Greetings Neighbors!
We’d like to update you on the outcome of our research and vetting of new property management companies for our HOA. First, we’ll share a bit of context:
History
From the earliest days of our neighborhood through the first year of a “resident-led” board (~2019/2020), we enlisted the help of a property management company. Our most recent (2020) was First Service Residential who regularly visited the neighborhood, managed ACC requests, organized all maintenance and repairs (landscaping, gate) and handled all monthly and annual reporting. The initial resident Board identified a number of shortcomings with First Service, and in our search for a better option, identified PayHOA. PayHOA was and is a rich software platform that saved us ~$13K annually and allowed us more direct control over the direction and quality of our expenditures (gate repair, landscaping, etc). The system worked well…until it didn’t. One of the roles of a property manager was to field complaints and initial contacts for neighbors, as well as hold the standards of our CC&Rs and in many ways “be the bad guy.”
Thankfully, we’re a fairly laid back neighborhood, and even though we fielded a handful of contacts each year, the approach was manageable and worthwhile as it saved us a good bit of neighborhood dollars. Last year was a different year, with a bit more effort required on the part of the Board to hold to our existing CC&R’s and answer several specific issues. The weight of the year and its impact on volunteers saw the resignation of two respected Board members, and the unfortunate need to enlist the help of an attorney which brought its own expense and added time investment. We heard several calls for implementation of a new property management company and though the inquiries were driven by a relatively small group of neighbors, the Board and Advisory Committee decided on the path of property management in order to solve for reducing the growing burden on the volunteers, and to put in place a team of service providers that could take over the role of handling responses to concerns and needs - including the higher friction engagements that have become more common.
Current State
After careful review by the Board and Advisory, we’ve elected to contract with Rowcal. We reached out to several companies, heard back from three and received serious bids from two. Based on the experience and interviews, and after conferring with the Advisory Committee, we selected Rowcal. The commencement date is Mar 1, 2024.
What does this mean for each of us?
Trash Service
As a follow up to the annual meeting in December, and the very clear need to reduce heavy road traffic to extend the life of our streets (video excerpt of that annual meeting discussion HERE), we are proceeding with plans to have the HOA take over trash service with one single provider. A more complete discussion is available in the recording linked above.
Next step? We will send out a full communication on this in the coming week or two with the intent to “switch” by April 1. We will need to hold a formal vote for a few reasons - so details to follow.
More information to come regarding trash.
Rowcal will be reaching out via email and USPS mail in the coming week, and will place reminder signs near our mailboxes to be sure everyone is aware of the change. If you have questions after the communications have gone out and you’ve had a chance to review them, let us know. The Board will maintain our email addresses, but as a matter of practice we will be directing all first line communication to our new Rowcal team once we hand things over.
Regards,
Your HOA Board