Managing a community is challenging, and when major repairs arise—especially those tied to life safety and structural integrity—the pressure can be overwhelming. Boards face tough financial decisions, and residents demand transparency. Balancing these expectations while managing complex projects requires more expertise and resources than many initially anticipate.
What often gets overlooked is how these large-scale projects impact daily community operations. Many associations rely on their community association manager to oversee these efforts, not realizing how quickly the workload can exceed what a single person or even a small team can handle. Beyond the boardroom, these projects demand a strategic approach to ensure efficiency, accountability, and long-term success.
Managing Major Projects: The Staffing Challenge
One of the biggest challenges in overseeing large-scale projects is the additional burden placed on your management team. Many associations assume their existing team can absorb these extra responsibilities simply because they are already familiar with the property.
However, a property manager’s primary role is managing daily operations—coordinating maintenance, communicating with residents, ensuring compliance, and overseeing financial reporting. When large-scale projects arise, adding engineering oversight, contractor management, and budget tracking to their responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming.
Trying to cut costs by not hiring a dedicated project manager or engineer can backfire, leading to costly delays, mistakes, or burnout within the management team.
Knowing When to Bring in Extra Support
How do you know when your association needs additional resources? Look for these signs:
- Project timelines slipping and inconsistent communication from vendors.
- Increased resident concerns with slower response times from management.
- A property manager who is so consumed by the project that daily operations suffer.
Bringing in a dedicated project manager or engineer is not an unnecessary expense—it’s an investment that safeguards your community and ensures the project stays on track.
The Role of Transparency and Communication
Transparency is crucial in major projects, and that starts with having the right systems and people in place. This means:
- Tracking and sharing financials: Homeowners deserve to know how funds are used. Digital portals, reports, and community updates make this easier.
- Keeping everyone informed: Weekly updates prevent misunderstandings and ensure stakeholders stay on the same page.
- Recognizing when expertise is needed: Boards that bring in the right professionals early on complete projects more efficiently with fewer surprises.
Success Hinges on Community Collaboration
Community association management is a team effort, and major projects require open communication between the board, residents, and management. Boards should be receptive to homeowner concerns, and residents should understand the complexities involved in large-scale projects.
Rather than assuming mismanagement, the best approach is one of partnership. Ask questions, seek information, and support those making difficult decisions to safeguard the community’s future.
If your association is facing a major project or unsure whether the current structure can handle it, take a moment to evaluate:
- Do we have the right team in place?
- Are we communicating effectively?
- What expertise might be missing?
With the right planning and professional support, even the most daunting projects can be executed successfully. Don’t wait until the situation becomes overwhelming—start the conversation now with your board, management team, or trusted advisors to ensure your community is prepared for the road ahead.
Interested in learning more about planning for your community association well-being? Request a proposal today for expert guidance on enhancing your association’s operations.
