HOA Property Management Companies (Houston, West: insurance, houses, neighborhood)

[Spartacus713]

I am on the board of a HOA that is soliciting bids for a new property management company. It is a recently constructed gated community with less than 50 homes on the West side of Houston.

Anyone have any recommendations or links to resources that would be helpful in this quest?

[crone]

Our 85 house community found it hard to find a company interested in a small HOA. We did it ourselves. The most time consuming was for the treasurer. In 25 years, there was only 2, so they figured it was no trouble. We had no pool because all the houses had one. It was just insurance, street lights, yard guy and back door pick up trash and recycle. We had one annual mtg and a board meeting quarterly that lasted about 15 minutes. The 3 person ACC was separate but the chair came to the board meeting so everybody knew what was going on. That was mostly predetermined paint colors and a couple owners put rooms over their garages.

[Houston321]

I live in a small community similar to yours. We use FS residential.

[ilikeme]

I am on the HOA board for my neighborhood and we still manage it ourselves. The only thing another company manages is maintenance and running/lifeguarding the pools. We have discovered this is a lot more economical and efficient than using a property management company. We control what gets done directly and do not have to wait on someone from a company. The board has been this way since the neighborhood was built in the mid 70's. We do have our own paid secretary also who has office hours for the residents.

[Rycy]

Originally Posted by Houston321

I live in a small community similar to yours. We use FS residential.

We have first service, and they are terrible. They don't send notices out, update residential contact lists, lose documents, or return phone calls or emails. They also don't update our website or resident portal with current information like board meetings, minutes, financial statements. Any events they cancel due to weather that are supposed to be rescheduled are not rescheduled. They also have problems sending violation letters to the correct house. One person got a violation letter clearly picturing someone else's house and another got one with a picture of his contractors fixing the fence they were complaining about in the letter.

[Spartacus713]

Originally Posted by Houston321

I live in a small community similar to yours. We use FS residential.

Are you on the board there? Would you recommend them?

[Houston321]

I could never be on an HOA board. I am allergic to whiny neighbors.

[baggiegenes]

Originally Posted by Houston321

I could never be on an HOA board. I am allergic to whiny neighbors.

If you don't participate on the board then those whiny neighbors are making the rules that affect you. I don't enjoy HOA boards, but I'd rather have my influence than just get the bill every year.

Assuming you live in an HOA at all.

[Houston321]

^^^^You are a better person than I am. I respect the people on my HOA, as I could never do it.

[crone]

DH was on the board of several HOA. In all that time he never encountered a whiny person. Most people avoid them at all cost. You are lucky to get enough proxies to have a quorum at the annual meeting.You kinda need to stay on the fringe involved just for self protection. There have been several control freaks who thought the money was theirs. It just takes reminding that it belongs to one and all and they each have a right to see the books anytime they want.

The las t HOA board he was on the treasurer wouldn't spend a Penny to see a pissant eat a bale of hay. It took some convincing to get a good yard guy to get the entry looking nice.