RISKS

By Lisa U. Rose, CMCA, AMS, Community Association Manager for Royal Ridge Homeowners Association (Northbrook, Illinois)

There are both advantages and pitfalls for common interest realty associations (CIRAs or associations, plainly) that wish to self-manage. A self-managed association typically employs an onsite professional manager who works directly at the board’s behest and is given authority to complete assignments, coordinate departments, collect and disseminate information to the board, protect assets, enter into contracts, handle the accounting for the association, manage other association employees, work with the board and sub-committees, and serve as a liaison between the board and individual homeowners and contractors.

AN ASSOCIATION CAN BENEFIT IN MANY WAYS BY EMPLOYING ITS OWN ONSITE PROFESSIONAL MANAGER.

An association can benefit in many ways by employing its own onsite professional manager. The primary advantage of self-management is that it provides an association with additional control over its day to day operations. Often, these managers work on the property site, which in turn provides both board members and property owners with increased access to management. For the board members, having their own association manager onsite makes it easier to get answers quickly and to address homeowner issues

expeditiously. For homeowners, having an onsite manager makes it easier for them to get help when emergencies or problems arise.

In some communities, particularly in affluent areas, onsite professional managers offer various “concierge” services, services which go well beyond what is typically offered in communities employing a management company. Examples of concierge service include picking up mail for residents who go on vacation, watering plants, taking out refuse, starting cars, and opening units for service people (i.e., exterminators, cleaning professionals, etc.). While these extra services

12 | COMMON INTEREST® A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter

and Rewards OF ASSOCIATION SELF-MANAGEMENT