| There are a number of ways to
manage an association. One of the best ways is self management. In fact,
several communities are quite successful. In order for self management to
work, it takes at least one homeowner, hopefully more, to be extremely
involved. Unless they get help, eventually they will burn out, just like the
many property managers that burn out.
The majority of associations do hire some type of management, whether in-house
or contract. The management is only as good as the manager. More and more,
property management is being recognized as a profession. It is definitely
one of the most challenging professions because many board members expect
property managers to be experts in many different and diverse areas which
change from property to property.
The State of Florida now requires all property managers to be licensed in
an effort to maintain a minimum level of competency. The State also requires
all property managers to take a minimum of 16 approved hours of Continuing
Educational Units (CEU) every two years to maintain their licenses. The 16
hours is important for a Professional Property Manager to keep up-to-date
with the profession. Two hours every year must include a course concerning
the new changes to the laws governing association management. However, the
changes to the Condominium Law 718 this year actually requires more than the
mandatory two hours to thoroughly understand the new provisions in the law.
This is why I attended the Miami Law School Institute's two day seminar on
Condominium and Cluster Developments to maintain my professionalism within
the industry. Also, while obtaining the required CEU credits you can also
achieve professional designations.
CAI, Community Association
Institute, an independent, nonprofit, research and educational organization
formed to develop and distribute guidance for homeowner associations in
condominiums and planned unit developments, has two such designations. The
first is the PCAM (Professional Community Association Manager). |
To earn the PCAM designation,
requires successful completion of the Professional Management Development
Program (PMDP) which is a series of five intensive courses offered by CAI
that includes Legal basis for Community Management, Communication and
Meetings, Association Operations, Management Practices and Asset Protection.
Upon completion of the PMDP, PCAM candidates participate in a 3 day case
study in which they apply the knowledge gained from the PMDP courses. The
case study course involves a full presentation of a community profile,
including meeting with management, the Board of Directors and other key
people. The course encompasses an inspection of the property, review of
finances and examination of other materials necessary to answer a series of
probing questions designed to determine the candidate's management
expertise. PCAM candidates must have three to five years confirmed community
association management experience. These are important ways to check and
ensure that the management company and/or manager is professional and
knowledgeable in the field of property management. Recently, I have
had board members and/or realtors decide to get
their Community Association Manager's License and learn the profession at
the community's expense. Like most realtors will agree, just because you
passed your Real Estate License exam does not mean you can successfully sell
real estate.
In property management, you have to be knowledgeable in many different
fields, i.e., landscaping, accounting, law, repairs and maintenance and
probably most important is the requirement to get along with various people.
It is a field that is ever-changing. I always warn people wishing to get
into the property management profession that they must be thick skinned.
Seldom do you receive a phone call of praise. You must learn to accept the
fact that you just aren't going to be able to please all of the people all
of the time! Property management is a tough profession, self-rewarding and
always changing, if you can take the heat. |
