Condo Management Company

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Secondly, I own a townhouse, but I rent it out. Is it worthwhile for a landlord to join a condo board for a place he doesn't live in?

It could be. The board will do a number of things that could effect the value of your townhome, your ability to rent it for a good price, and monthly costs.

Examples: put on rental restrictions, increase strata fees (maybe a lot), pet restrictions, decisions on upkeep of the building etc, changes to common areas etc.
A grandfather clause will protect you from most new restrictoins (eg. rental), but if they get put in place, they will effect you ability to rent. Maybe in a good way, as there would be less competitive units.

If you want a strong input into those things, then yes. If you trust the other board members to do well, then no.

[FFR]

So I made my way to the AGM last night. Sounds as if the other people are having some issues with the condo management company as well. I was going to bring up my issue, but I got intimidated as the person running the meeting and fielding questions was the one I had a problem with. While that might make some people more willing to express their concerns...it kind of worked the opposite for me. Anyways, it was interesting to hear what was happening.

Does anyone know if non board members are allowed to attend a board meeting to express concerns?

[FFR]

That's right. I am. And I know it. But that's not the point. Well it may be partially the point. But I can't change it now.

[socktape]

Originally Posted by FFR

So I made my way to the AGM last night. Sounds as if the other people are having some issues with the condo management company as well. I was going to bring up my issue, but I got intimidated as the person running the meeting and fielding questions was the one I had a problem with. While that might make some people more willing to express their concerns...it kind of worked the opposite for me. Anyways, it was interesting to hear what was happening.

Does anyone know if non board members are allowed to attend a board meeting to express concerns?

Wouldn't that be a bit of a conflict of interest having the management company running the meeting?

[FFR]

Originally Posted by socktape

Wouldn't that be a bit of a conflict of interest having the management company running the meeting?

I thought it was...interesting. I expected her to be there but she ran the show pretty much. A couple other people talked but basically she treated us like children and told us how to live our lives and how we're all stupid. I was pretty angry with her by the end of the meeting. She was quite possibly the most condescending person I've ever dealt with.

In any case, a new board was elected, and I suppose they'll be sending out contact information shortly so maybe I should just go from there.

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by socktape

Wouldn't that be a bit of a conflict of interest having the management company running the meeting?

It's always done that way, unless you've got a really assertive board who will tell the mgmt. company rep. to sit down and shut-up. (which isa only good if the board actually knows how to run one of these meetings)

The rep. is there to try and streamline things and get through the business that has to be got through. As for treating everyone like children, it seems fairly common.

Condo First as considered one of the better mgmt. companies, but individual experiences vary I'm sure. At least it's not Envision, they are universally hated as far as I can tell.

BTW it's not a conflict of interest for them to administer the meeting, there's nothing stopping an owner from making a motion to terminate the managment company's agreeement based on sevice issues, it's not like the managment company has a vote.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by FFR

The company is Condominium First Management Company. I don't know if it's just us they hate, but I've heard bad things about them from other people.

LOL....

I knew it was them the moment I read how they lady never returns calls, or just passes it off to her assistant(s). Is it Jan Petrie, by any chance? I don't know how she got her job. There were many times when I wish I could reach through the phone and poke her eyes out.

Condominium First manages Pointed @ Prestwick, where we used to live. Condo fees continued increasing every 3 months, and our reserve fund was very, very low. We had idiots on the board, especially the parking guy. We worked a lot, so we weren't able to commit to the board.

Good thing we sold the unit when we did. Prices went down almost $20k, and condo fees went up 30% right after we got out of there.

Just typing this brings back bad memories.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by FFR

So I made my way to the AGM last night. Sounds as if the other people are having some issues with the condo management company as well. I was going to bring up my issue, but I got intimidated as the person running the meeting and fielding questions was the one I had a problem with. While that might make some people more willing to express their concerns...it kind of worked the opposite for me. Anyways, it was interesting to hear what was happening.

Does anyone know if non board members are allowed to attend a board meeting to express concerns?

FFR - I was also at the AGM... and now I'm on the Board of Directors I guess hearing stories about poorly managed complexes and incompetent management companies was enough incentive to get directly involved.

I'll keep you posted about board meetings -- I don't know if you are allowed to attend but I would assume part of the process is to address concerns like yours. Wish me luck

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by FFR

A couple other people talked but basically she treated us like children and told us how to live our lives and how we're all stupid. I was pretty angry with her by the end of the meeting. She was quite possibly the most condescending person I've ever dealt with.

Now no offense, but how did you let that happen? I mean all of you at the meeting.

I'm not much for public speaking either so I understand that part, but I don't think I could let some middling functionary from a Condo management company intimidate or talk down to me. First of all, she's a nobody and she is not in a position that commands any sort of respect. More importantly though, isn't this person in a way an employee of yours? Don't you pay her salary?

[killer_carlson]

a large part of my practice is condos.

1) They were a little quick on the draw with the arrears, but that is what they should be doing. I'd demand that the management company or the board eat the fees to have the caveat removed though. Put it in writing to the Board.

2) It is contrary to the Condominium Property Act to put in rental restrictions as was suggested earlier in the thread. No bylaw can restrict any lease. If a Board or Condo Corp tries to do so, object and then take them to Court. They can't do it.

3) Encourage your Board to get educated through courses that the Canadian Condominium Institute will put on. They are ridiculously cheap and well worth it. It will smarten up your management company as well.

4) Parking tickets by a Board or management company is no surprise. There are three issues that repeat themselves over and over:

People (disputes between neighbours)
Parking (abusing visitor parking and need to be ticketed)
Pets (pets crapping on the common property or barking)

I have no issue with a management company issuing tickets. I do have an issue when a Board does it, but conveniently forget to enforce it against themselves.

5) Feel free to ask me any more questions.

[Eric Vail]

I have had nothing but trouble from two management companies... Larlyn and Diversified Management. I hired both to manage my condo and both did such a poor job that cost me a lot of money, I realized it was less stress to manage the condo myself. I totally relate to the unreturned phone calls and lots of promises and nothing done. I could tell my whole story, but it would just get me angry.

[jammies]

I used to be the president of my condo board when I lived in one, after I realized the only way to get things done was to do them myself. My best advice for dealing with a any management company is to use EMAIL, not phone calls if you can, and to document any phone calls you do have to make and always, always follow up until the issue is resolved. Essentially you have to make yourself such a pain that it is easier for them to make you happy than ignore you.

I highly recommend joining the board for anyone in an association, it teaches you how difficult it is to get anything done when you have to seek a consensus among highly divergent people. You will come out amazed that anything ever gets done in a democracy.