taking bids

Started by JoseV • 6 replies • 95 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

JoseV (Florida)
Posts: 27

Posted:

Just recently, we received notice that palm trees and hedges, that were affected by the recent freez, will be replaced. That's fantastic. However, it appears that the Board requested that the current landscaping company put a bid in giving them exclusivity. My understanding is that large projects, such as this one, requires 3 bids. I have not questioned the board as of yet pending a response from this forum. If they are allowed well so be it.

There was another big project that took place last week. All the grounds in our community were fertilized. However, there was no presents of our management company or for that matter, Board members.

Will appreciate your thoughts.
THank you

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,334

Posted:

In 2018 you posted that this HOA is a subdivision (and so not a condominium). In this case, FS 720 requires the following:

If a contract for the purchase, lease, or renting of materials or equipment, or for the provision of services, requires payment by the association that exceeds 10 percent of the total annual budget of the association, including reserves, the association must obtain competitive bids for the materials, equipment, or services.

Three bids are not required. But competitive bidding is required if the above condition is met.

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

And even if the board received 30 bids, they may ignore to 29 lower bids and may accept the highest one if the board votes to do so in Florida.

NameW1 (Texas)
Posts: 32

Posted:

And the board should be free to carefully review and vet all bids. Just because a bid is low doesn't mean you want to do business with them. Imagine a plumber whose license was revoked by the plumbing board for shoddy work. Would you hire that one even if it was the lowest bid?

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NameW1 on 03/21/2026 8:54 AM
And the board should be free to carefully review and vet all bids. Just because a bid is low doesn't mean you want to do business with them. Imagine a plumber whose license was revoked by the plumbing board for shoddy work. Would you hire that one even if it was the lowest bid?

Unlike government agencies where solicitations for bids is a public process and anyone can submit a bid, HOA’s normally request bids from contractors. Hopefully they are smart enough to vet those requests first.

RossP1 (Texas)
Posts: 4

Posted:

DeanJ is right that vetting isn't always clean — we had a situation where the "lowest" bid came from a guy who was basically a handyman with a nice website. Looked fine on paper. We caught it by asking for proof of insurance and a license number before going further. Didn't have them. So our process now is: any contractor being considered for anything significant has to provide license, insurance, and at leasr two references from similar-scale HOA jobs before we even bother comparing numbers. Saves a lot of grief when something goes wrong mid-project.

On the transparency side — worth minuting whatever criteria the board used to select a vendor, especially if it wasn't the lowest bid. Gives you something to point to if members start asking questions later.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

If there's a current landscaper under contract, and it will be charged with maintaining any new and existing plantings, I'd stick with the relationship unless pricing is completely out of line.....and it won't be.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here