Community Association Manager Vs. Property Manager Know The Difference

There is a misconception from the general public to lump sum community association managers (CAM) and property managers (PM) into the same vocation. Both are very important within their respectful roles, but are distinctively different in skill set, responsibility, and function. A property manager supervises individual rental units or a group of rental units, such as an apartment complex. Property managers manage the entire property, while a CAM manages common areas, and not individually owned properties. A CAM manages different types of communities: homeowners association, resort communities, commercial tenant associations, condominium associations. The CAM works hand in hand with property owners and homeowners.

The misunderstanding goes more in depth with these two professions with overlapping of duties. For example, a CAM and PM oversee certain maintenance activities, trash removal, and pool care. However, it is extremely important to make the distinction that CAM’s administer all aspects of running the business operation. That means the CAM is responsible for authorizing payment for the association services, enforcement of restrictive covenants, develop budgets and deliver monthly and yearly financial reports, solicit and assist in insurance purchase, and create and oversee recreational programs.

Property managers generally handle leases and rental units and are responsible for managing the physical assets(property) of the unit at the owners request. Their duties can range from finding or evicting tenants, collecting rent, and tenant requests and complaints. Also, vacation homes is an emerging opportunity for property investors and managing them is in the space of a property manager. If a property manager is hired to manage a vacation home they may have to oversee services to maintain the property. But, an owner may decide to delegate other tasks to the property manager and handle those duties themselves.

So, the distinctions between a CAM and a property manager is that a CAM is responsible for and maintaining common areas and upholding governing rules for the community. A property manager is usually charged with supervising physical structures that are used by people other then the owner of the property. The CAM represents the property owners themselves and are involved in just about every aspect of the community.