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new technology, including a state-ofthe-art financial and property management operating system, phone system and new customized Web site to be unveiled in the very near future. Already, the new system has had a positive impact on clients. Tony Ciampa, a trustee of the 98-unit Hillview West in Saugus, Mass., recalls the not-so-long-ago days when communicating with unit owners was a difficult task. “We used to have to send everything through the mail,” he says. “By the time you added up postage, labor and the materials fee, it cost about 60 cents a letter, plus you had to wait for it to be delivered.” Great North’s “call blaster” system now allows that kind of message to be relayed instantly by phone — at onetenth of cost. “It’s a very effective tool,” says Ciampa. “Great North goes out of their way to work with us. We couldn’t be happier with them.”

Maintaining a Personal Touch
With all its advances in technology, Great North has never lost sight of the importance of a personal touch. “We’re one of the largest property management companies in New England because of our ‘hands-on’ approach,” J. Gargiulo declares. “It’s a top-down philosophy. Nobody’s hiding behind anybody else here.” The personal connection is especially crucial in an emergency. For example, L. Gargiulo recalls the Mother’s Day Flood that hit the region in 2006. One 100-unit complex was so thoroughly flooded, it could only be accessed by motorboat. “Within two hours of the water receding, we had better than 100 people there with pumps and restoration and mitigation devices,” he says. “The property manager stayed onsite in a trailer to help get people back into their homes.”

To Give the Best, You’ve Got to Get the Best
One reason Great North was able to respond so quickly is the quality and

depth of its vendor list. “We know who we can count on,” says J. Gargiulo. “No matter what the situation is, we know a third-party contractor who will do a great job.” Eveleth agrees. “Great North has been very helpful in developing relationships with vendors,” she says. “In the past, people weren’t always loyal to us, so we didn’t get good service because of that. But Great North is very particular about From left: Justin Gargiulo, Lou Gargiulo and Stefany Shaheen, vice president of administration, stand ready to provide your association its vendor list. Now, whatever we with the utmost in customer service and communication. need, whether it’s a landscaper or a snowplow operator, we’re their cusOSHA certified and wear uniforms and tomer.” badges so they can be easily identified. To the Gargiulos, just as important as It’s a great value added to our clients.” retaining the best vendors is hiring the Another need that has cropped up in best personnel. In fact, L. Gargiulo has recent years is property management looked for quality employees since day that specializes in over-55 communities. one. And he keeps them onboard by Great North has stepped up to fill that providing a good salary and benefits, a niche, with property managers who are hospitable working environment — and specially trained for the needs of those affirmation (sometimes in the form of communities. “Because many of the resfinancial rewards) that the company rec- idents of these communities are retired, ognizes their importance. they’re much more active in meetings That loyalty is returned. According to and committees, and they need a manJ. Gargiulo, a number of property ager who’s much more involved to supmanagers have been with the company port them,” L. Gargiulo says. for five to 10 years. “There’s great Jill Coppi, president of Sherwood turnover in the association manageGlen, an over-55 community in ment industry,” he says, “but we have Raymond, N.H., agrees. “With our little or no turnover, so we can provide previous management company, the our clients with continuity.” gentleman didn’t have a lot of experience or interest in what was going on,” New Ventures Ahead she says. “But [Great North property A long history in managing condominimanager] Wendy Chase treats us as an um complexes continues to help Great important member of the family. She’s North stay a step ahead today. “When always very accessible.” we hear of a problem, we want to take In the end, with Great North, it’s all care of it,” says J. Gargiulo. For examabout longevity. “I’ve been in this busiple, he reveals that an optional interior ness for many years, and if there’s one home service program has just been thing I know for sure, it’s that customer launched. This division can help do any- service and communication are the corthing from changing a light bulb to ren- nerstone of our operation,” L. Gargiulo ovating a kitchen. “We’ve found that, declares. “With that, we’ve operated when people have a problem within successfully for 20 years.” their own units, they don’t want to go to a phone book. They want to know For more information about Great who’s coming into their home,” he North Property Management, call (603) points out. “All of our technicians are 436-4100 or visit www.greatnorth.net.

http://www.greatnorth.net

Condo Media - May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - May 2010