Why does it take too long

Because people are people and what's important to you may not prompt the same reaction in others. The reverse is also true and You know it.

Board members also have a life outside the association, so I don't know why people expect 5 or 6 people (or however many people are on your board) to do EVERYTHING. Things would prove move faster if more people would volunteer to help, but you and I both know one of the unintended consequences of HOA living is that most people think they pay assessments so others can deal with the stuff they don't want to. Folks who love serving on a board are welcome to it while everyone else stays home and watches TV.

You know all this too, so this is just something you'll have to live with - unless you want to lend a hand or are willing to pay more for people to do the work. You'll have to convince enough of your neighbors to do the same - good luck with that.

It's mainly because of laws governing HOAs.

If an HOA has an issue, they have to:

* Wait until the next board meeting to discuss it (with time allowed for proper noticing and such).

* Have the discussions. Possibly defer until research can be done and wait until the next meeting.

* Once a decision is made, solicit bids as needed.

* At the next board meeting, discuss bids and hopefully select and award the bid.

* Notify contractor as needed to schedule work.

* Wait a certain amount of time, depending on contractor's schedule and lead time needed to order supplies.

There you have it. And that's what happens when things go smoothly. If something throws a monkey wrench into the works, additional time will be needed.

Obviously, in states that don't require open meetings and allow board members to conduct business via email, things can go more quickly, but even so the process can be frustratingly slow.

Yep. And the research portion can take several months. And if it's a capital improvement, it may require owner approval so that's another meeting to call with notice, etc.

Owners in my neighborhood were so frustrated that we couldn't whip up additional play equipment when theaters and daycares were closed.

Yes, still on the board. a violation letter went out to the homeowner asking for X amount of money and stating the violation. The owner can pay it and it quashes the hearing or the owner can fight it and appear at the meeting. This is the house that was raided a couple of months ago.

We have found the normal Board review and approval process is the primary reason why "it takes too long", especially when small projects are involved.

As a result, we have convinced several clients it is more effective to:

1. Forego obtaining bids for any work estimated to cost less than an amount comfortable for that Board. $500, $850, $1,000, etc., although a less than $1,000 threshold is very unrealistic and we work very hard to convince Boards no one, but no one, in this area will submit a bid on a $500 project. In North Texas if one can wield a hammer, one can find a job. Contractors need not be bothered with bid responses.

Obtain a bid and proceed if the cost is below the threshold. The rationale is, it is not worth the time of the MC or PM to attempt to obtain bids below a certain amount as we are finding contractors do not wish to deal with visiting the premises, looking at whatever is wrong, and submitting a bid. All that is overhead for the contractor and for the MC/PM.

2. Grant certain sub-contractors blanket authority to implement repairs without prior approval, only an email notice to the PM is needed. The irrigation systems are an example: if a head has come off and there is a 10' column of water shooting in the air, why bother with a bid, just fix it. That philosophy applies to other irrigation system leaks. The water is bubbling out of a valve cover, it will be nearly impossible to determine the actual cause without digging into the adjacent ground, just have it fixed.

3. Do not obtain bids for (some) unscheduled or emergency repairs. If the roof is leaking, have a trusted contractor fix it.

4. If Boards resist, we tell them a premises visit for Bid 1 on a less than $NNNN project falls under the monthly contract rate, subsequent property visits to meet contractors on small projects which cannot be coordinated with required property review days will be charged to the association at mileage and project management hourly rates.

As for larger projects, it seems there is always a Board member who is convinced the bids are "too high" and asks we continue to obtain bids. With the approval of the Board, we find it effective to hand the scope of work to the 'too high' board member and task that person to obtain competitive bids. Once they understand the liability insurance requirements for contractors, and the other terms and conditions of the scope and realize they cannot use casual day laborers or their brother-in-law, the objections generally fade away.

Hi,

I understand that waiting so long can be frustrating. But there is a process that all boards must follow for pretty much everything, and they've more than likely got more than 1 hearing to arrange.

The larger the HOA, the longer it's going to take for these sorts of issues to be resolved.