Townhome
Management Services
Empire Management provides townhome management services to communities in the Eastern United States, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Empire Management handles the financial, administrative, and day-to-day work associated with managing these responsibilities. We support the board and the homeowners living within the community.
We provide association management services for developers throughout the Eastern U.S., Texas, and Oklahoma at any point in development. We help transition the association to homeowner control and can continue managing it after the transition.
Each townhome community is unique. As such, each community’s responsibilities can vary greatly. For instance, a community with private roads, large-scale landscaping, shared amenities, utilities, or other shared property may have more responsibilities than a community with limited shared obligations.
Empire Management begins by learning the association’s responsibilities and then builds our management process around them.
What is Townhome Management?
Townhome management is the daily operation and administration of the association that oversees a townhome community.
Many of the duties performed by a townhome association manager are similar to those performed by managers in other types of community associations. Examples include collecting assessments from homeowners, creating budgets, maintaining records, coordinating vendors, communicating with homeowners, providing support for board meetings, administering governing documents, and processing architectural requests.
Additionally, townhome communities may have responsibilities related to shared property and services. The extent to which responsibilities belong to individual homeowners or the association varies depending on the governing documents of the community.
Professional management helps the board organize the association’s responsibilities while giving homeowners a clear point of contact for association-related questions.
While there are numerous tasks that must be accomplished to effectively manage a townhome association, Empire Management performs many of the routine responsibilities. Some examples include:
Communications with homeowners
Coordination of vendors and utilities
Review of architectural requests
Maintenance of records
Collection of assessments from homeowners
Coordination of services and common-area maintenance
Support for board meetings and annual meetings
Policy and procedure development
Preparation of budgets and financial administration
Enforcement of covenants and deed restrictions
Coordination of committee activities
Assistance during developer turnover and transition
Shared Responsibilities, Clearly Defined
In many instances, a major concern within a townhome community is defining what responsibilities belong to the individual homeowner versus what responsibilities fall under the association.
The governing documents of the community define which responsibilities belong to either party. Those governing documents may establish which responsibilities relate to common areas, landscaping, roads, utilities, amenities, architectural standards, exterior components, or other forms of shared property or services.
Using those governing documents, we determine how to handle recurring association responsibilities. If a matter requires legal interpretation or clarification, we can coordinate with association counsel.
Clearly defining each party’s responsibilities helps the board make informed decisions and helps homeowners understand what to expect from the association.
Day-to-Day Management, Taken Care Of
Architectural reviews and community standards
Governing documents define the rules and standards that apply within a townhome community. These documents are especially important when homeowners want to alter an exterior component or make other improvements that could affect the community's appearance or operation.
Empire Management processes architectural requests in accordance with procedures established by the association and enforces covenant and deed restrictions based on the governing documents.
Consistency is key. Homeowners should know how architectural requests are processed, how association requirements are enforced, and what steps are taken when an issue requires further review.
When necessary, Empire Management coordinates with association counsel.
Support for developer-controlled communities
Empire Management also works with developer-controlled communities at various stages of development.
When Empire Management begins managing a developer-controlled association, we work with the developer to determine how to address recurring issues.
Once those procedures are established, Empire Management can generally handle many routine issues without needing repeated input from the developer.
Rather than relying solely on development personnel for association-related issues, homeowners have a direct point of contact in Empire Management for questions or concerns related to association business.
As construction continues in a community under developer control, expenses and responsibilities associated with shared property or services may shift from the developer to the association. Empire Management can adjust budgets, coordinate vendors and utility providers, and take on additional association responsibilities as they shift.
Preparing for homeowner control
The community's governing documents establish when control of the association transfers from the developer to the homeowners. This may occur after a specified period of time, once a certain number of homes have been sold, or after another event identified in the governing documents.
To help the parties prepare for the change before it occurs, Empire Management monitors progress toward any applicable triggers for transferring control from the developer to the homeowners.
Empire Management's turnover work can include:
- Soliciting candidates for membership on the board
- Distributing required meeting notices
- Coordinating with association counsel
- Participating in in-person or virtual turnover meetings
- Completing administrative tasks related to transferring control of the association
After the developer transfers control to the homeowners, the new homeowner-led board can decide whether to continue using Empire Management for ongoing townhome association management.
Management Built Around Your Community
Vendor and service coordination
When an association needs a service that affects multiple homeowners, Empire Management can help solicit bids, review proposals with the board, and coordinate the selected vendor or service provider.
|
The board retains ultimate decision-making authority for selecting services that best serve the needs of the community. However, Empire Management manages much of the administrative work associated with providing those services.
Budgeting and assessment collection
A townhome association’s budget should reflect the costs incurred by the association. Depending on the nature of the community, assessment dollars collected by the association may cover expenses for:
Empire Management creates budgets using estimated operating expenses for the association and presents those budgets to the board for review and approval.
Additionally, Empire Management collects assessments from homeowners and provides established methods for homeowners to make payments and ask questions about their accounts. Should an account become delinquent, Empire Management follows the association’s established collection procedures.
If a community has an existing budget at the start of our engagement, we use it as a starting point. Conversely, if a developing community has no budget, we can help create one based on the association’s anticipated expenses and responsibilities.
Transition process
Townhome communities operate best when homeowners know who to go to with questions.
Empire Management acts as a central point of contact for homeowners seeking answers to general association-related questions. If a question requires input from the board, developer, association counsel, or another professional, Empire Management ensures that it reaches the correct person.
Additionally, Empire Management supports the board by maintaining records, preparing for meetings, coordinating committees, addressing routine matters, and assisting in carrying out decisions made by the board.
This lets board members focus on governing while Empire Management handles day-to-day administrative functions.
Landscaping
Maintenance of
common areas
Amenities
Reserve funding
Utilities
Insurance
Professional services
Other association responsibilities
Experience Managing Community Associations
Empire Management has served community associations for more than a decade across multiple states and development stages.
Our experience spans both developer-controlled and homeowner-controlled associations.
Talk with us about your townhome community
Each townhome community is governed by its own governing documents and has different financial obligations, shared responsibilities, and priorities.
Empire Management handles the administrative and operational work associated with managing the townhome association while providing boards and homeowners with an experienced management team.
If you are interested in working with Empire Management as your townhome community’s management partner, we’d be glad to talk.
Contact Empire Management today to learn more about how we can assist your townhome community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a townhome management company do?
A townhome management company handles many of the financial, administrative, and operational responsibilities involved in running a townhome association.
How does townhome management differ from other HOA management?
Townhome associations often have many of the same responsibilities as other HOAs. However, a townhome community may have additional responsibilities involving shared property, services, or exterior components.
Is the association responsible for exterior maintenance?
It depends on the governing documents. In some communities, the association may be responsible for certain exterior components or shared areas, while other responsibilities remain with the individual homeowner.
Can you manage an existing townhome association?
Yes. Empire Management can work with an existing townhome association and begin with its current budget, governing documents, vendors, procedures, and operating structure.
Do you work with developer-controlled townhome communities?
Yes. Empire Management works with developer-controlled associations at different stages of development.