A community manager is often a jack of all trades. Managers become experts in the communities they manage, community association law, communication, and finances. They tend to learn the most when situations arise within their community – gaining knowledge about fire systems, landscaping, pools, elevators, and leak chasing. Because of this, homeowners and tenants may confuse management with a concierge service, key service, maintenance firm, engineer, insurance adjuster, lawyer or CPA.
Community Association Institute wrote this amazing blog detailing what managers do – and more importantly what they should not do.
The industry has changed over time. The role of a community manager has become increasingly different as the regulation of the community association industry puts new regulations on communities, making compliance more critical. Now, more than ever it is imperative for community managers to reach out to service providers for support. Deeley’s Community Association Practice team remains active in educating managers, associations, and the individual unit owners about the changes as they arise in the insurance industry.
Many community managers step beyond the bounds of typical management. They can be seen picking up trash in the community, picking up a paint brush from time to time, planting native landscaping to help bee pollination, and maybe even feeding a goldfish when a year-around resident falls ill. Although the industry may frown upon these actions, it is what gives our communities the neighborhood feel and keeps the residents (and managers) happy, compared to a business-like environment.
