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How Do I Choose the Best from HOA Management Companies Near Me?

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If you’ve been on an HOA board long enough, you have probably found yourself searching “best HOA management companies near me.” You may have been surprised by the number of results that appeared. Newsflash: There are a lot of HOA-managed communities in our state! In fact, this article reveals that one in three homes in Arizona is managed by an HOA. As a result, there are many HOA management companies to service those communities.

The Truth About Searching HOA Management Companies Near Me

The number of HOA management companies seems like a good thing. In theory, lots of competition should mean that the quality of service is higher. Unfortunately, as you may have found when interviewing “HOA management companies near me,” the “near me” part is the least important. Being in proximity to you isn’t nearly as important as other factors when it comes to choosing your management partner.

Many HOA management companies in the Phoenix Valley, San Tan, Queen Creek, and surrounding areas have limited experience and deliver poor service. When they lose a client, they simply move onto another one of the countless HOA-managed communities in the Valley. Instead of delivering quality service, they go for a quantity play by taking on as many clients as possible and providing the lowest level of servicing.

So…the reigning question is: How do San Tan HOA board members choose management company that is close enough in proximity to know your local laws (don’t go with a major national firm) that will also be an excellent partner in caring for your community? Keep reading; we wrote this blog post to help you determine just that!

Dig into Their Reputation

In this online age, there is more access to data about companies than ever before. But we know that data can also be fabricated. When you’re looking into the reputation of an HOA management company, be sure to look at several sources.

First, always ask them for references. Then, actually call the references. I can’t tell you how many times we come across San Tan and Queen Creek HOA boards that got burned by their last property manager. When we ask if the company had verified references, they often say…we think so? Often, they assume having a list of references is enough. But churn-and-burn type companies rely on people to make these kinds of assumptions. We know HOA board members have a lot going on, but it’s really important to call the references listed and ask pointed questions about their experience of any HOA management company you’re considering.

Second, read their reviews. Now, every once in a while a disgruntled person can leave an unfair review. So don’t let one review turn you off (unless the issue is really bad). But definitely look for trends in bad reviews (a complaint that gets repeated across reviews). 

Third, ask around. You should not only ask people you know are on other HOA boards for referrals (keeping in mind that if your community differs greatly from theirs, their partner might not be a right fit for you). You should ask for anti-reviews too. Ask about any management company they’ve worked with who did not deliver.

Lastly, you can look the company up on the Better Business Bureau. In this day of online reviews, sometimes we forget about this time-trusted resource.

Go for Experience

Personally, we’re all about working with people who have soft skills like communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and more. But in the world of HOA management, you need a partner with hard skills too. You should choose a property management company that has either an experienced leader or experienced staffers. These people have seen many different types of issues and are equipped to problem-solve things effectively and quickly for you. Having some new staff on board is okay if you know the leadership is involved and easily accessible for questions and support.

But in a perfect world, hire a company where everyone is experienced. Then you know nobody will treat your community like a training expedition…one in which they could really drop the ball when faced with a challenge.

At United Community Management, we exemplify experience and soft skills. Our founder, Nicole, has 30 years of experience herself. Our team has a combined 80 years of experience in HOA management. When we say we’ve seen it all, we really mean it!

Make Sure They Offer the HOA Management Services Your Community Needs

Different HOA boards require different levels of service from their management partners. You may want full-service or you may prefer to pick only certain services. Before you begin searching for HOA management companies, be sure to clarify with your board what services you’re looking for. That way you can eliminate companies that won’t be able to meet those needs.

Choosing a well-rounded HOA management company with a complete offering means you won’t have to piecemeal your community’s support. It’s much better to have one source to handle it all. We’ve included a list of our services below, which is indicative of a full-service HOA management company.

  • Financial Management including HOA Bookkeeping
  • Investment Account Management
  • Physical Property Management
  • Vendor Management
  • Board Member Training
  • Home Owner & Tenant Education
  • Compliance with local regulations and legal requirements for HOAs
  • Governing Document & Legal Document Preparation

Pay Attention to How They Treat You

During the sales process, you should receive excellent customer service. After all, this is when a potential partner is showing you that when you Googled “HOA management company near me” you actually found the best one near you. With truly great partners, the level of service will not decline after the sales process.

But one thing you can count on is that service isn’t going to get better once you’re contracted with them and you’ve paid. So if, during the sales process, they take a long time to respond to calls or messages, they miss deadlines, or they don’t seem to listen carefully to your needs, take that as a sign. It’s a sign that things could be the same but will likely be worse once you’ve hired them.

In short, let them show you how they will treat you by showing you how they treat you now!

Contact United HOA

If you’re ready to experience one of the leading HOA management companies in Phoenix firsthand, call our office or use our simple Request a Proposal form. You don’t have to take our word that we lead the industry in professionalism, skill, and passion . Check out our glowing testimonials.

United HOA team has extensive experience servicing the following areas: