Finding a Quality Property Manager for Your Condo

C.D. from Hartford County writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

How do I find a quality property manager?

Mister Condo replies:

C.D., property managers come in all shapes and sizes. Some excel at managing large properties. Some excel at managing smaller associations. Some condo associations prefer a manager to be onsite to handle all of the day-to-day items that managing a condo entails. Others only need a manager on site every once in a while or for big projects. The real key to finding a quality property manager is to understanding what type of community you live in and what the needs of the association truly are. Then, it is a question of interviewing property managers who manage similar communities nearby or in neighboring towns. Provided you speak with enough qualified (and licensed, of course) property managers, you are very likely going to find a good fit. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and to check those references. If your condo has 50 townhouse units and you find a similarly sized condo who is happy with the manager they have hired, chances are that manager will be a good fit for your community as well. If you simply send out three bids and go with the lowest price, I guarantee you that you will not find what you are looking for. Also, be sure to check out the list of property managers and property management firms at the CAI-CT website at http://www.caict.org/?page=PropertyManager. That is absolutely the best place to start. Good luck!