I was asked to give my honest opinion of Great North Property Management. After reading some of the other reviews I felt compelled to avoid another vanilla review as seems to happen frequently on this site. Apologies in advance for the length. I think experienced condo owners who take responsibility in their community understand the hard realities of finding a good Property Management Company. It takes time for your association to get to know a PMC and time for a PMC to get to know your association. It is a two-way street where accepting responsibility, managing expectations and being patient are the keys to a successful relationship. Where not accepting the true responsibility of Condo Association ownership because it requires work and blaming others for the problems that ensue is a common scenario. Let's be honest, being part of a Condo Association is tough and adding an incompetent PMC to an audience of disinterested unit owners makes for very bitter beer. I have owned condos for several years now. I have had personal interactions over that time with several PMC's while acting in the capacity of Association President, Treasurer, Secretary and At-Large roles. My current Association, located in Southern New Hampshire, is partnered with Great North Property Management and have been for several months now. My current board of trustees has traditionally managed many things in-house. We do our own financial audits, reserve studies, budgets, maintenance etc. As the current Association Treasurer I therefore take ownership for ensuring that all monthly and annual financial audits and reports pass muster. I am not an accountant though I have learned just enough about bookkeeping through past experience to be dangerous. So in my role as Treasurer it is important for me to have a PMC that I can rely on to be flexible, honest and experienced. I think Great North does a good job at providing these three core competencies. Their accounting team has done an outstanding job assimilating themselves into our unique auditing and financial reporting processes. The Property Manager is honest, present and engaged at our meetings, even when we discuss the "financials". Finally, I think the experience piece is evident in many not-so-obvious ways like keeping me updated about the day-to-day issues that may affect the association finances and keeping up with the endless emails chains that inevitably follow. The little things are important to me. At the end of the day my opinion is this. I like Great North. They have evolved with my Association into a team that I like and that I feel takes ownership for bettering my community and I appreciate it. read more

Hey everyone, wanted to leave some comments I had about contracted repair/remodeling experience with Great North Property Management services. As a condo unit owner - Emerson Gardens, I found myself in need of multiple repairs due to a water issue. The damage was confined to one room and back to back closets - but was extensive, and also involved all carpeting (line of sight) as well. Not having any experience dealing with repairs of this magnitude, I was at a loss. I contacted multiple home contractor repair/remodeling companies for quotes, trying to keep it local, but I had 2 no return calls/e-mails, and only 1 contractor came out to give me a quote. After speaking with Great North Property Manager (E. Gardens - C. Buckley), I was advised I could contact Great North Property Management Services for the condo repairs. Very glad I did (Thanks Chris!). GNPM associates Adam and Andy were prompt in assessing the issues and immediate remediation (drying out the room, verifying water entry and damage extent), and were professional and courteous throughout the process. In speaking with the project manager (Mr. R. Enyi) who provided me the quote, and a timeline, I was more than pleased to see that the price for repairs came in much less than the outside contractor price. Although the carpeting was completed by another contractor (but with helpful advice from GNPM), Adam and Andy carefully removed furniture/items to storage unit (which was also arranged as part of quote) to allow for carpeting replacement, and completed all work on time, with no issues encountered. The room and closets looked absolutely brand new when done - I couldn't be happier with the results. Additionally, when they brought back in the furniture pieces and items, they actually had a great memory of where everything bad been placed, and worked to put everything back in the exact same spot (I wasn't home, they did it from memory) - wow! I came home expecting to have to place all items, and they had matched everything up near perfect! Everything was completed on time, to the penny on budget/quote provided, and all work was professional, with full clean up, and friendly during the whole process. I would not hesitate recommending Great North Property Management Inc. Services for any repairs or remodeling needed. Thank you! (Note: I am planning on replacing some inside doors within the condo unit and will certainly be in touch) read more

We have been extremely satisfied with the services provided by Great North and we have used their services repeatedly over the last 5 years. I found their team to be responsive, professional and to provide high quality service, not just once but over and over. - When we needed a plumber due to a stopped up toilet, I called Great North and we had a plumber on site within one hour. - During a prolonged power outage a couple of years ago I called Great North to see about getting an electrician to install a generator panel. With power outages everywhere, I expected it could take a day or two or perhaps more for them to find someone who could fit us in, I had an electrician call me within 20 minutes and come meet me on site one hour later. - We ordered a large load of mulch through one of the landscaping companies Great North uses and the company dumped the load in the wrong place, Great North had someone there the next day to move it to the spot we needed. - We have hired their maintenance person for numerous small jobs over the last 5 years and the results are the same every time, responsiveness, high quality workmanship and a fair price. - We had a large facility renovation and addition project planned for the summer of 2012. When the fire chief position turned over just months before ground breaking, we hit an obstacle that brought the project to a halt. We had every indication we would be forced to delay or cancel the project. I called Great North and they provided the expertise to work through the issues. As a result the project was completed on time and on budget. These are just a few of the many ways we use services from Great North. Before our we began contracting for these service, maintenance was one of the most challenging and frustrating parts of my job. Now I make one phone call to Great North and I know we will have a solution quickly. Not only does this save me significant time, I have great peace of mind knowing that we now have a company to turn to for help. Cellissa Hoyt, Executive Director, Growing Places read more

Buyer Beware!!! Not only read the fine print, ask for their interpretation of it. For instance, the words exterior and interior. As well as the process of getting approval. Do they know how to read and interpret the proposal they are asking for? Even with 3 layers of approval/process, I still was held accountable for the cost of rot replacement on the exterior sill because (per the location manger) G N only approved replacing windows already in frames to be inserted.New practice and not clear in the condo agreement. NO WHERE along the 3 step approval process did any one of the employees (2 - maintenance and condo manager) make the distinction. Which means, that now I have to pay for framing and new exterior sills. I do not want to put new windows on rotted sills. And, they are charging me for exterior sealing (plastic, duct tape) that needed to protect the exterior from the forthcoming rain - $120.85. Two side by side average sized window that took two men 10 mins. to do. Unfortunately, there is more. With the bill for covering the side by side windows ($120.85) I received a bill for $739.60 for 'framing a window'. Two maintenance people (great guys, really did their best) with no experience with window, framing or installation, were sent. The two did their best with information from the window installer, who left to do another job since this one was not to be completed. The two guys did very well. But no framing was completed. The manager never came out to see the situation first hand. Refused a meeting as emails were getting us no where. Even the manager of the condo manager did not carry through. Buyer Beware!!! Oh, and the 'secure' doors!!! A lawsuit waiting to happen if a theft or personal harm comes to any tenant. Multiple emails by many residents - no resolve. Secure your own doors and wind read more

As a lifelong Portsmouth home owner I never thought I would spend my final years in a condominium. My circumstances changed after my wife passed away and the house became to much for me to handle. I searched and searched and found a nice condo in rural Stratham five years ago. When I first moved in I said what have I done? I no longer controlled my destiny. No garden, couldn't put up my Marine Corp flag, or paint my front door the color I wanted. So I got involved, I am on the Board of Directors and will be the President next Fall if I want to do it. I have gotten involved with the property manager and the great north support staff and they have been wonderful to work with. They not only run the property well ,they have educated me on why the condo association does what it does. I have worked with their finance manager Brenna and she has been a God sent. Not only does she know her stuff she has met with me a number of times to walk me through the process. Its easy to follow once you understand it and its accurate. Our books have been audited each year by a CPA firm we hired and they have found them to be in excellent shape so Great North has not let us down. Our property has a plan that Great North and the Board developed and it works well. We know what we need to do and we are saving our money to do it. This Marine sees having a knowledgeable company like Great North a must if a condo association is going to be run well. Each time we have a question we get an answer. If the manager is unsure, he brings in his boss or his bosses boss to help. They are all involved. I think they are a very good organization with great seasoned leadership and we are very happy with there service, accounting, and management. A real keeper. SEMPER FI read more

As a long time Trustee I have the opportunity to deal with the Great North staff on a very regular basis. I have found them to be very professional and dedicated. Before being elected as a Trustee I had no idea on how our property operated. I thought the manager had complete control to spend our money and keep the place nice with no input from the Trustees. What I found is that its a real team effort. Our manager and the Trustees work in unison to plan the projects and get them done. Together we develop the priorities for the coming year. The manager then creates a bid document that outlines the work and gets us tons of quality bidders to choose from, and then presents us the bids with recommendations. Ultimately we make the final decision. The manager monitors the work and make sure that it comes in at the cost we agreed to on time. Over the past few years we have resided the buildings, painted and replaced the pavement. Each job came out great. Our manager is terrific. He knows the property like the back of his hand. he keeps us informed and controls all the people who work here. He has integrity and good commonsense. The accounting department is also outstanding. We get our financial reports when due. They are clear concise and correct. If we have a question on anything we get answers in a very timely manner. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give Great North a solid 9+. In my opinion having a large highly professional company is the way to go. Without Great North I wouldn't serve on the Board the make our life a hole lot easier as Trustees. read more

You got to wonder about the authenticity and logic of Jean A's review. I live in a condo that Great North manages. What I have found is that Great North does their job. When there was a hiccup it came as a result of our former condo Boards unwillingness to spend any dough to get anything done. They kept postponing the work as though they thought they were going to inherit or win a lottery to get the money to do it. I finally understand where most of the problem was at our association. It was a very inexperienced Board that tied the hands of our manager. They did not allow him to do anything with out their permission. And the permission was only granted when the problem was so bad that it cost us a bundle to get it done. We ousted that Board over a year ago, Now I and four others are on it and things are happening. And Great North is doing it. I get the distinct impression that the management company is who people want to hate. What I found in some cases its the dummies we elected to the Board that are the obstacle. Nothing can happen if the Board doesn't allocate the money for the manager to spend. I really urge the complainers to get involved like I did. Get enlightened, run for the Board, get elected, and then make an informed judgement on the manager. I bet you will find the problem in most cases is not GN its a bunch of Board Members who don't want to spend any money, and try to blame the manager. read more

After 12 months of having a very unprofessional condo manager from the Merrimack Valley we searched and interviewed eight companies. We widdled the number down to three. Following that process we did an extensive back-around investigation on the three. We visited there offices, spoke to their clients and even visited some of there properties and spoke to random residents . What we found through our independent research was that the Great North company was far and away the most organized and professional. They clearly employed the best people, and those people understood the nuances of running a condominium. It seems a lot of operators in this space don't get that condominiums are not apartments. Each Owner is a stakeholder in the community and should be treated as such. The Great North staff gets it. They show respect and compassion to every person they deal with even if that person is a troubled individual. We have had Great North in place for nearly four years and the efforts we put into to get them was well worth it. No company dealing with people can be perfect, but the culture with them is upbeat, committed and professional and our 260 unit owners feel respected and that's what counts. read more

I am pleased to offer my highest recommendation for Robert Barnes at Great North Property Management. From the outset, Robert demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism and dedication in assisting with the sale of a condominium I recently listed. He promptly provided all necessary information, going above and beyond to ensure I had everything required for a smooth transaction. His communication is outstanding--always timely, clear, and thorough. I have found him to be not only highly knowledgeable in his field but also incredibly courteous and approachable. My seller, who has had the privilege of working with Robert for over 17 years, consistently speaks to his outstanding service and commitment. He has consistently exceeded expectations, fostering a relationship built on trust and reliability. It is rare to find a professional who combines such a deep understanding of the industry with genuine care and attentiveness to both clients and colleagues. Robert's expertise and impeccable service have been invaluable, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the future. An absolute five-star experience. Heidi Roy Churchill Properties read more

My condominium community was very fortunate to have retained the services of Great North. We spent over two years with a small local guy that sold us on the idea that small was good, and that he knew the art of condo operation. He kept us in the dark and messed with our reserves to a point that we are now considering contacting the Attorney General and the local police. We are out thousands of dollars and are trying to recover. Great North came aboard and hit the ground running. They provided guidance and a transparent approach to running our association. We get monthly accounting reports, copies of bills, bank statements, and everything we need to see where every penny is going. The chief accountant is great and our personal accountant is terrific too. The Property Manager is a hoot. She knows her stuff and keeps the Board in the loop. Our meetings are quick and things get done. We see a huge amount of difference. They have real systems, internal controls and professional people. After getting burned we are still guarded but very happy with them. read more

I am a current board member and have worked with Great North for years. Most people who are dissatisfied do not understand their documents or how a community association works! It is up to the board to review and approve all contracts with outside vendors. Great North has never brought us a contractor who was uninsured or substandard. In fact, their accounting department won't cut a check to any vendor until the current insurance information is on file. Previous boards have chosen to use the cheapest vendor and that has sometimes proven to be a mistake; however, not the fault of the manager or management company! Our manager gets blamed by owners for following the condominium rules. They have no choice - the rules govern everything they do. In my experience, the loudest complainers choose not to come to the annual meetings or participate in any positive way. If your property manager isn't working well with your board the owner of Great North will immediately make a change! I would highly recommend Great North Property Management. read more

I purchased a condo in the Exeter area in October of 1999 and have lived there ever since. I joined our condo Board a year before our last property manger imploded. We hired Great North after an extensive search and interview process. The company has delivered for us from the very beginning. Our site manager Gail is top notch. She takes no BS from our contractors and gets the job done. The accounting people are very good as well they account for every penny and provide us accounting reports, bank statements and all the back-up info an accountant like me needs to stay on top of our money. We use there maintenance people as well, they have come through when no one else could or would, like would you believe New Years Eve when a pipe burst. We have formed a great team between the Board and the Great North crew and it works. I am a big proponent of Great North because the deliver! I would highly recommend them to any place that needs professional management. JAKEr read more

We have had three condo management companies before Great North. One was run by a mom & pop and the others were legitimate companies from Mass & NH. All were poorly run and each company lacked the knowledge to properly handle our 260 unit complex, We hired Great North four years ago and the relationship has been extremely positive. The folks at Great North are professionals. They understand the nuances of running a large community and have the people and systems to do it. There bookkeeping is outstanding and there management systems are state of the art. They believe in keeping us in the loop and everything is designed to that end. I have only positive thing to say. That's why we stay with them year after year. There are so many mediocre companies in the business. Great North is light years beyond them, We trust our money and multi-million property to them with no reservation, They are a real good company to have and work with. read more

Great North has been managing our condo complex for about 10 years (previously Rickman management) and they do an excellent job. Our property manager, Chris Buckley, has overseen several large projects during that time, including a full repaving of our parking lot. Not only were the logistics perfectly managed (not an easy feat by any means) but the communication with residents and owners was impeccable. As an out-of-state owner, it's hard to keep up with the details at the property, but Chris kept everyone so well informed it was as if I was there. Between email, phone broadcasts, and photo albums, everyone involved with the complex was kept in the loop. The accounting has also been responsive and clear. The overall condition of the property is great- the management has worked well with our board to suggest and manage improvements. It's a great reassurance to know that someone is taking care of the daily needs of our complex. read more

Its clear to me and my Trustees that not all Property Management companies are cut from the same cloth. We hired this group in 2002 and they have done exactly what they said they would do. The property has come form being in very poor shape to looking very nice, we replaced our roofs, rebuilt the septic system, and painted and resided two buildings all with their help. They paid our bills, and provided us great financial information to the trustees and the members. We had them audited each year ,and each time three different auditing firms found their work to be accurate and precise. Our property manager look after us and is a good leader and advocate. As a company Great North delivers well and truly fills our needs. Without there help being on the Board would be tough. Now we make the decisions and the make our decisions happen. read more

If they could have 0 stars they would! If you are an association or a member of a BOD for an association, I highly suggest you run don't walk from them! Their lack of accountability is amazing! No sense of urgency - poor response times! Priorities are a joke. Property upkeep is non existent since switching to them. Trash upkeep, rodents, leaking roofs... Staff turnover is unbelievable! And the cost for such services are disgusting. Most important our condo docs "rules & regs" have mysteriously changed since they came on and no one has an answer as to how. And as an answer to your response, yes I do know how Boards work. Been on them. Both an old Condo and for two non-profits. Thank you Justin for deflection, and again, a lack of accountability as our management company, just as I said in the above review. read more

We own a couple of investment condos that GN has managed over the past few years. We find them to be very professional and easy to deal with. Our property manager Mike is very attentive and always willing to answer any questions or concerns we may have. We have not had to escalate many issues but when we have, Lou or Justin have always been available to us and willing to step in and make sure things are taken care of quickly. We've used their maintenance and carpentry teams several times for general repairs and found the work to be extremely professional and competitively priced. I highly recommend GNPM if you are looking for a property management company that has been in the business for years and is committed to the people and communities it serves. read more

After the recent storms we had a tree came down across our roof, some of the branches actually penetrated our shingles and rain and snow began to invade our master bedroom. We immediately contacted the Great North Property Management emergency line and within minutes I received a call back. I then held my breath in fear no one would show up to contain the leak. I was pleasantly surprised that one of the maintenance techs was on my door step in 45 minutes. He covered the leaking roof to prevent further damage. He then removed the water from my bedroom with a wet vac. He said he would be back the next day to remove the tree and fix the roof I can't express how pleased me and my husband are. Given their performance I would highly recommend them as a provider. read more

Wow! I live at the condominium that this guy is writing about and serve on the Board as well. Great North took us over a few years ago and has done an outstanding job of running the day-to-day operation of the Trust. We get excellent financial information and immediate calls back when we have a problem. The guy who wrote this diatribe is a tenant in our garage and clearly a huge problem for our Trustees. He needs to get a life! and to learn how to live with neighbors. As for Great North Properties, we as a Board our very happy with them and they are light years ahead of our previous provider. We just hope that they don't get disgusted with us because of the jerk who wrote the completely false review. Let's hope he finds himself and moves! read more