Sharing vendor names with homeowners

Homeowners in our community are constantly asking for the names of vendors so they can hire someone to do something around their home. Many of the vendors that we use for our HOA projects also serve residential customers. Is there anything wrong about our HOA creating a vendor list of the vendors that we use for HOA projects and providing that vendor list to homeowners upon request? We do not wish to be liable or responsible for their interactions with the vendors but would like to share this information with the homeowners.

Agree with Tim. But also ask the vendor if they are okay with it. They may not want to. They are a public business. So not private or exclusive to the HOA. Just make sure to separate the private and the HOA business responsibilities.

Or this:

https://www.woodmilltracehoa.org/vendor-list

Henry

First, we are located in Texas so the names of association vendors must be provided if asked--along with virtually everything else regarding association operations.

However, I agree 100% with Tim and Melissa. We have been asked for vendor names dozens of times, and we freely provide them. If asked, we do not provide an evaluation of the services provided, nor do we provide names in response to the question "Who do you recommend to do this, that or the other". We explain why we choose not to recommend vendors as described below.

The attorney for the HOA in which we resided years ago told the Board to simply provide the vendor information if asked, with no other comments, and not to provide recommendations. He explained that is the most effective way to eliminate problems if the vendor performance is not satisfactory.

A lot have said that we cannot endorse or recommend because we become liable.

Is there any case law or statutes that say this? I really cannot fathom how we can become liable since we published a list of vendors that we use for HOA projects.

I know cities and other government entities cannot endorse or recommend but that is because of laws that mandate equal treatment to all vendors. I do know they often provide vendor lists upon request though.

I agree.

Henry,

I see nothing wrong with telling a neighbor about any vendors that serve the HOA operation. That is statement of fact and not an endorsement to disclose information. In fact, it helps small business and can compound the positive aspects of company/HOA relationship. It's up to the company and homeowner to close any deals.

Our Ex-President/con-man tried to run a scam on the HOA. He thought he could use me as a way to scam the HOA money. There was a rule that says IF an owner did not fix a violation, then the HOA could pay someone to fix it and send the owner the bill. If that owner did not pay, then we could lien for that money. His "play" was for the HOA to hire him and pay him out of HOA money directly. That was because we could then place a lien on that person to get our money back. 'Win-Win" for both he said. It would cost us an additional $400 to file the lien. Never mind the $5K from paying him the "paint jobs". Which he wanted us to go around writing people up for since he had a license to work as a painting contractor.

He tried this on a few other board members over the years. It did not play with me. So instead if the person really was in paint violation (there really were a few needed house painted) I would tell them about his paint company. It was an option to hire him straight out since most people knew who he was. Plus he was a HOA member. That made it attractive for them to hire him and left the HOA out of paying him a dime.

It should also be noted that he used water down paints and did bad work. He would NOT have been someone I would have recommended the HOA used. However, if I gave out his information that is all would do. I had to deal with his customer complaints later. It just kept him out of the HOA money otherwise he would try another scam to get his way.

So I would not recommend a HOA get involved with what happens between contractor and customer. Just provide the information of contact and walk away.

No there is nothing wrong with doing what you propose.

So there is clarity of messaging with what you put out there, simply provide caveats or other appropriate statements on the list in regard to the things that folks here are cautioning about. If you do not provide caveats or other statements regarding the intent of your list, then interpretation of the list is totally up to the reader.

Indicate things like:
- HOA Board is providing this list as a courtesy only and inclusion of a company on this list is not an endorsement of their product or services,
- Any product or service sought/obtained from and provided/rendered by listed companies is an agreement/arrangement/contract entirely between the company and the homeowner,
- HOA Board will not provide any comments, recommendation, references, and/or feedback in regard to any vendors listed,
- Etc.