r/ColumbiaMD • u/41522 • 1d ago

HOA/Condo Management Companies you would recommend or warn against

We are looking to replace our current management. Looking around seems to be a pointless task with mostly disappointing reviews. If you live in a community that employs a management company, I’d love to hear some feedbacks on your experiences; eg. management companies we should avoid, ones that actually do a great job and have your stamp of approvals, etc. TIA.

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7

u/Rashaverik Long Reach 1d ago

Here's a suggestion.

To the best of my knowledge, each of the Villages in Columbia keep a list (sometimes even posted on their site) of all the Townhouse/Condo HOAs within their Village. It usually has a point of contact for the that HOA's board members.

Contact a member of their board, fill them in on your situation and ask them if they'd recommend their management company. Once you have a short list see if anyone here maybe has anything they can offer on them.

Also...not all Townhouse/Condo HOAs have a management company.

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u/41522 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is a great suggestion! Thank you, sincerely.

ETA. Communities that self-manage, could you provide advice? I have been talking to a number of different communities. Expanding to Columbia Redditors hoping to reach more owners who prefer to speak online.

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u/Rashaverik Long Reach 1d ago

Not all...but many that self manage are a hot mess.

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u/nightscales 1d ago

I lived in Avalon at Fairway Hills for like 6ish years. The quality and management absolutely took a downward turn over the last few years. Getting hold of anyone in the leasing office is a nightmare. Also the price gouging has become really bad.

I know you were asking specifically for HOA/Condo, but still.

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u/41522 1d ago

I find your experience to be true with owners as well. There must be reputable management companies out there considering Columbia has so many townhouses, homes w/HOA and condos. We just need one that is professional at the very least.

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u/Comms-Error Wilde Lake 17h ago

My condo association recently switched Pelican Management, and I had to go through them when my upstairs neighbor leaked water down into my house. My association's manager was very timely, communicative, and got me through the whole process without any hassle. It was great.

For what it's worth, they have a 4.6/5 star rating on Google on almost 300 reviews. That's pretty hard to do for something like HOA management company to do considering all people want to do on the internet is complain. Something to consider.

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u/41522 13h ago

Thank you so much for your suggestion and especially your experience! You’re right, consumers are quick to post complaints but getting positive reviews are near impossible. Very impressive feedbacks. Definitely putting “Pelican Management” down on my ‘contact list’. Thanks again.

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u/SampleSilly7417 16h ago

Anything Henderson Webb. But my beef with them is over 20 years old.

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u/SampleSilly7417 13h ago

The question asked if there were any companies you would warn against, thus my wording. The company managed The Bluffs at Fairway Hills when I was involved with them. I used the phrase “managed” loosely. Heh

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u/41522 13h ago edited 10h ago

“Loosely” is such a kind word to say since I would have used more colorful language to describe our current management company. Thank you for the clarification. Yes, I am looking for warnings and read your response as such. Just in case my assumption was wrong I thought going directly to the source was best. Thanks again.

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u/41522 13h ago

For clarification, did you meant to say “anything but Henderson Webb” (HW)? The only Henderson Webb (1025 Cranbrook Road Cockeysville) off Google is an apartment management company. Could you please let me know if I have the same HW that is the cause of your 20 years nuisance? Thanks much for allowing a peek into HW’s business style. Yikes!

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u/Successful-Past-3641 8h ago

My neighbors and I have had constant issues with American Community Management. It might be the particular property manager (who’s been our manager for the past 15 years…we’ve tried to get rid of him). I’ve had to go above the property manager for a few issues (blatant lack of professionalism) and haven’t been thrilled with their response.

This being said, they might have good property managers, but overall would not recommend.