How to Choose the Best Community Management Software

Community association management, similar to any other business, needs organizational tools to run most efficiently. One way to be successful is by finding the right community management software system that works best for your Condo or HOA. Snap Collections is a collections platform for community associations that will help your business operate smoothly and flourish with success. The following are guidelines to consider when deciding which community management software will meet your goals and exceed your expectations.

The “Dos”

•  When setting goals for your association, make sure to think beyond this year’s budget. Don’t limit your success potential with negativity and self doubt.  When you have board meetings everybody needs to check their ego at the door and be open minded and consider the long term approach.
•  A strong supporting cast of employees is key to developing a successful business. Your community association manager is the backbone and foundation of your business.  As board members you are not expected to know the ins and outs of community association management so listen to your managers carefully.  See what software will suit them best.  If your are not self managed and choosing a new management company ask them to show you how their software works.
• Use technology to assist with organization and internal communications, in addition to promoting best practices in your community association. A successful community association operation requires access to information not just for the benefit of the business but to be able to convey documentation requests as per statute.

The “Don’ts”

• Select software that is not industry specific.  It must be geared to served community associations.  This can occur if you choose non industry specific software.   An off the shelf bookkeeping program many not suit a community association’s special needs especially when it comes to calculating ledgers as late fees and interest must be applied as per statute as well as payments.  It is not simple bookkeeping and will confound your community association collections.
•  Don’t commit to a community management software package without first using the free trial or having a very comprehensive demonstration. Most software has a one or two week free trial period for you to determine if the product is a good fit for your community.
• Don’t buy a software package unless you are sure that the software provider is committed to customer service.  You may come across a cheap community association software package, but there will be times that you will need to reach out to customer support to help you and if they don’t answer the phone big problems can happen.
• Lastly, be sure that your data can be backed up and is secure.  Lost date will affect everything from insurance claims to community association collections.

SNAP Collections is a collections agency in Florida that has been successfully collecting past due assessments since 2006. Our experience and success speaks for itself, as we are now a national company serving condos and HOAs from the East Coast to Colorado. Contact us today for more information.