Footing the bill for foolishness in homeowner associations

August 06, 2003

By Alex Lyte
Copyright Alex Lyte

Are we all reading what we're writing - and moreso, understanding and comprehending (accurately) what we are reading?

Fighting for peace of mind and property rights?

Asking for proxy language?

Worrying about spiraling dues and special assessments so that "UN-educated" "NON-licensed" "UN-skilled" "UN-qualified" AND "NON-regulated" CAI managers can continue to be used as pawns by the CAI lawyers to create havoc and chaos on our dime?

Ask yourselves why any "deed -restricted" development (HOA,CID,PUD etc) even NEEDS a manager or lawyer.

Are the owners who OWN the property not capable of managing their own property (hiring and paying a landscaper, painter, carpenter, pool person etc...)?

Are the owners unfamiliar with writing a check?

Are the owners illiterate, blind, deaf and/or so intellectually challenged that they cannot manage their own affairs?

What would they do if they lived in a non-deed restricted single family residence? Simply not maintain the yard and pool? Wait for the neighbors or a stranger to knock at the door and offer to do it for them?

It's apathy, complacency and ignorance that has created this mess (all human nature characteristics)- and the lawyers and managers are laughing all the way to the bank!

An experiment for BOARD MEMBERS (who negligently rely on, and deligate their responsibilities to "expert" managers or NON-BOARD OWNERS who discover a maintenance and repair problem...

Next time the pool filter blows up or common area sprinklers are gushing for days or common area lights are burned out, or the entrance gates are slamming into the sides of cars (any or all of the above), call the BOARD MEMBER responsible for the "maintenance committee" or call a repair vendor yourself without calling the "useless, profit orientated, non-responsive, middleman" manager.

You'll soon discover that the repairs are performed quickly, and at less cost due to the manager not puting their "mark-up" or "kick-back percentage " on the bill.

Some prominent management companies delay response times for repairs to exacerbate the damages that they get paid to repair. others use delay tactics to besmirch the reputation of one repair vendor in order to subsequently suggest one of their other "preferred, approved vendors". these are the one's who charge more and provide "kickbacks" to the managers.

Ask your association to see the invoices and checks. you'll soon discover they will AGGRESSIVELY REFUSE to permit you to have access to these records for any number of nonsensical reasons or
you'll discover that many management companies have their own "maintenance & repair shops" which the manager charges a fee to simply forward a work order to for the required repairs.

And you're footing the bill for this foolishness!

OUT OUT OUT !! We must get them out of our pockets and off our properties - permanently.