December 1, 2005 • ISSUE 44 / VOLUME 1

Pros ease burden of association boards

Hawaii First makes a major difference in Island living

Hawaii First's team of professionals provides well-proven management guidance for some of Oahu's leading commercial and residential developments.

By Richard Emery
President – Hawaii First

Hawaii townhome and high-rise condominium owners generally elect a volunteer board of directors to oversee the long- and short-term goals of a project.

But to insure that board members still can enjoy lives as private individuals, a professional management company — like Hawaii First Inc. (HFI) — is hired to oversee the management of day-to-day maintenance, repair and security issues.

It's important to remember that a board of directors is not a government.

It has limited authority as defined in the association's governing documents. Its primary role is to maintain the project and establish rules so all can residents live in harmony.

As a part of that process, the board establishes a budget that includes a reserve study to pay for current and long-term expenses.

Most importantly, boards set the policy and hire Hawaii First to do the work. Board members should not be tied down doing things that the management company should do for them.

The importance of preparing a budget and reserve study should not be under-estimated.

After all, the annual budget establishes each owner's maintenance fee.

A quality reserve study ensures that adequate funds are available when expensive capital projects come due.

Hawaii First is the only management company with a professional Reserve Specialist on staff. A professional reserve study is prepared for its clients each year as a part of its management contract.

The operating budget is dissected and analyzed to ensure that the owners are getting the best value for their maintenance fees.

Associations with deferred maintenance have discovered cost-effective methods to correct problems without serious financial impact on the owners by using Hawaii First's experts. Many regard Hawaii First's financial expertise to be the best in the industry.

All homeowners and residents alike should enjoy the quiet enjoyment of their home.

Boards generally develop policies that treat homeowners with respect and should have procedures to let everyone be heard.

Of course, it's a two-way street, as homeowners need to understand that when they purchased their home, they agreed to abide by certain rules to maintain a nice community for all residents.

This is where Hawaii First comes in. Hawaii First will accept the responsibility to manage the association and its rules and, when necessary, meet with homeowners to make sure that everyone is heard and that the association and its rules are maintained harmoniously.

Often times, it is a simple matter of communication. Hawaii First provides an advanced Web site to communicate with homeowners and make information readily available.

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Hawaii First's professional managers contact homeowners to help resolve problems amicably. Overall, it is a hands-on, get-it-done company that manages the association for the volunteer board members.

In most cases, Hawaii First's management benefits the community and can make serving on the Board fun for the volunteer directors.

Hawaii First offers competitive management contracts with minimal reimbursable costs.

For more information call 792-3001 to speak directly with the HFI president or email him at richard@hawaiifirst.com. For a free brochure, log on to www.hawaiifirst.com.

Hawaii First is Hawaii's third largest management company. Compare us with the competition.

Hawaii First provides intelligent property management for its clients.