Board Resource Center
Choosing & Improving Management
Compare management proposals, evaluate service, plan a transition, and establish the operating standards your board should expect from a professional management company.
Published Guidance
Board guides in this topic
Choosing Management
September 10, 2026
How to Verify an Illinois Community Association Manager License
Verifying licensure takes a few minutes and belongs in every management search. Here is exactly what to check, what to ask for in writing, and how to keep the verification current after you sign.
Choosing Management
September 2, 2026
What to Review in a Community Association Management Agreement
The management agreement decides what your association actually receives, what it pays beyond the monthly fee, and how cleanly you can leave. Most boards read the fee line and skim the rest.
Choosing Management
August 14, 2026
How to Compare Chicago Condo & HOA Management Companies
A board-ready scorecard for comparing Chicago association management companies on manager capacity, service, controls, references, and total annual cost.
Board Leadership
August 11, 2026
How to Switch Condo Management Companies in Chicago
A board-ready process for replacing a management company without losing records, missing deadlines, or disrupting owners and vendors.
Technology
July 6, 2026
The Technology Behind Our Management: Why Stellar Runs on Portier369
Boards often ask what software we use and why it matters to them. Here is an honest look at the platform behind our day-to-day management — and what it means for owners and board members.
Technology
October 7, 2025
AI Is Coming to Condo Management — What Boards Need to Know
AI is starting to reshape how associations are managed. Here is a clear-eyed look at where it helps, where it does not, and how boards should approach it.
Board Education
November 15, 2024
Condominium Property Management in Chicago: What Board Members Should Expect From a Professional Management Company
Serving on a condo board in Chicago is a significant responsibility. Learn what to expect from a professional property management company and how to evaluate the right partner for your association.
Property Management
June 11, 2024
The Hidden Problems With Self-Managed Condo Associations
Self-management looks like an easy way to cut costs — until the hidden risks surface. Here is what boards should weigh before going it alone.
Board Questions
What boards ask about choosing & improving management.
Clear scope, clear pricing, and a transition plan your board can evaluate before making a decision.
How do we compare management proposals that all look similar?
Normalize them before reading them. Convert every fee to an annual per-unit figure including anything billed separately — capital-project oversight, transition charges, statutory disclosure fees, after-hours calls. Then ask each firm the same operational questions: who is our manager, how many associations do they carry, what arrives each month and when, and who answers at 2 a.m. Proposals rarely differ on promises; they differ on those answers.
What should a board expect during a management transition?
Plan a managed 30 to 60 day handoff after notice is given under the existing contract. It should cover records retrieval from the outgoing firm, banking migration under board control, owner balance verification, vendor and insurance notification, portal setup, and owner communication. Expect the first complete monthly financial package in the first full month. A transition without a written checklist is where records go missing.
How do we know if our current management company is underperforming?
Look at inputs rather than feelings: do financials arrive before the meeting or at it, are action items from the last meeting tracked, are delinquencies aging, do owner emails get answered, are vendor certificates of insurance current, and does anyone answer after hours. One bad month is noise. A pattern across those six is the answer, and it is worth documenting before you raise it.
What does association management actually cost in Chicago?
Stellar quotes a customized flat monthly fee starting at $20 per unit per month, based on building size, systems, staffing, amenities, financial complexity, and scope, rather than a percentage of the association’s budget. When comparing firms, the figure that matters is total annual cost including every separately billed item — a low base fee with unbundled charges frequently exceeds a higher all-in quote.
Put the guidance to work
Talk with an association management specialist.
Tell us what your board is facing and request a management proposal built around your community.