Quick Answer
FirstService Residential and RealManage are large national management companies; APM is a regional firm serving Michigan and California. The most reliable way to compare any of them is to request the same itemized written quote from each and put the answers side by side. Below is the comparison grid we recommend, with APM's answers filled in and a column for you to complete from the other proposals.
Comparison Grid
| Question to ask | APM | Other company (fill in) |
|---|---|---|
| Is pricing published? | Yes, see APM pricing per door | |
| Monthly rate per home | $12 to $17 for communities 0 to 10 years old; $22 and up for older communities | |
| One-time setup fee | $500 up to 75 homes; $1,200 up to 200 homes | |
| Meetings included per year | Five, including the annual meeting | |
| Fee for long meetings | $65 per hour in Michigan, $85 per hour in California after two hours | |
| After-hours call fee | $75 per occurrence | |
| Monthly financial reports | Included | |
| Board and homeowner portal | Included | |
| Contract length | Two-year initial term, then annual | |
| Self-management software option | $3 per door per month |
Questions Only a Written Quote Can Answer
- Who is my day-to-day contact, and how many communities do they manage?
- What happens if I want to leave? Ask for termination notice and any transition or records-transfer fees in writing.
- Which fees are not in the base rate? Resale documents, special assessments, project management percentages, collections, and extra meetings are common add-ons.
- Who owns the data and the portal login if you switch companies?
- How do they handle after-hours emergencies, and what does a call cost?
Why Local Knowledge Matters
Michigan and California have different rules, and boards in each state benefit from a team that works with them daily. See our guides to Michigan law changes and California law changes, and the new California laws for 2027.
Questions to Ask Every Company
For the full list, see 18 questions to ask FirstService, Associa, or RealManage.
Read What Boards Say
Judge any firm by what boards report after working with them. Our reviews page collects board feedback about APM.
If You Decide to Switch
Switching is easier than most boards expect. See how to switch HOA management companies smoothly and the transition checklist, then request a free itemized APM proposal to compare against your current terms.
This article is a general buying guide. FirstService Residential and RealManage are named only to identify the companies a board may be comparing; we have not stated their prices or terms, so confirm them directly with each company.
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