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So basically you are saying you do not give a crap what happens to the place 10 years from now. A selfish but common attitude with many condo owners.
I don’t know that it’s selfishness, just not looking at things the same way. We had some push back from a few owners when we wanted to raise dues in order to build reserves. We heard comments like “Why should I help fund a roof replacement in 25 years when I won’t be here?”. Answer: “You wouldn’t be. You’d be paying for the use of the current roof”. When you think of it like that, it makes more sense. You’re contributing funds in direct proportion to your usage. If you only stay for 10 of the 25 year life of the roof, you’ve only paid for that portion of time. That method seems more fair to me than someone living there 24 years, selling and the new owners being accessed for the entirety of the roof in year 25.
I don’t know that it’s selfishness, just not looking at things the same way. We had some push back from a few owners when we wanted to raise dues in order to build reserves. We heard comments like “Why should I help fund a roof replacement in 25 years when I won’t be here?”. Answer: “You wouldn’t be. You’d be paying for the use of the current roof”. When you think of it like that, it makes more sense. You’re contributing funds in direct proportion to your usage. If you only stay for 10 of the 25 year life of the roof, you’ve only paid for that portion of time. That method seems more fair to me than someone living there 24 years, selling and the new owners being accessed for the entirety of the roof in year 25.
This is how many (rightly, imo) felt as new owners here when we had an assessment for foundation. We should have been funding that in advance.
My board hasn't kept minutes since 2013. There is zero communication from the board. When I got on the board I thought we would do them but to my horror the person who claimed the secretary spot seems to think minutes are ... handwritten note that he keeps. I am currently praying that he brings a reasonable set to the next meeting after we informed him that is not appropriate.
Failure to produce minutes is an obvious failure of the board. If no minutes are produced at your next meeting, you could shame them into producing minutes. Take your own notes, including recording votes, type them up, print them out, clearly state these are from you only and that these are not officially approved minutes because none were produced by the Secretary, and then distribute the sheet of paper for everyone's front stoop. That should embarrass the board.
It may also start conversations with other residents and you might develop a coalition of like minded people who will attend meetings and eventually run for the board.
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Originally Posted by EmilyFoxSeaton
They want to do assessments every 10 seconds to have have stuff and they don't care because they will be living here for the rest of their days. But for us.. we would prefer not to pay for a condo community we won't be at.
A later poster stated quite correctly, that paying for stuff that won't be replaced until after you leave is actually very fair, because you are paying for your use of it while you were living there.
I've spent a lot of time on one of the major real estate websites and when I've looked at Condo fees, the most common number seems to be $300/month. Yes at $350, your fees are a bit higher than the mean, but they aren't totally out of whack.
Lastly, I agree with the others about producing a proper reserve study. Your arguments will carry greater weight when supported by the authority of a report. Think of it, right now your only weight is that of a newbie board member versus the collective experience of the other members of the board. Why should they listen to you?
It may also start conversations with other residents and you might develop a coalition of like minded people who will attend meetings and eventually run for the board.
Oh wait... due to conditioning by the other boards... who did not provide minutes to the residents... most residents are not aware that minutes exist at all. Thus they are not aware they are missing anything. If they ever wanted to review the paperwork of the condo, they wouldn't even know to look for minutes.
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So basically you are saying you do not give a crap what happens to the place 10 years from now. A selfish but common attitude with many condo owners.
Well not really. But the selfish attitude is them. They want my money right now so they can have this done at the start of their run here. if the assessment was fair and reasonable stretched out not to put too much focus on a glut at a time period, I would be fine with it even if it didn't directly effect me. No matter what we shouldn't have assessment after assessment all scrunched up at once. Even more horrific as we have a solid reserve fund.
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And how did you arrive at the roof cost?
You know what it cost last time. Just add a reasonable inflation cost and ask your property manager and you are set. I have been told it is from 3000 to 5000 per unit. Likely 3500. Last time it was 2700 (in 2002).
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who runs the HOA on behalf of the board and the association and IS paid to do so.
Your so nieve. I have a property manager... he is useless. He is the person who does what the board decides... plus he has no fiduciary duty to the residents so.. if he messes things up... there is zero consequence as long as he did what the contract provides. We need like a corporation executive who can be held personally liable for messing things up. He also only makes money by having tons of properties...so he isn't good for any of them.
Apparently you have not priced roofing since 2002.
You have been aware for several years of HOA rule and law violations but all I hear here is "I". What have you as board member actively done to inform homeowners and move management of the community back on legal track?
It depends what the fees are for. My neighborhood kept the rates steady for 10 years. We've had inflation since then - power costs have gone up, cost for grounds maintenance has gone up but the rates stayed the same. The board feels we need some upgrades to the pool (pumps, repairs, pool deck, etc). Rates went up 10%. People are flipping out.
If residents get a detailed list of where the HOA fees are going, then it should be no surprise when/if they go up. If the community civic building needs repairs that the budget doesn't have and the surplus is too low, rates have to go up.
I've seen my community's surplus drop year-over-year. I wasn't the least bit surprised when the rates jumped.
There are one or two condominium developments in my town that never assessed adequate condominium association fees, so they are chronically undercapitalized. As a result, not only are the properties deteriorating, but they are also having trouble selling units.
We have your opinion of what the fees should be but we are in no position to judge what the fees should be for your association. If you think the fees are too high you can always try to persuade your fellow board members or even recruit people who think like you to run for the board.
Failure to produce minutes is an obvious failure of the board. If no minutes are produced at your next meeting, you could shame them into producing minutes. Take your own notes, including recording votes, type them up, print them out, clearly state these are from you only and that these are not officially approved minutes because none were produced by the Secretary, and then distribute the sheet of paper for everyone's front stoop. That should embarrass the board.
It may also start conversations with other residents and you might develop a coalition of like minded people who will attend meetings and eventually run for the board.
A later poster stated quite correctly, that paying for stuff that won't be replaced until after you leave is actually very fair, because you are paying for your use of it while you were living there.
I've spent a lot of time on one of the major real estate websites and when I've looked at Condo fees, the most common number seems to be $300/month. Yes at $350, your fees are a bit higher than the mean, but they aren't totally out of whack.
Lastly, I agree with the others about producing a proper reserve study. Your arguments will carry greater weight when supported by the authority of a report. Think of it, right now your only weight is that of a newbie board member versus the collective experience of the other members of the board. Why should they listen to you?
The rep from the property management firm does that, not the board. The first order of business at the next meeting is for the board to review and accept--or correct--the minutes.
I'm starting to suspect that the OP doesn't even HAVE a property management firm. I thought that was a basic requirement for all condo complexes. It's in our by-laws. If they are trying to cheap out by not having a property management firm and doing it all themselves, then they probably get what they deserve.
Oh wait... due to conditioning by the other boards... who did not provide minutes to the residents... most residents are not aware that minutes exist at all. Thus they are not aware they are missing anything. If they ever wanted to review the paperwork of the condo, they wouldn't even know to look for minutes.
Well not really. But the selfish attitude is them. They want my money right now so they can have this done at the start of their run here. if the assessment was fair and reasonable stretched out not to put too much focus on a glut at a time period, I would be fine with it even if it didn't directly effect me. No matter what we shouldn't have assessment after assessment all scrunched up at once. Even more horrific as we have a solid reserve fund.
You know what it cost last time. Just add a reasonable inflation cost and ask your property manager and you are set. I have been told it is from 3000 to 5000 per unit. Likely 3500. Last time it was 2700 (in 2002).
Your so nieve. I have a property manager... he is useless. He is the person who does what the board decides... plus he has no fiduciary duty to the residents so.. if he messes things up... there is zero consequence as long as he did what the contract provides. We need like a corporation executive who can be held personally liable for messing things up. He also only makes money by having tons of properties...so he isn't good for any of them.
A real condo property manager is not a "he", it is a firm that specializes in condo management and that the board selects as the result of RFP process to get the best value for your buck. You may have a rep from the firm assigned to your complex (as well as others). Ours is a "she", and she is excellent. Hiring some schmoe who calls himself a property manager is not the same thing.
I am not naive. It sounds as if you are, because you are part and parcel of allowing poor management of the place where you live. I was interested in buying in another complex until I learned from both the real estate community and a resident that the property had been mismanaged, they'd gone through several PM firms, and they were in trouble and getting whacked with assessment because of drainage issues. Trying to save a dollar doesn't always work out.
Last edited by Mightyqueen801; 01-22-2018 at 08:12 AM..
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A real condo property manager is not a "he", it is a firm that specializes in condo management and that the board selects as the result of RFP process to get the best value for your buck. You may have a rep from the firm assigned to your complex (as well as others). Ours is a "she", and she is excellent. Hiring some schmoe who calls himself a property manager is not the same thing.
