Property Management
Bridging the Generation Gap
Tools for Effective Multigenerational Communication Communication is becoming ever more complicated and obscure as technology evolves. E-mails have replaced telephone conversations and text messages are slowly replacing e-mails. The generational gap regarding how we communicate is compounding our communication woes. Millennials are communicating via smart phone applications such as Snap Chat (which I still do not fully understand) and Kik,
Budgets, Reserve Studies, and the Board’s Obligation to Maintain Common Areas
The preparation of the Association’s annual budget and updated reserve study are critical tasks to ensure the proper funding of operational expenses, proactive repairs, and replacement of aging common area elements. One of an Association Board’s primary responsibilities is to properly maintain the Association’s common areas, including community amenities, and an adequately funded budget is essential to meet this obligation.
Competitive Bidding: Slow Down and Do it Right the First Time Give yourself the time to effectively bid Association work
When does an Association common area repair, capital improvement or maintenance contract need to go out to competitive bid? How many vendors should be invited to bid? And how long should the competitive bid process take? These are three important questions that come up regularly. While there are many variables to consider when determining whether or not to bid out
Better to submit to review process
I recently moved into a new community and I am in the process of working with landscape architects to redo my front yard. Our association has a review and approval process before we can make any changes to our property, but the application is long, complicated and requires that I get my neighbor to approve the design first. My neighbor
Understanding HOA decisions
Dr. HOA, After nearly 20 years with the same management company, and the same manager at our clubhouse, our association’s board of directors decided to change management companies. We did not even learn of the management change until after they were already hired. Can the board of directors hire and fire our manager and management company without a vote of
How to find the right managers for your HOA
Dr. HOA, After nearly seven years with our current management company, our HOA is in the process of looking for a new company. It seems like many of the companies offer the same services. Do you have any advice on what we should be looking for and how to differentiate one company from another? We want to make sure the
A few tips for how to look at a prospective HOA
DR. HOA, I am in the market to purchase my first condominium, and I am nervous after hearing horror stories of associations not maintaining buildings and outrageous special assessments. What should I be looking for to ensure that I make a good investment? —Amy H. Hello Amy, I applaud your due diligence prior to purchasing in a condominium association. All
Dealing with maintenance issues in HOAs
Dr. HOA, I live in a townhome community, and for the past eight years, my HOA has failed to maintain the exterior of the units. As a result, many owners units have become damaged by dry rot. Recently, due to financial issues, the HOA changed the rules making all dry rot repair to the exterior of the buildings a homeowner’s
Make sure your HOA properly vets vendors/contractors
Dr. HOA, I recently joined the board of directors for my condominium association after the implementation of a hefty special assessment resulting from crooked and/or incompetent vendors. Now it seems that another special assessment may be necessary to repair the damage to the buildings caused by these vendors. We are pursuing legal action to resolve our existing problems, but what
Board of directors must be professional, appropriate
Dr. HOA, I recently began attending my association’s board meetings after learning of a proposed special assessment and rumors that the current board of directors never agrees on anything. After attending the first meeting, I realized that it was worse than I thought. Not only do the board members constantly disagree, they argue and name-call. Our most recent board meeting
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