Management Agent for Condo, big or small?

[ProvenPracticalFlexible]

I've accidentally get into the condo management council, and there's some interest in looking for a new management agent.

What would you go for big brand name ones or midsize local ones?

I still think it is also more about the individual who ends up being on the site, and if residents and council treat them well, they'll stay for some time, and if treated like normally is done, any good ones will leave as soon as they can find something else.

But would still appreciate if anyone can recommend Management Agents you have a good experience. Maybe there is a difference.

Not really interested to hear bad experiences, google is full of that whining how they were rude and not professional...


just a small PS. If you are NOT an existing member at this board, please don't bother to register and give you honest recommendation based on your experience.

[martincymru]

novice here/ no experience of.

This Forum is a data source so good if someone can post:
How are they chosen? (fee / Quality / record)
Who chooses?
How are they paid/the basis (in advance)?
3 quotes then choose cheapest?
Are they qualified in construction or such like?
Contract duration?
Authority?
Responsibilities?
Regulated?
etc

[tt1973]

Was in a condo council for more than 10 years. The council has tried Chambers, Knight Frank, Savills, etc. There are some good and bad condo managers employed by them throughout the years.

As for selecting a MA, would recommend the bigger firms as their back-end admin, financial, IT support is much stronger. Smaller MA usually lags behind on IT and admin and have poor legal advice. The most important is the condo manager's recruitment, smaller MA struggles to recruit and retain good and capable condo manager, as the manager would also prefer bigger firms for better career advancement.

The current MA is Savills, never been happier since.

[ProvenPracticalFlexible]

Thanks tt1973, much appreciated.

[PNGMK]

TT is right but the biggest factor is who is getting the kickbacks! While I am being sarcastic I wonder sometimes if that's what drives the MA selection to a large extent. You've really got to dig into this IME. Make sure that your fellow MC members sign a COI statement and make it clear there are to be no "off site meetings" or "one on one" communications between council members and the MA (we use a WA group for ours). You can't completely stop it but you can't make it harder. Also changing out the MA every few years helps.

We use https://dpromanco.com/

They are ok - fairly good prices but they are only site two times are week and the MC is very active which reduces their burden.

[ProvenPracticalFlexible]

Thanks PNGMK.

Here I think general consensus is that we want an active MA, as noone in MC has too much time to run the show. And the main complaint from the older MC members is the lack of proactiveness, which I don't fully agree with. Of course some just want to squeeze cheaper deal.

[tt1973]

At the end of the day, a good MA needs a good site manager too! As the site manager is the one doing the daily chores, a proactive, diligent manager is the most important.

I suggest the MC personally interview and select the suitable candidates for the MA, this can be used as a condition for MA selection.

[PNGMK]

At the end of the day, a good MA needs a good site manager too! As the site manager is the one doing the daily chores, a proactive, diligent manager is the most important.

I suggest the MC personally interview and select the suitable candidates for the MA, this can be used as a condition for MA selection.

Agreed. You must meet them in person.