and burying it in the financials - which was the point to begin with. And why I would never buy in a development that was run as you advocate.

[EzPeterson]

Originally Posted by scm53

Which would be totally open to board members putting themselves on the payroll and burying it in the financials - which was the point to begin with. And why I would never buy in a development that was run as you advocate.

Which just goes back to my point that the whole system breaks down when people forget they're neighbors.

There are a large number of self-managed HOA's that do just fine.

[cully]

Originally Posted by EzPeterson

Which just goes back to my point that the whole system breaks down when people forget they're neighbors.

There are a large number of self-managed HOA's that do just fine.

What is self managed?

[EzPeterson]

Originally Posted by cully

What is self managed?

The HOA runs all aspects of the HOA. No "management" middleman company is used.

[cully]

Originally Posted by EzPeterson

The HOA runs all aspects of the HOA. No "management" middleman company is used.

I'm aware of a sort of middle-of-that-road situation. An individual hired to manage the association. Salaried. Not a resident. With benefits (don't know why). And then a secretary and a handyman also with benefits and on salary. They are onsite at the hoa in an office. They manage the master association, some sub associations and even a nearby association or two.

Yet they are not officially a management company. They don't seem to be listed as such and don't have a website or market themselves as such. And they don't have a separate management company name.

Yet they are not residents doing the work.

An in between status we haven't encountered before.