Village Walk Condominiums is a charming gated community in San Diego, comprised of 161 individually-owned units built in 2005. The property features a pool, spa, fitness center, and playground. The grounds are well-maintained and the homeowners association runs like a well-oiled machine, but this wasn’t always the case.

In 2010, the Village Walk Board of Directors was still dealing with the fallout from the 2008 national housing crisis. Approximately a quarter of the owners were no longer paying their monthly association dues and the Board consisted of only three members who frequently disagreed. Poor financial decisions combined with owners defaulting on dues meant that the Village Walk reserves were basically nonexistent.

Current Board President, Bruce Ross, says that Board meetings were a disaster. Meetings would go on for hours and yet nothing was accomplished and they weren’t getting any help from the management firm they had hired. “Meetings became a community gripe session. We’d have up to 40 members showing up just to complain,” recalls Mr. Ross. It was clear that something needed to change.

In 2011, Mr. Ross and the other board members unanimously agreed to change management companies, and RPMS CEO John Farizell came on as their new Association Manager. The first thing John did was take a detailed look at the finances. At the time, Village Walk was paying a hefty sum to their maintenance company in spite of the fact that there was no clear scope of work and not much being done. John helped the Board to separate from the existing maintenance company (a subsidiary of the former management firm) and instantly saved Village Walk about $40,000 annually. He then negotiated new maintenance, landscaping, and garbage contracts and helped to run Board meetings more efficiently.

Village Walk continues to thrive with well-kept grounds and monthly property walkthroughs that help prevent problems. Owner complaints are rare because issues are unusual and always dealt with quickly and effectively. A routine maintenance schedule means that the Board is always aware of future property needs, such as parking lot resurfacing or exterior painting so there are no surprises. This association that once struggled with financial instability is now in the top 10% of associations in San Diego for reserve funding.

When John started Reliable Property Management Services in 2018, Village Walk happily signed on as a client. Mr. Ross says there was no question about continuing the partnership because John’s knowledge and expertise had transformed the Village Walk association. He explained, “The Board doesn’t worry because we trust that John will take care of the property, as well as plan for the future.”

RPMS is grateful for the good working relationship with the Village Walk Board of Directors and for their collaboration over the years.

About Reliable Property Management Services

RPMS is a privately owned boutique management firm serving the greater San Diego area. Specializing in community administration, residential and commercial association oversight, and fiscal management, RPMS is committed to providing every client with the highest level of customer service through prompt, consistent communication and transparency in all management practices. For more information, visit https://rpmsca.com/.