Snow removal..and a too trusting of a board

Started by KrystalA • 2 replies • 1378 views

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KrystalA (Iowa)
Posts: 60

Posted:

I have only been on our board for a very short time and have learned that most of the other memebers of this board just seemt to trust the property management person too much. They blindly agree to let her choose vendors for various things and on two major things I wanted to get mulitiple quotes, but was shot down because "she knows what she is talking about."

Well of the major snows we got here the last couple months, the service has been slow, shoddy, and yet we are paying out the nose for it.

So I would be curious what other boards pay on average for each removal.

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

Krystal, I live in the Denver area and take it from your post you may be getting as much snow this year as us:)
We believe when a significant amount of money is involved competative sealed bids should be obtained. This is important because there can be lots of variation in cost as well as quality of service. Depending on your Management Agreement it may be the agent's responsibility to get any bids requested by the Board. She may be discouraging bids because it means less work for her.

It is poor management when a Board has no idea of costs and simply let the Managing Agent make their decisions. I recommend getting competative bids for all contractors at least every three years. Sometimes (often) it is the MC that is the example of high cost and poor service.

KevinC2 (Michigan)
Posts: 15

Posted:

Krystal,

I can relate to what you are going through. I too am a new board member and am learning quickly that the association has been poorly managed over the years. I live in Michigan and we get snow off and on. We are charged roughly $120 to plow the parking lot (24 spaces) and shovel the sidewalks of the courtyard area. They charge an additional $120 to salt the parking lot and about $25 per bag of salt to spread on the sidewalks. We have significantly limited our usage of snow removal and salting this year due to inability to pay as an association. This is by far the cheapest in the area, which is why we go with them. I highly recommend getting multiple bids for the contract as contractors can vary in price significantly.

Kevin
Board President
The Courtyards Association

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