As of Wednesday May 1st, PT’s new Management Company, FirstService Residential, officially took the reigns from Draper and Kramer.

To sum it up, the Draper and Kramer Condo division was sold and merged with FirstService. Managers and office employees will remain in place, and even corporate level employees and the accounting team will remain. And actually, the head of Draper and Kramer’s condo division, Ian Novak, will now be leading the supervisors and managers for FirstService.

In April, the Board mailed letters explaining the merger and coming transition, and this included an FAQ about FirstService Residential and what Owners can expect with the transition:

From The Board of Directors 

RE:        DK Condo Merger with FirstService Residential

Dear Park Tower Owner:

The Board of Directors would like to announce that FirstService Residential has acquired Draper and Kramer’s (DK) condominium management division, effective May 1, 2019.  While its businesses are many and varied, DK will no longer manage community associations going forward.

FirstService Residential is the leading community association management company in the Chicagoland area with almost 70 years of delivering luxury service and unparalleled local leadership experience.  FirstService Residential also delivers tailored, full-service association management services to more than 8,000 communities and over 1.6 million residences across the United States and Canada.

DK and FirstService Residential are working together to ensure a smooth transition.  As part of this transition, please note the following:

• There will be no change to the office management staff, engineering staff, garage staff, and front desk staff.
• There will be no immediate change in the day-to-day operations of our property. You can expect to receive the same high level of customer service you receive today.
• On March 11^th, the Board approved assignment of our contract with DK to FirstService Residential, without any changes to its terms.
• All our other contracts with service providers will remain unchanged.

We look forward to working with FirstService Residential to utilize the new additional resources and expertise of the firm. As the transition continues, details about updating your assessment payment, the online community website and information portal, and others will be shared. Please submit any questions or concerns you may have to Timothy Patricio at timothy.patricio@draperandkramer.com.  Please see the attached FAQ to help you learn more about FirstService Residential.

Respectfully,

Board of Directors

Park Tower Condo Association

FAQ

Questions and Answers about FirstService Residential

For Our Valued Clients

 As we begin this transition, we understand that you may have questions or concerns. We have prepared this communication to help you learn more about FirstService Residential.

Why did DK Condo choose FirstService Residential?

Like DK Condo, FirstService Residential is a proactive, forward-thinking company with an experienced, service-focused team.  The goals and values of our organizations align very well.  By leveraging our collective expertise, knowledge and experience, we can build on the great customer service DK Condo is known for and ensure our clients continue to receive that same high level of service and program offerings.

What does this transition mean for DK Condo clients?

Clients will receive the same level of high quality service and attention through this transition. To ensure this transition period is as seamless as possible for you, the DK Condo associates with whom you engage, as well as the operational processes in place for your community, will remain the same. All DK Condo associates will become FirstService Residential employees as of May 1, 2019.

Will my management team and support staff change?

No.  Your on-site managers, other support personnel and accounting team will remain the same and will continue to be led by Ian Novak within the FirstService Residential organizational structure. This team will report directly to Asa Sherwood, President of FirstService Residential.

What changes should I expect as an owner on May 1, 2019?

Your management team will be employees of FirstService Residential and will have a new email address. All emails sent to their @draperandkramer.com email address will automatically forward to their new address.

Do I need to change how I pay my assessments on May 1, 2019?

No. You will continue paying your assessments using the same method that you have been using (manual check to the lock box, Direct Debit, online ACH, credit card). In the future there will be letters sent out to all owners on how to pay their assessments with FirstService Residential. We do not expect this to occur for several months.

What are the benefits of this transition for our community?

Over time, this transition will offer many benefits to your community.   FirstService Residential’s value added services and resources can assist communities in improving quality of operations and identifying ways to use Association resources more efficiently without sacrificing service. These opportunities may include combined purchasing programs that can help communities obtain products and services at highly competitive rates, exclusive banking and insurance programs that maintain premium coverages at the most competitive rates, and technology platforms that help streamline communication and support effective management. In addition, by sharing knowledge, tools and best practices across the larger FirstService Residential organization, the firm can further enhance the programs and services it offers to residential communities.

How can you ensure our community will not “get lost” in the shuffle being managed by a large organization like FirstService Residential?

Much as DK Condo operated locally as a division of a larger organization, Draper and Kramer, while fostering positive relationships in each community we service, FirstService Residential Illinois is a locally-operated division of North America’s leading residential property management company, FirstService Residential. Asa Sherwood and the FirstService Residential Illinois leadership team have deep roots in this marketplace and are responsible for managing day-to-day operations here.  This means DK Condo clients should expect to continue receiving the same high levels of service and attention they always have. Moreover, FirstService Residential operates exclusively as a community association management company.  This level of focus on one business segment allows FirstService Residential to pay close attention to client needs and to make the necessary investments in industry-leading services and resources, which will further enhance service and quality for communities and residents.

Who is FirstService Residential?

FirstService Residential is North America’s largest manager of residential communities across the United States and Canada.  The firm’s managed properties include low, mid and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives; single-family homes; and master-planned, lifestyle and active adult communities. Together, they comprise over 1.6 million residential units across North America. Locally, FirstService Residential has managed residential communities since 1950, and their current portfolio consists of over 160 properties and 33,000 residential units.

With an unmatched combination of deep industry experience, local market expertise and personalized attention, FirstService Residential delivers proven solutions and exceptional service that add value, enhance lifestyles and make a difference, every day, for every resident and community they manage.  FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation, a North American leader in the property services sector.  For more information, visit www.fsresidential.com.

What are FirstService Residential’s mission and values?

FirstService Residential’s Mission is to deliver exceptional service and solutions that enhance the value of every property and the lifestyle of every resident in the communities they manage. FirstService Residential is committed to service and never forgets that they manage their clients’ homes and the work they do directly affects the quality of their clients’ lives.  They deliver on their service promises to their communities by combining genuinely helpful service with a local touch, and their extensive global resources and value-added services, such as their aggregated buying power and industry-leading technology.

FirstService Residential’s Core Values: Core values are the foundation upon which FirstService Residential is built and serve to guide each associate every day. Those associates – the heart and soul of the company – share these values.

Own It, Do What’s Right, Aim High, Improve It, Be Genuinely Helpful and Build Great Relationships, guide FirstService Residential teams in everything they do.