'Twas the Night Before Christmas …

Condo Version

This Column was originally printed a few days before Christmas in 2016, but it never hurts to say Thank You to your management company.

Too often Associations think not enough about the work done behind the scenes either by Board members or, more usually, by property managers. No one ever calls to say thank you, but they handle the finances, make tough calls to delinquent Unit Owners, meet contractors in the bitter cold and on hot tar, create budgets, and solve problems all at the time. While Board members may have one night a month they lose to meetings, property managers may have ten or more meetings a month, taking a toll on families.

So, with apologies to Clement Moore …

'Twas a few nights before Christmas, and all through the Association

Not a creature was stirring, a nice, calm situation

The Board had just finished, the brand new year's budget.

The fees stayed the same, so Owners wouldn't begrudge it.

Finished for the year, the Manager walked to his car,

And he thought to himself, “At least home is not far.”

But as he got in his car, there arose such a clatter,

He sighed to himself, “Now what's the matter?”

So he peeked out the window, saw lots of Christmas lights,

And peered long and hard, through the Christmas Eve Night

Then he saw something new, something out on the lawn.

Surrounded in a glow, like the light of the dawn.

And what to his wondering eye should appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

A man then stepped out, looked all ‘round the place.

And slowly, so slowly, appeared a smile on his face.

He noted the roofs, all newly shingled,

And gave a big laugh, like a Holiday jingle.

He looked at the roads, all plowed, cleaned and sanded,

And slowly nodded - this place was a dandy.

All nicely decorated, with lights everywhere

A truly welcoming place, one tended with care.

“Well, there's nothing to do here,” he said with a smile,

“So I might as well go, and work elsewhere a while.”

“But before I depart, and go away far,

I want to share some of my thoughts, with the man in the car.”

And then he looked over at me, with a twinkle in his eye,

And just before he spoke, he gave a really big sigh.

“I know what you do. I watch all through the year,

So I thought I'd say Hi, and try to bring you some cheer.”

“A condo is only as good as its grounds,

I know when I see one, when making my rounds.

“You get many complaints, people mad as heck.

About a parking or noise, or a bad board on their deck.”

“Rarely if ever, do people call you to say,

‘Thanks for solving the problem, you made my day.'”

“I know your late nights, the meetings you attend.

I know it seems sometimes, that they'll just never end.

“Sometimes the work that you do, will never be seen.

I can't help you with that, and I know it sounds mean,

“But that doesn't mean, that what you do isn't great.

To work without praise, that may be your fate.

“But know that I know, all that you do,

And when you feel low, perhaps a little bit blue.

“Remember these words, and remember them well.

For all of the people, who live where they dwell.

The Unit Ownrs, who have safe places to stay,

And roofs that don't leak, and safe places to play.

Let me say this to you, on behalf of them all,

For all that you do, you deserve a curtain call.

They may not know, the work that you do,

Without which their problems, would factor by two.

So work while you can, in silence and faith.

In a week full of days, you'll need an eighth.

You may never get a raise, or a week free of meetings,

But you'll always have my praise, and tonight my special Greeting.”

Then he sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

So take a moment out of your day or night and send an email to your Board members or property manager. Just say, “Thank you.” You'll be surprised how much it will mean.