Does Your Condo Use an Association Management Company? Looking for Info

Pretty sure you still need to have a board in place. The management company just takes over the day to day business needs of the association (paying bills, collecting assessments) and can assist in sourcing out vendors for services the development uses (landscaping, cleaning, snow removal, insurance, etc.). The management company can also assist the board in record keeping. But they cannot make decisions or act on your behalf without your permission and I don't think you would want them to have that much control anyhow! Bottom line, it will help run the business side of the association, but you all still have to take the responsibility of being owners in a condo development and appoint people to the board to make the decisions that will effect your investment. Maybe you could rotate, to make it fair to all the owners?

Sarah B. is right. You can not abdicate owner responsibilities. And management companies are reluctant to take on small complexes, because they can't make much money on them. While on the board of our 23 unit complex, we couldnt't find a reputable management company to take on the assignment because it was too small.

We are on an expat assignment and still own our single family home in the Northwest 'burbs, and we are paying $250 a month (minimum) just for the management services while our home is being rented out. This is on top of actual costs (plumber, landscaping, etc.). We are lucky because I have a friend in the business who is doing this as a favor for us. My next best quote was for $600 / month.

Typically management companies are way too expensive for smaller buildings to afford. I own a rental unit in a 6 unit building where the other owners wanted to hire a management company, so I suggested Connected Property Management. they are fairly reasonable and can get better rates on snow removal, cleaning, etc that they feel it ends up being a wash in the end. Their number is 888-633-8276. Everyone pays their assessments online via auto pay so the treasure doesn't have to deal with that. You will still need a board, but there's not much for them to do so more people will likely be ok with being on the board.

Yes, you still have to have a board, as the others have said.
The mgmt company will just take over property mgmt, like shoveling snow and mowing the grass, etc...

We use TriView Property Management, which is founded/owned and operated by coworkers of ours. They've since left our company and now do this full time, based on their success. They do a great job.
http://triviewpropertymanagement.com/