Winter is the time of year that the board should be arranging and reviewing proposals for fair weather renovation projects. Painting, fencing, pool replastering and roofing are but a few of the major items that fit the profile. There are several practical reasons for starting the process early: Read more……..
What You’re Getting Into: Vetting Contracts Before You Sign
Few things can raise one’s blood pressure like signing a big contract. That can be especially true for board members or managers signing sometimes mammoth contracts on behalf of a co-op or condo association, obligating their neighbors, friends and themselves to page after page of fine print. Read more………..
Vetting Contracts Before You Sign: What You’re Getting Into
Few things can raise one’s blood pressure like signing a big contract. That can be especially true for board members or managers signing sometimes mammoth contracts on behalf of a co-op or condo association, obligating their neighbors, friends and themselves to page after page of fine print. Read more……..
Vetting Contracts Before You Sign – Know What You’re Getting Into
Condominium associations should seek professional help before signing on the dotted line of an unfamiliar contract. Signing too quickly may result in big regrets, say managers and attorneys. Be cautious, and nail down the specifics first. Read more……..
Know what to look for when dealing with contractors
Community associations hire dozens of contractors to perform myriad maintenance and administrative tasks. Some are major undertakings, like replacing roofs and decks. Others are smaller, like auditing the books or shampooing carpets. Read more………
Managing Vendor Agreements in your HOA
As an HOA board member, you’re taking on an active role in your community. Obviously, this means making sure the community runs well; but, this role also covers all of the general upkeep issues, such as gardening, cleaning and laundry room service, and any other ongoing “handyman” type projects—tasks which often require HOA board members […]
Do It Yourself…Or Not? When To Call a Pro!
This country was founded with a heavy dose of independence and a strong “Do-It-Yourself” attitude. The DIY mindset, with roots in Europe and European culture, crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the earliest immigrants and became part of the American tradition of personal and community responsibility. Read more…….
Watch Your Language: Carefully Drafting Contracts Protects Associations
The vast majority of both one-time projects and long-term service contracts involving vendors and service providers and their condominium or HOA clients go smoothly and either conclude or continue without incident. However, a small percentage of jobs do jump the tracks in one way or another, and when that happens, things can get complicated. Read […]
The Importance of Hiring Licensed Contractors for Your Homeowners Association
One of the stated goals of a homeowners association is to oversee the upkeep of common areas in the community, such as clubhouses, pools, fitness rooms, and parks. When choosing contractors to maintain and repair community property it is imperative to choose a licensed contractor to perform the work. Unlicensed contractors put the homeowners association […]
What The Heck Is Flashing, Or A Fascia Board, Or A Joist Hanger? Do You Speak Contractor?
All too often, we hear from managers and board members who ask us to help interpret what the contractor was talking about when he referred to missing flashing, the damage to the fascia board and some dry rot that was found when the wall and ceiling were opened up. Or, we hear from the contractor […]
Don’t Do This! How Not to Manage a Construction Project
“Don’t try this at home!” This warning, which scrolls under some television ads and programs, would be equally appropriate advice for the way one community association board managed a major construction project. (This is not actually one specific board but a composite, reflecting the experiences of several different boards.) The trustees obviously didn’t set out […]
The Value of Pre-Construction Planning
The vendor / HOA manager relationship is a unique one in the world of real estate construction. Both parties face challenges and obstacles when it comes to processes, expectations and deliverables. Hiring a competent construction manager can effectively mitigate many of these issues through up-front, preconstruction planning and streamlined communication throughout the project. Read More……
Vendor Contracts That Protect You: An Attorney’s Three Simple Steps
Every condo or co-op board will at some point hire a vendor to perform certain tasks or furnish services — possibly exposing the building to liability brought about by vendor actions and/or the terms of the vendor contracts. Boards of directors and managing agents must understand how to properly protect the building when hiring a […]
What Is A Lien?
Lien. The word gets thrown around like a hot potato on a construction project. Here on the Lien Blog, I use the word constantly, and advocate to credit managers to “file a lien” to protect a company’s rights to payment. But what exactly is a lien? How does it work? What does it do and […]
HOA Concerns in Contracting with Vendors
Every Homeowners Association (HOA) will at some point hire a vendor to perform certain tasks on behalf of the HOA, or to furnish services to the HOA and its members. In doing so, a HOA may be exposed to liability brought about by vendor actions and/or the terms of the vendor contracts. Because such liability […]
Who Gets Preliminary Notice When Working on A Condominium Complex in Washington?
Over the weekend, a reader sent in an interesting question about Washington’s preliminary notice requirements. The question relates to construction work and materials furnished to a condominium complex, specifically inquiring as to who must receive the preliminary notice on such projects? Read More……
Let’s See Your License: Board Members Should Bone Up on Contractor Law
People say “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” In the same vein, ignorance of contractor illegalities is no excuse—and no comfort—when something goes wrong. Association members are well-advised to bone up on what’s important before they sign their names to a contract for repairs, renovations or new construction. Read More……