I am extremely dissatisfied with the performance of FirstService Residential as our community's property management company. The level of mismanagement and lack of accountability has caused serious and ongoing issues that have negatively impacted homeowners both financially and personally.
To begin, my mailbox was inaccessible for months with little to no assistance from management. Despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue in person, I was dismissed and made to feel as though I was not doing enough on my end. This left me without access to important and time-sensitive mail, including essential medications, which is completely unacceptable.
Beyond my personal experience, there are broader concerns affecting the entire community. There has been a clear inability to properly manage vendors and contractors. Payments have reportedly been made to contractors who failed to complete their work, while necessary repairs and services remain unfinished. This lack of oversight raises serious concerns about financial controls and accountability.
Additionally, there are serious concerns about how HOA funds are being used. It has been observed that association funds have been spent on non-essential items, including staff celebrations such as birthday cakes and bonuses. Homeowner dues should be prioritized for the maintenance, operation, and financial health of the community--not discretionary or inappropriate expenses. This raises further concerns regarding financial oversight and fiduciary responsibility.
Our community has also suffered significant financial losses due to poor decision-making. For example, over $300,000 in fees were reportedly lost because management failed to properly cancel or renegotiate a bulk internet contract with Spectrum. Situations like this reflect a lack of competence in basic contract and expense management.
Security within our gated community has also declined. What should be a controlled and secure environment has instead become inconsistent and unreliable, further contributing to residents' frustration and concerns about safety.
Perhaps most alarming is the apparent deterioration of our financial reserves. Funds that should reasonably be in the range of $3-4 million are reportedly closer to $1 million. This significant discrepancy raises serious questions about long-term planning, budgeting, and fiduciary responsibility.
Overall, the mismanagement, lack of communication, and failure to effectively oversee both operations and finances have led to a noticeable decline in our community. Homeowners deserve transparency, accountability, and competent management--none of which have been consistently delivered.
I strongly urge current and prospective communities to carefully evaluate their options before engaging with this company. read more
