Response to Hail Storm Damage

Started by NpS • 16 replies • 1683 views

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NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

We had a hail storm earlier this year. We were not in the hardest hit area but we were in the storm's path. Our community and surrounding areas have been inundated with offers from "storm chaser" roofers.

Our homeowners are responsible for their own roofs. So we could have let our people fend for themselves. But instead, our board decided to get out in front of the issue.

Attached are 2 notices we sent to our community members - One pre-meeting and one post-meeting. Perhaps they will be helpful to someone on this forum who has thought about taking a similar path.

📎 Attachments (1):

⏸ Downloads temporarily unavailable

📄1112774434671.pdf(74 KB)

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061

Posted:

Np,

The attachments were excellent. The Association isn't taking responsibility to repair the damage or recommending any specific contractor. They simply put together information and shared it with their members. A good example for everyone to follow.

EmmaH1
Posts: 674

Posted:

Thanks for sharing. Nice example of a informative notice to help fellow homeowners deal with a problem by doing a lot of the homework/research for them. I'm impressed.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I like you & your Board's approach too, NpS!!

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Thanks Tim, Emma, and Kerry.

We have found that measures like this go a long way toward re-building trust and confidence - Impressions that were in short supply for many years in our community.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

NpS

Our HOA takes care of roof replacement on our stand alone patio homes. We on the BOD often joke that one good hail storm would end our budgeting issues as the individual homeowners insurance policy (of which the HOA is a co-payee) would pay for roof replacements.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

I hear ya John.
So glad a prior board decided to dump roofs as an HOA obligation. Would put us under water big-time if we had to cover the cost today.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NpS on 11/29/2014 2:34 PM
I hear ya John.
So glad a prior board decided to dump roofs as an HOA obligation. Would put us under water big-time if we had to cover the cost today.

NPS

One reason I moved here was all outside maintenance/landscaping is done by the association which is in the Covenants. This means the BOD could not dump it. While I realize we pay for it via dues, I would be one of the first in line to "whatever" the BOD (which I am on) if they tried to remove such without a Covenant change.

While I would work and rally against such a Covenant change if done properly then so be it. Live with it or move on.

The live with if done properly is a concept many that come on this site cannot grasp.

EmmaH1
Posts: 674

Posted:

Hey JohnC,

It must be nice to have all the outdoor things taken care of, my husband still love the "large lot" idea. Someday I maybe able to convince him to give it up and have that resort style living you seem to enjoy.

(Your right about the live with it if done properly concept. If everything is done according to governing documents, procedure and State laws, then no one should complain (I know I wouldn't). They should just move if they can't accept it. I agree with you wow...lol.)

I think we may have just strayed away from the original subject. But not in a bad way I hope.

EmmaH1
Posts: 674

Posted:

JohnC,
There are some beautiful new communities in Lexington lately aren't there? with tons of amenities, the town is really growing isn't it. We really do love it here and don't regret our 800 mile move. Don't miss all that snow!

EmmaH1
Posts: 674

Posted:

NpS,

When and if you have the chance and are if you are generous enough to take the time, could you share another example of a notice maybe you have sent out to your community as an example of how you keep/kept everyone informed and involved. We need a lot of work in this area, (it basically does not happen at all). Kerry had a great idea about the newsletter/editor position. (I realize you may not be able to share another example if it would disclose your communities name, but if it is possible, it would helpful to me and probably a lot of other people new to HOAs). I understand if it's not possible.

thanks

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Didn't mean to give the wrong impression John.

Dumping roof replacement wasn't a unilateral act by the board. CC&Rs were amended to make the change.

The amendment passed with the necessary votes because it was really a no-brainer for those who understood our predicament. When the amendment was made, there wasn't enough money being set aside in our paltry reserves to even cover road replacement. So for our roofs, the board's choice was either to do a special assessment or to flip the replacement obligation to the individual HOs. Either way, the HOs were going to pay for their roofs - through an assessment or via direct payment.

Of course we had disgruntled HOs. But generally speaking the people who cried out loudest that the HOA should pay for their roof replacements were the same people who objected to increases in their HOA fees. For some reason that I can never understand, they thought they could distance themselves from the discussion of where's the money going to come from.

The overall situation has had it's benefits financially. Most people replaced their roofs 5-10 years ago and some still have their original roofs. People paid for what they got and didn't pay for what they didn't get.

The hail storm has been a major gift for those who didn't replace their roofs yet. Their old shingles were both brittle and discontinued. And since the insurance companies don't pro-rate usage (like tire manufacturers do) and won't be able to get away with patching an old roof with new shingles, all of these HOs will get a new roof even if the damage was only partial.

If you are ever "lucky" enough to have a hail storm come through, I highly recommend that you talk to your local zoning inspectors. In our situation, they have been a wealth of unbiased knowledge.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By EmmaH1 on 11/29/2014 3:53 PM
JohnC,
There are some beautiful new communities in Lexington lately aren't there? with tons of amenities, the town is really growing isn't it. We really do love it here and don't regret our 800 mile move. Don't miss all that snow!

One of the main reasons I chose my present association is lack of amenities. The amenities (pools, tennis, parks, biking, play grounds, golf course, etc.) are the things that can drive an association to its knees.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

NpS

You said:

Of course we had disgruntled HO's. But generally speaking the people who cried out loudest that the HOA should pay for their roof replacements were the same people who objected to increases in their HOA fees. For some reason that I can never understand, they thought they could distance themselves from the discussion of where's the money going to come from.

How true, Many just do not understand where the money comes from.

One poster said we could have an association that offers all owners breakfast in bed every morning. Not a problem. We just have to figure out how to pay for it.....LOL

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnC46 on 11/29/2014 3:15 PM

One reason I moved here was all outside maintenance/landscaping is done by the association which is in the Covenants.

I moved here for the same reason John. No longer wanted to bother with lawns and snow clearing and everything else that goes with having an exterior to your house.

Now I joke to my fellow board members that I am taking care of a bigger yard than I ever had.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By EmmaH1 on 11/29/2014 4:23 PM
could you share another example of a notice maybe you have sent out to your community as an example of how you keep/kept everyone informed and involved.

Announcement for first snow of 2014-15 season attached.

📎 Attachments (1):

⏸ Downloads temporarily unavailable

📄11129261542071.pdf(93 KB)

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

EmmaH1
Posts: 674

Posted:

Impressed again,

Your notice was direct to the point and warning the residents of consequence so no one can complain they were not informed in advance. Another great example to learn from and apply.

thank you very much for sharing it,

Emma

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