Since our family's move to Skyliner Summit in Bend, Oregon in 2014, we have seen several property management companies come and go over the years. Some were better at their responsibilities of enforcing the CC&Rs and other administrative duties than others. But, in our experience, as property owners for two separate  properties and HOAs, (Mile High Property Management managing BOTH, as it happens) we feel qualified to say this company has delivered the worst service and most unhappy experience, by far.  In discussion with neighbors, many share similar grievances, from unresponsive customer service to downright harassment of homeowners. But all of that may pale in comparison to a recent experience where Mile High used HOA funds to cut trees and shrubs on private property, without the homeowner’s approval, summarized as follows.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF HOA FUNDS, TRESPASSING, UNAUTHORIZED TREE TRIMMING

On Aug 10th of this year, after years of inaction on several requests to clean and maintain an easement between two houses, Mile High informed the former homeowner who made the requests that a Tree Trimming crew would be addressing the cleanup of the easement that very day. They outlined the scope of work to be done. Included in the work description was cutting and cleanup on the private property side of the house. The former homeowner told Mile High that she sold the house on July 31st. and no longer had an interest in the matter. The new homeowner has said she was never consulted and had only moved in that very weekend. She had noticed some trees were cut (ostensibly done when she was at work) but since she wasn’t residing in the house long enough, she assumed she was seeing it for the first time and that the prior homeowners performed the trimming. There are invoices and statements confirming Mile High ordered the work, plus photos, nor are they denying they cut on private property. We feel this brazen disregard of private property while violating the CC&Rs on the part of Mile High is simply indefensible and puts the HOA in jeopardy of liability. It’s also a matter of fairness, as it is certain that many of us have problematic trees on our properties that we would like to have addressed. The HOA’s money (OUR money) that was used to pay the tree trimmers needs to be returned immediately. The HOA or its agents have no authority to trespass on private property to cut trees. The CC&Rs (sec. 4.7) say the homeowner is responsible for maintenance of Lots and Homes.

COMMUNICATION: LACKING, UNEVEN, AND HARASSING: 

Mile High Community Management has consistently failed to address critical issues in a timely and effective manner. Maintenance requests for common areas and HOA-maintained easements often remain pending, with no communication, for months as in the above instance. Inadequate communication has left homeowners in the dark regarding important decisions, changes in Firewise rules, and other community changes. Homeowners are no longer solicited about Board Member elections, in contrast to past management companies that facilitated candidate statements to be sent out to owners in advance of elections. In a community that requires 75% of homeowners votes to change anything in the CC&Rs, poor or ineffective communication and follow-through only adds to the dissatisfaction and helplessness people feel about our neighborhood and our HOA. We often don't have a full 5 member board, and Mile High's inconsistent or poor communication sends the message that this situation with a deadlocked understaffed board suits everyone just fine.  Meanwhile, the homeowners have their individual horror stories about how they have been treated, some to the point where they feel they have been harassed while seeing others in the neighborhood scoff at rules which Mile High does nothing about. Feeling preyed upon by a property management company should not ever be part of a service we pay for. Mile High's email accounts have sent out phishing scams, resulting in our having to spend an entire morning changing passwords. This pretty much broke our trust to ever open any communication from them again. Their email address masking is weird and off-putting and doesn't foster openness. Our own household had our website portal login privileges revoked without warning or explanation that we would have to find another way to pay our dues for both our properties. This also removed any way to see HOA announcements of any kind. When requesting Meeting Minutes, far too often there was a "technical glitch" and there are none recorded to provide to homeowners who were unable to attend. This happened most recently with a Firewise meeting, where potential new compliance demands on homeowners were being discussed. 

THIS PETITION’S REQUEST:

 The HOA fees paid by Skyliner Summit residents should pay for respectful, quality, efficient service that enhances our community, not detract from it. Nor should it bring this level of unhappiness at having to ever do business with them. Mile High has been given ample opportunity to improve and do better by us. They have heard the complaints, even if some of the Board or other members of the community haven’t, and nothing ever improves. It's time we demanded better. By allowing the contract with Mile High Community Management to expire and by seeking and hiring new, competent management, we can transform our neighborhood into the cohesive and thriving community it deserves to be and, on some level, used to be. We wish for the Board to hear our complaints, respect our opinions and not allow a management company to take our fees in order to treat us the way Mile High treats us.

There are several reputable property management companies out there with proven track records in transparency, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Let's find a partner who aligns with the best interests of our community. We deserve leadership and management that prioritizes our voices and needs, offers respectful communication and one that certainly doesn’t violate our CC&Rs when the need suits them. 

Please join us in signing this petition to request that the Skyliner Summit HOA Board not renew the contract with Mile High Property Management and immediately begin the process of searching for another management company. Your comments and experiences are requested and encouraged here. We understand that the main problem homeowners are experiencing at this time is being heard, or we wouldn’t be taking the form of a petition in order to be heard. We have little or no ability to communicate with each other in real time, as those avenues seem to have disappeared in recent years. We only request that you please write a general description of the complaint and not include names of individuals or be uncivil. Thank you!