HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - February 27, 2009
Published: Fri, 02/27/09
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Hiring a Contractor for Your HOA: Spend a Little to Save a Lot
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With the economic situation, no homeowners association can
afford to overpay on work done by a contractor.
To help you make smart choices when your HOA hires a contractor,
we spoke to several experts and compiled their recommendations
into our latest article.
Today, I'm going to share a tip from Richard J. Koller, an
engineer at Tauscher, Cronacher Professional Engineers P.C. in
Baldwin, N.Y.
Richard told us that "we sometimes find that contractors
recommend more work than is needed to fix the problem.... As
dollars get tighter for all owners and associations, the most
cost-effective solution is that much more critical. A repair
may be better than the recommended replacement, and the best
way to know that is to get the opinion of an unbiased
professional."
So the next time you face a project involving significant
expense, consider spending the $500 or so necessary to hire an
independent third party, such as a licensed professional or
structural engineer, to review the scope and cost of the work up
front. That investment could save you many times the amount down
the road.
For the rest of our experts' advice on working with
contractors, see our just published article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/235.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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HOA News Around the Nation: February 2009
Unwed Mom Files Discrimination Suit Against HOA ... Condo
President Arrested after Alleged Election Fraud ... Teen Alleged
to Have Threatened Condo Officer ... Owner Avoids Jail in Dispute
Over Repair
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/236.cfm >
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Best Practices for Working with Any Contractor
Cash is king today, and one false move with any contracting job
could result in huge financial losses to your association. That's
why it's important to create procedures that you'll use to
protect your association when working with any contractor, from
masons to roofers to general contractors and beyond. Here are six
tips for achieving that goal.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/235.cfm >
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Mold: When Is It Your HOA's Problem?
A growing number of owners are complaining about mold and
moisture in their properties, and they sometimes insist that
their homeowners association pony up the money to fix the problem.
When is mold a problem the association needs to address, and
when should owners foot their own repair bills?
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/232.cfm >
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Prepare Your Homeowners Association for an Emergency
Flooding in the Pacific Northwest. An ice storm in the Northeast.
Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf. Nobody expects disasters to hit
their area, but it's plain that catastrophes can hit anywhere and
everywhere. Here's how to help residents in your HOA prepare for
the worst.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/231.cfm >
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HOA Rules on Renovations: How to Make Construction Less Stressful
Without clear rules, a growth in owner renovation projects could
become a serious source of tension at your homeowners association.
Before that happens, do your own renovation of your association'
s rules to be sure they spell out what can and can't be done when
owners work on their property. Here's a guide to rules your
community should enact--and enforce--to keep peace during
renovations.
Click here to read full article:
< http://www.hoaleader.com/members/229.cfm >
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