Can you give us some advise? We submitted renovation plans to our building's managing agent on 4/14. Long story short, it took three full months for our architects and the building's architect to agree on the plans for the sole reason that the man at the managing agent's office sat on our submissions for weeks and weeks at a time. Truly, there were zero substantive issues - only comments like "pls... [more]
Can you give us some advise? We submitted renovation plans to our building's managing agent on 4/14. Long story short, it took three full months for our architects and the building's architect to agree on the plans for the sole reason that the man at the managing agent's office sat on our submissions for weeks and weeks at a time. Truly, there were zero substantive issues - only comments like "pls note this on the plan", etc. - and for the 3 rounds of back and forth, we have "proof" that the managing agent did not send to reviewing architect for 3+ weeks. The managing agent has ignored more than 12 calls from us and 20 emails - literally zero response. We are now in limbo, unable to find out if the board actually has our package or when they might review it - because no one will call us back or respond to emails! We're so afraid of "upsetting" the board but this is beyond atrocious and really is just unbelievable. Should we begin badgering the board president? Send a formal letter of complaint to the board? (We're not living in the building, FYI). Help!
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Response by jlkaufman1
over 9 years ago
Posts: 24
Member since: Oct 2009
You should definitely get the board president involved and anyone you know that is influential with helping move your project along. If the managing agent of the building is stalling or being non responsive sometimes people with "authority" or title can help smooth things over to make the process easier for you.
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Response by jlkaufman1
over 9 years ago
Posts: 24
Member since: Oct 2009
You should definitely get the board president involved and anyone you know that is influential with helping move your project along. If the managing agent of the building is stalling or being non responsive sometimes people with "authority" or title can help smooth things over to make the process easier for you.
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Response by CCL3
over 9 years ago
Posts: 430
Member since: Jul 2014
You common charges are going towards paying the management company and if they are non-responsive and providing poor service the board should know. You can let them know in a polite way so you don't "upset" them.
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Response by fieldschester
over 9 years ago
Posts: 3525
Member since: Jul 2013
When you say you aren't living in the building, could you please provide more context?
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Response by bryantpark
over 9 years ago
Posts: 83
Member since: Dec 2011
I've had similar experiences with my own management company.
If you've had emails ignored and phone calls ignored, I'd say the next step is just going to their office to "follow up" on those emails next time you're feeling patient, and micro-managing things as needed - ask what has been done since the last contact, what the next steps are, and who you'll be hearing from next.
You shouldn't have to do this, but it's sometimes the only way to keep things moving, and seems preferable to nagging the board, writing complaint letters, and perhaps adding insult to injury.
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Response by hofo
over 9 years ago
Posts: 453
Member since: Sep 2008
There is usually a boss on top of the management agent. Find out who that is and contact that person directly. We have a witch working in our building but once we notified her boss, her attitude changed. Seems like many of these management staff hate their jobs but can't do anything else so they pass their misery to shareholders.
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Response by bryantpark
over 9 years ago
Posts: 83
Member since: Dec 2011
@hofo - I guess that would work if the boss is competent, but in my case he's a big part of the problem, and frankly some (definitely not all) of his underlings are much better.
Definitely a lot of the front-line management staff are pretty demoralized (I would be, too). For the most part, they're just not efficient people, and have a high turnover. It's not worth getting angry or complaining about - I just ask nicely once, and then the next step is to go to their office to "follow up", i.e. watch them do it. Keep a record of everything, because they won't, and then you have a paper trail ready to hand over to the board in due course.
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Response by 300_mercer
over 9 years ago
Posts: 10593
Member since: Feb 2007
Just go to board president or a board member and request them to get it done. Hold back on the loud complaint.
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Response by 300_mercer
over 9 years ago
Posts: 10593
Member since: Feb 2007
Btw, Who is the managing agent?
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Response by Snuffles
over 9 years ago
Posts: 173
Member since: Apr 2010
don't know your building, but did they 'suggest' that you use a particular contractor/architect, etc? Its possible they get kickbacks and so are pissed you didn't "use their guy" and so will do everything to make it miserable for you to use anybody else in hopes that you cave and just use "their suggested" guys....
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Response by bryantpark
over 9 years ago
Posts: 83
Member since: Dec 2011
@Snuffles - quite possible. For uwsnewbie2015, I'd also suggest keeping a detailed written timeline, and make sure there's an email with a date that comes out of every conversation.
That way, when your next annual meeting comes up, you'll be well placed to ask your manager and board why it takes them 3 months, 6 months, whatever, to get this done.
You should definitely get the board president involved and anyone you know that is influential with helping move your project along. If the managing agent of the building is stalling or being non responsive sometimes people with "authority" or title can help smooth things over to make the process easier for you.
You should definitely get the board president involved and anyone you know that is influential with helping move your project along. If the managing agent of the building is stalling or being non responsive sometimes people with "authority" or title can help smooth things over to make the process easier for you.
You common charges are going towards paying the management company and if they are non-responsive and providing poor service the board should know. You can let them know in a polite way so you don't "upset" them.
When you say you aren't living in the building, could you please provide more context?
I've had similar experiences with my own management company.
If you've had emails ignored and phone calls ignored, I'd say the next step is just going to their office to "follow up" on those emails next time you're feeling patient, and micro-managing things as needed - ask what has been done since the last contact, what the next steps are, and who you'll be hearing from next.
You shouldn't have to do this, but it's sometimes the only way to keep things moving, and seems preferable to nagging the board, writing complaint letters, and perhaps adding insult to injury.
There is usually a boss on top of the management agent. Find out who that is and contact that person directly. We have a witch working in our building but once we notified her boss, her attitude changed. Seems like many of these management staff hate their jobs but can't do anything else so they pass their misery to shareholders.
@hofo - I guess that would work if the boss is competent, but in my case he's a big part of the problem, and frankly some (definitely not all) of his underlings are much better.
Definitely a lot of the front-line management staff are pretty demoralized (I would be, too). For the most part, they're just not efficient people, and have a high turnover. It's not worth getting angry or complaining about - I just ask nicely once, and then the next step is to go to their office to "follow up", i.e. watch them do it. Keep a record of everything, because they won't, and then you have a paper trail ready to hand over to the board in due course.
Just go to board president or a board member and request them to get it done. Hold back on the loud complaint.
Btw, Who is the managing agent?
don't know your building, but did they 'suggest' that you use a particular contractor/architect, etc? Its possible they get kickbacks and so are pissed you didn't "use their guy" and so will do everything to make it miserable for you to use anybody else in hopes that you cave and just use "their suggested" guys....
@Snuffles - quite possible. For uwsnewbie2015, I'd also suggest keeping a detailed written timeline, and make sure there's an email with a date that comes out of every conversation.
That way, when your next annual meeting comes up, you'll be well placed to ask your manager and board why it takes them 3 months, 6 months, whatever, to get this done.