Questions about management companies (especially HOAs) (Sun City, Sun City West: homeowners association, how much, house)

[Voebe]

It's hard to find a decent management company anyway, but my Homeowners Association has one that I find particularly exasperating. As a comparison, I'm wondering:

1. Does your management agent charge specifically for attending a meeting? If so, how much? I was shocked to find ours does; I consider that one of the most basic parts of the job.

2. If there is a small complaint between residents (like a barking dog or a messy front yard), will your agent informally act as a buffer to anonymously relay the complaint, or do they stay aloof and require you to file formal written complaints, or send you to outside places (such as calling police about a dog).

3. Do you know of any trade/membership organizations that try to hold management companies to certain standards?

4. Lastly, of course, do you have a good management company you recommend?

[teeej]

I've never heard of a charge for attending the meeting. Usually they charge a fee per door and will nickel and dime you for other stuff like copying and mailing stuff, but i've never experienced nickel and diming over attending the meeting.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by teeej

I've never heard of a charge for attending the meeting. Usually they charge a fee per door and will nickel and dime you for other stuff like copying and mailing stuff, but i've never experienced nickel and diming over attending the meeting.

I had one that charged for a secretary to take meeting minutes because there weren't enough board members.

[ringler24]

I hate our management company with a passion. We were owed a reimbursement from our HOA for repair to our block wall caused by a dead tree in the wash behind our house falling on it. This happened in July 2021 and we just got the reimbursement in the end of March. Tons and tons of mishandling by the incompetent management company. I was pulling my hair out.

[hikernut]

Changing the management company is more or less an annual ritual in our neighborhood. I don’t know of any good ones.

[john3232]

I work with a number of HOA companies and have found the only thing they are useful for is making sure owners take care of their front yard and no overnight parking. Cars must be parked on the driveway or inside the garage.

I've also found HOA companies can be petty so it's best to stay on their good side.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by ringler24

I hate our management company with a passion. We were owed a reimbursement from our HOA for repair to our block wall caused by a dead tree in the wash behind our house falling on it. This happened in July 2021 and we just got the reimbursement in the end of March. Tons and tons of mishandling by the incompetent management company. I was pulling my hair out.

On this example, if I'm understanding you, couldn't you just call the HOA president and ask him to lean on the managing agent?

[phetaroi]

In Colorado the management companies that our HOA hired did not charge for participating in meetings; it was part of the job.

Here in Sun City West, at least on paper, anonymous complaints go nowhere. But the one time I did a formal complaint (about a neighbor's -- absent neighbor) weeds being waste high, it was taken care of within 48 hours.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

In Colorado the management companies that our HOA hired did not charge for participating in meetings; it was part of the job.

Here in Sun City West, at least on paper, anonymous complaints go nowhere. But the one time I did a formal complaint (about a neighbor's -- absent neighbor) weeds being waste high, it was taken care of within 48 hours.

AZ HOA laws change all the time but unless they've changed this in the last 5 years or so, anonymous complaints are technically illegal.

[ringler24]

Originally Posted by Voebe

On this example, if I'm understanding you, couldn't you just call the HOA president and ask him to lean on the managing agent?

If I had it. The Management Company doesn't list who our board members are or their contact info.