What are the characteristics of the best condo managers?

I need to know because I only want World-Class Condo Managers (WCCM) to manage my condo.  After working with many managers over the past ten years, I know first-hand that WCMs make my job as a condo board director much easier.

What makes a WCCM so amazing? I find it comes down to a variety of core skills that they need to the job well. Here are nine:

• The best condo managers are People Persons
• Condos need Condo Managers know a lot about Construction
• Good Communicators are worth their weight in Gold
• Lifelong Learners make the Best Condo Managers
• Being Super Organizers is Second Nature
• The best can fill both Negotiator and Mediator Roles
• Educating is part of Every Day
• Financial Literacy keeps Budgets under Control
• The best managers have become Tech-Savvy and love it!

1. The best condo managers are People Persons

Condos are all about people.  WCCMs love working with people: directors, owners, contractors, auditors, and lawyers.  They tailor their communication with elegance and finesse for each group.

Owners know their requests will be handled swiftly, directors know confidential information will remain confidential, and professionals know they can be relied upon to be clear.

2. Condo Managers know a lot about Construction

Construction and condominiums go together, and WCCMs have in-depth knowledge about the many different aspects that comprise their condo properties. 

It is impossible for one person to be an expert in every technical aspect, they possess foundational knowledge, as well as an awareness of the limits of their knowledge and a willingness to consult others when needed.

3. Good Communicators are worth their weight in Gold

Condo Managers are flooded with emails and phone calls every single day;  WCCMs get their messages across in a clear and concise manner. Communications skills are critical for condo managers because of the sheer volume of communications required daily.

Almost equally important is the ability to manage all this communication, ensuring prompt replies and follow up on requests.

4. Lifelong Learners make the Best Condo Managers

Learning new things is part of any manager’s job.  World-class condo managers embrace it and love learning about new technology, construction techniques, and regulations that could potentially affect the condo community.

5. Being Super Organizers is Second Nature

A WCCM can carefully prioritize their tasks and complete them on schedule.  The key to being organized is an ability to prioritize every task needing to be done.  Not every task is a top priority needing instant action, even though many people may often have this expectation when dealing with their manager.

If the board has not already identified expectations, the WCCM  will bring them to their attention and once established, works to maintain these expectations and informs the board when and, if applicable, why they have not been met.

6. The best can fill both Negotiator and Mediator Roles

Condo managers walk a very fine line between the various stakeholders in the condo community; a WCCM can make it look easy as they switch from updating an owner about their request to discussing the upcoming budget with the directors.

Negotiations include stepping in when disagreements arise during a board meeting or meeting owners on the property.

7. Educating is part of Every Day

The condo community includes people who know a lot about condos and many who are new to the condo way of life.  WCCMs can provide needed information when asked and as needed.  It is not the responsibility of the manager to educate the condo community but is something that often helps considerably.

8. Financial Literacy keeps Budgets under Control

A good condo manager can read and interpret financial statements well and can respond to directors’ questions about their contents.  WCCMs anticipate the questions directors will ask and come to every board meeting prepared with answers.

If a director’s question cannot be answered, it is quickly referred to the accounting department for an answer.

9. The best managers have become Tech-Savvy and love it!

Smartphones and computers are today’s standard tools for anyone that works in an office.  Condo managers are no exception.  New technologies continue to arrive. Increasingly, cloud-based software products offer the potential to save significant time and money, while at the same time provide value to the condo community.  World-class condo managers are competent technology users and continually seek new solutions that offer value.

Being the best condo manager in the world

It’s not easy to be a world-class condo manager.

I have a question for my readers;

(1) What skills would you add to my list of characteristics of a world-class condo manager?