Association Management for Chicago HOA and Condo Boards
We work with Chicago boards that want a real partner — not a vendor. Finance-Only and Full-Service tiers, associations 12–250+ units, senior strategists in Chicago.
The reasons boards reach out to us
Board Burnout
Volunteer board members spending 10–15 hours a week on operational work that should belong to your management company. Meetings that run long because nothing was resolved between them.
Communication Breakdown
Slow responses, unclear updates, vendors who can't be reached. Owners emailing board members directly because they can't get answers from management. Your community notices.
Financial Opacity
Surprise expenses, deferred maintenance, financials you can't fully audit, fees that creep up without scope. No visibility into where the reserve fund is going.
Deferred Maintenance Accumulating
Small issues becoming expensive capital projects because no one is proactively managing the maintenance calendar. The building is aging faster than it should.
Governance & Compliance Gaps
Illinois Condo Property Act requirements going unmet. Meeting minutes not properly recorded. Rule enforcement inconsistent. The board is exposed and doesn't know it.
Neglected Capital Planning
No plan for the future. The property manager and board feel lost when it comes to saving money for capital construction. Deferred maintenance becomes emergency projects at 3–5x the cost because no one planned ahead.
Two ways to work with Altus
Finance-Only Management
Self-managing boards that need professional financial oversight. Dues collection, AR/AP, monthly financials, board portal, 1099 prep. Foot in the door, with a clear upgrade path.
Learn about Finance-OnlyFull-Service Management
Boards ready to fully outsource operations. Everything in Finance-Only plus governance support, vendor management, communication, capital projects, legal compliance.
Learn about Full-ServiceWho we work best with — and who we don't
Best fit:
- ✓ Associations 12–250+ units
- ✓ Boards that want a real operational partner, not just a vendor
- ✓ Communities that view their HOA as a long-term asset to maintain
- ✓ Boards transitioning from self-management or a previous manager
- ✓ Associations with deferred maintenance that need a recovery plan
Not a fit:
- ✕ Associations under 12 units (we refer to specialist firms)
- ✕ Boards looking strictly for the lowest bid
- ✕ Properties where ownership consistently underinvests in maintenance
- ✕ Associations that want management to be invisible until something breaks
- ✕ Associations that have not increased dues appropriately for inflation — it is almost mandatory to increase assessments 5–14.5% annually to fund reserves adequately
- ✕ Boards that are disgruntled or completely indecisive — we need to work with boards aligned on where they want to take the community so we can operate on their behalf
The associations we manage
HOA Management
Single-family communities and townhome associations. Governance, dues collection, vendor management, and compliance — handled by senior strategists.
Condo Association Management
Multi-unit residential condominiums. Unit owner relations, assessment collection, reserve fund management, and board governance support.
Self-Managed to Managed Transition
Associations currently self-managing that are ready to bring in professional management. We handle the full transition — no gap in service.
Capital Projects & Reserves
Special assessments, reserve studies, vendor bidding for major projects. We manage the process from scope to completion.
Townhouse Associations
Townhome communities with shared common areas, exterior maintenance obligations, and governance requirements unique to attached-unit living.
Cooperatives
Co-op buildings with share-based ownership structures. We understand the unique governance, financial, and compliance requirements of cooperative housing.
Master Associations
Umbrella associations overseeing multiple sub-associations within a larger planned community. Complex governance, shared amenities, and multi-tier budgeting.
New Developments & Communities
Developer transitions, initial board formation, budget establishment, and reserve fund setup for newly constructed communities.
Vintage building specialists: We are also experts in vintage building management — deferred maintenance projects, reserve studies, façade ordinance compliance, and tuckpointing management for Chicago's pre-1990 building stock.
Backed by a real maintenance operation
We are vendor-agnostic. For every project, we get competitive bids, present options to the board, and let you decide. Our sister company, My Handyman Chicago, is available for routine work — but we use them because they are good, not because we own them.
Our job is to manage the outcome, not to steer work to a related entity. Every vendor relationship is transparent. Every bid is visible to the board. That is how we protect your reserve fund.
How our maintenance network worksCurrently with another management company?
Most boards we work with came from another manager. We have a defined transition process to onboard your association in 30–60 days with zero gap in service. Our switching guide walks through every step — timeline, document checklist, common pitfalls, and evaluation framework.
Read our switching guideWhat we commit to every association we manage
Response & Communication Commitment
Every inbound communication answered within 4 business hours. Weekly check-ins with board chairs during active projects. Monthly all-board financial updates. You will never have to chase us for information.
Financial Transparency Commitment
Monthly financials delivered by the 15th. All vendor bids visible to the board. Zero hidden fees — every markup disclosed in writing. Annual budget prepared 60 days before fiscal year-end.
Operational Leadership Commitment
One named senior strategist per association. Proactive issue identification before they become crises. We manage the vendors, the compliance, and the transition. You manage your community.
For Unit Owners in Altus-Managed Associations
If you own a unit in a condominium or HOA community managed by Altus, this is your starting point. Your association's board works with our team on governance, financials, and operations — and you have direct access to your community portal, assessment payments, association documents, and maintenance requests.
Pay Your Assessments
Log in to pay your association dues or assessment fees online through your owner portal.
Pay Assessments →Access Association Documents
View bylaws, meeting minutes, budgets, rules, and announcements from your board. Navigate to the Documents tab after login.
View Documents →Submit a Maintenance Request
Report a maintenance issue in your unit or common areas. Our team responds within 24 hours for non-emergencies.
Submit Request →Contact Your Property Manager
Have a question about your association? Reach your Altus property manager directly by phone or email.
Contact Us →In-Unit Maintenance — $85/hr
Need work done inside your unit? As an Altus-managed association resident, you get preferred-rate access to our licensed maintenance team at $85/hour. No trip charge, no board approval needed.
Learn About In-Unit Maintenance →Looking for board-level resources? If you serve on your association's board, see our full association management services above or visit Board Resources.
Let's talk about your association
Send us a few details about your association — size, current management situation, what's not working — and we'll prepare a custom proposal. No sales pressure.