In 2025, 44,259,423 birds across 2,503 species were counted during the 125th Christmas Bird Count. Approximately $1.8 billion dollars-worth of US flags were exported. And, there were approximately 2,979 squirrels counted in Central Park in New York City (which is up by over 600 from the 2,373 count provided by The Squirrel Census in 2019).
Somehow, we know numbers as silly as these, but when it comes to data-supported metrics in our own industry, the information is scattered and often incomplete.
Institutions like CAI have built up an impressive amount of data over the years, no doubt. Their research offers great metrics like the estimated number of community associations nationwide, and how homeowners perceive community associations.
But when it comes to CAM collections, the industry still does not have numbers or analytical conclusions about how HOAs and condos manage or resolve delinquencies. At least, not yet. With your help, that can change. The CAM collections survey aims to collate and interpret CAM collections data that will help managers just like you more substantially support your Boards and communities.
Leveraging Benchmarking Data
Did you know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tracks the operational status of Waffle Houses? The Waffle House Index uses store uptime data in storm-impacted areas to attempt to determine storm severity. Because Waffle House only shuts down in the direst of straits, uptime often correlates strongly with storm impact.
We don’t expect the 2027 CAM Collections Benchmarking Report to include the menu limitations of local breakfast joints, sadly. But we do expect to extrapolate analytics that Boards can use to make better decisions, directly compare their own standing against similar communities, and strengthen the alignment between managers and their Boards.
Benchmarks Inform General Decision Making
When Boards don’t have data, decision making largely becomes guesswork. Some Board members might have personal experience to fall back on, and, as their manager, your experience has a lot of value. But it can’t account for hard data about the reality of CAM collections.
Averages give Boards a starting point to grow toward (or grow from if they’re on par with the industry!) With data-backed baseline benchmarks, Boards are able to truly evaluate what areas of their collections process need to be changed to improve.
Would your Boards approach their CAM collections process differently if they had access to important baseline metrics such as:
- The average delinquency rate for community associations
- The average delinquency resolution timeline
- The average cost to resolve a delinquency
Benchmarks Allow for More Direct Comparative Analysis
Do you know, with certainty, how communities outside of your portfolio handle their affairs? Do you know what technology providers they partner with? Which vendors they prefer? How much they spend annually on collections?
Realistically, you probably don’t have that kind of information at your fingertips. Benchmarking data can give you that! Knowing what others experience in the CAM collections industry allows managers and Boards to triage better. When you know how many areas stack up to average, you can better see what you are shining and where you need to make changes or take corrective action.
Would your Boards reevaluate their current CAM collections operations if they could see data-backed benchmarks of communities like their own, such as:
- What methodology is being used to handle delinquencies.
- How much more or less money is being spent managing collections.
- How much more or less time is being spent resolving delinquent accounts.
Benchmarks Encourage Comprehensive Manager/Board Alignment
You know your Boards have a few basic expectations in common: don’t let the grass get out of control, make sure garbage cans are brought in on time, don’t accidentally buy a boat using the community bank account, etc. But that might be where the similarities end. Every Board has specific goals and interests that set them apart, and every community has different objectives that they consider to be important.
What matters most to a small Board that oversees a mid-sized HOA will be very different from what matters most to a large Board running a community made up of multiple high-rise condo buildings. Understanding what Boards actually prioritize allows you to align more closely with their needs and guide them toward decisions that will have a lasting impact.
For example, which of these CAM collections objectives would your communities rank as the most important to them?
- Time to resolve a delinquent account
- Complete recovery of unpaid assessments
- Simplicity of the delinquency resolution process
Be Part of the Change Coming to CAM Collections
Knowing how many squirrels live in parks across New York City is fun, and coming together with the rest of the country to count birds is pretty wholesome. But you need numbers that are going to make a real difference in the communities you manage.
The CAM industry deserves collections benchmarking data that can drive informed action, and your knowledge and experience can help create it. Take the CAM Collections Survey and help build the 2027 CAM Collections Benchmarking Report.
If you include your email address, you’ll get the report sent straight to your inbox on release and be entered into a weekly drawing for a $100 gift card! If you prefer anonymity, once the report is live it will be available for download on our website.
