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BryanD1 (Georgia)
Posts: 3
Posted:
We currently issue keys to our residents for access to the pool and playground area. The locks are changed every year and new keys are distributed in an effort to limit access to residents that are in "good standing" within the HOA. Due to the fact that residents are known for going out and getting copies made of the keys and distributing them to non residents and residents that are not in good standing, we would like to move to a card key access system.

Has anyone been involved in implementing such a system in their neighborhood, and if so, can you offer any advice, recommendations, and/or tips that might be beneficial for us as we start the evaluation process? We don't want a "junk" system, but we are a small neighborhood (155 homes), so we don't need anything too fancy. We just want a system that works, and that will allow us to control access through the activation or deactivation of card keys rather than having to worry about changing out locks. We will manage the system ourselves, so we don't need to contract out to a service provider.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Bryan
JosephW (Michigan)
Posts: 882
Posted:
In case you don't find anyone on this board with experience with this, I want to suggest that you contact some of the local management companies or the CAI Georgia chapter (http://www.cai-georgia.org/index.cfm) and ask them if they have any knowledge or recommendations locally.

Joe

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GordonD1 (California)
Posts: 131
Posted:
Bryan:

I own a rental property that had the same problem. 3 years ago to a card access system. It was a success. Our management company will charge the homeowner $250 for the replacement of the card if it gets lost.
Only one card per household.

Gordon
KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665
Posted:
Quote:
... Our management company will charge the homeowner $250 for the replacement of the card if it gets lost. ...

Sorry, but this is a breach of your duty to the homeowners. The management company exists to serve. Your BOD needs to kick the management co in the tail and get some service.

Last year I did some research and you can easily purchase cards for about $2.50 each in very small quantities (10). Buy 100 and the cost should drop to about $1.00. The expensive part is the 15 minutes of labor to replace the card. But the resulting bill rate comes in at almost $1000 an hour. Your neighborhood would be better off hiring a lawyer to do the work.

It is high time HOAs stopped allowing management companies to gouge the owners. I can hear the argument that this is to discourage loss. What it really does is discourage the revelation of loss. In the meantime you have a card floating around that can be used by anyone. Keep in mind, it would probably be lost in your neighborhood. And as such it will likely be found by someone with a clue that it might be for the pool. It is further very easy to check to see if it is for the pool.

The costs are not that great and the solution is much better then keys. Further, you can cut off a card at any time while your key solution only works once a year. Then there is the time and effort involved in redistributing the keys that will be saved. Charge people $10 for a lost card. (And of course deactivate the card as soon as you know it has been lost. In fact, if someone calls to ask, deactivate the card even if they want to spend some time looking for it. Tell them to call if it is found and you can turn it back on.)

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