What is Building Bloc nw?
Building Bloc NW provides additional support to Owner Associations, helping them meet the needs of their members and business partners. This assistance can be occasional or regular but is always meant to relieve the Association's workload and address unexpected tasks. Drawing from the experience and expertise of an Association Manager, Building Bloc NW is intended to be an additional building block to the foundation of your community. We are dedicated to supporting both Managers and Boards for a stronger Association.
Assistance with
facility Management
Not all properties need a full-time on-site Manager. Still, there are times when an Association could use a little more regular presence—working to schedule and meet with vendors for work, filling a gap during a facility manager's absence, or providing additional familiarity to a property.
policy development
& implementation
Change is hard, and managing and enforcing restrictions at someone's home is touchy. Whether the decision to implement a forgotten policy or the need for a new policy, Building Bloc NW will work to develop*, communicate, and manage the enforcement of the policy to ensure the policy can make the needed pivot for the Association.
*Building Bloc NW will partner with the Association's legal team to review and develop policy.
project
coordination
Sometimes, additional work arises, such as making timely repairs, obtaining bids for a project, or having someone coordinate and communicate with vendors and members during a major project. Building Bloc NW can work as the Association's Coordinator to keep things moving, allowing everyday operations to continue.
Who is Building BLOC NW?
Mikaela Carnes, CMCA and AMS
Welcome to Building Bloc NW! My career journey has taken me from the adventurous life of a Merchant Marine to the world of Event Management before I landed in managing Owner Associations. As I navigated through the dynamics of Owner Associations, I realized that each Association's needs and pulls are different, and the resources to offer a more tailored approach are limited.
Some Associations constantly battled unplanned work and needed more consistency in managing it. Others required a level of attention that exceeded contractual obligations. There were many times when I simply needed another manager's seasoned expertise to delegate and drive individual projects to successful completion. This "building block" was missing from my tool bag.
My time on ships equipped me with knowledge of mechanical systems and hands-on work. At the same time, my experience in event management honed my skills in troubleshooting, customization, and delivering exceptional service. These invaluable experiences have led me to my current role in managing Owner Associations and have ultimately inspired the creation of Building Bloc NW.
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What types of services does Building Bloc NW provide?Building Bloc NW provides as-needed support for condominium and homeowner associations. Our services include task-based project management, administrative coordination, and building foundational systems to help associations function more effectively without requiring full-service management. We tailor our services to meet the unique needs of each community.
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Is Building Bloc NW an Association Management company?No, Building Bloc NW is not a traditional Association Management company. We offer flexible, project-based support tailored for self-managed communities, overextended Boards, or Associations in transition. Think of us as your on-call operations partner, ready to assist with specific needs as they arise.
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What types of tasks does Building Bloc NW assist with?We assist with tasks that often get delayed or deprioritized, including: organizing digital records and files, coordinating and managing project bids, budgets, and timelines, drafting or updating policies, supporting compliance and maintenance tracking, creating communication systems for the Board and residents, and providing support during changes in management or leadership.
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How does “as-needed” service work?You hire us for specific scopes of work—no long-term contracts, no bundled fees. Whether it’s a one-time project or ongoing help for a few hours a month, we tailor services to your needs and budget.
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Do you work with both self-managed and professionally managed HOAs?Yes! We support self-managed Associations that need help getting organized or filling knowledge gaps, and professionally managed communities where the onsite or portfolio manager needs extra bandwidth for a specific project.
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What are the costs associated with Building Bloc NW's services?Building Bloc NW's services are billed at an hourly rate of $90, with a 2-hour minimum for onsite work. We prioritize transparency in billing, working closely with clients to establish a budget and maintain open communication throughout the engagement to ensure there are no surprises.
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How does Building Bloc NW assist Associations in becoming more self-sufficient?Building Bloc NW helps communities build internal systems that are sustainable regardless of changes in Board members or management companies. This includes setting up digital filing systems, maintenance tracking, and clear policy structures. Our goal is to ensure that critical knowledge is preserved and easily accessible, so Associations are not dependent on any one person or company to keep things running smoothly.
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What is the process to start working with Building Bloc NW?To start working with Building Bloc NW, we begin with a conversation to understand your Association’s current challenges and goals. Based on this discussion, we propose a customized Scope of Work to help you move forward effectively.
