Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Property Management

[Judy Baxter (BAXTER]

 Jim Snyder-Grant <jimsg [at] newview.org>
wrote:

<New View (Acton Mass) is starting to interview property management companies
to help us with the task of coordinating the maintenance work needed here
(buildings not landscaping). Any experience with working with management
companies out there?

We are finding that in the booming economy of Massachusetts we don't seem to
have the clout to locate & successfully work with contractors for the myriad
of small projects we need as a 24-unit, 5 year old development.  We are
hoping that a management company will have sucess where we don't.  As one
person said it, the management fee "would be our bribe to make sure that
folks actually show up". Harsh, but you get the idea..
>

Alas, I have no experience with property management companies, but lots of
empathy for the difficulties of dealing with contractors.  As a small (15
households) group with a 1924 building that includes our "common house" we 
have found it very difficult, and it has been quite frustrating.  Some things
seem to be ok (sealcoating the driveways, repair of our slate roof )   but
rehab of the common kitchen was extremely difficult.  I suspect, that if you
don't get a lot of response, it's because most communities haven't tried it.   
Please let us know how it goes, and what it costs.

Judy

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Judy Baxter, Monterey Cohousing Community,(MoCoCo) Twin Cities Area, Mpls.,MN

Voice Mail for Monterey Cohousing - 952-930-7554
 web page: http://www.jimn.org/mococo/