Webinars

This question came up twice last week, so it seemed like a good one to answer to a larger audience here in our blog. We believe Reserve Studies are a specialty. We have seen, over the last few years, some Architectural and Engineering (consulting and building envelope types) entering the field of Reserve Studies. Their strength is in other areas, and it appears that Reserve Studies have become a new service they can offer to community associations.

Apparently there are many questions on this issue at this time. The last blog entry answered the questions two people asked if our Reserve Study would replace their need for a “Building Envelope Analysis”. Earlier this week someone asked if our Reserve Study was an insurance appraisal report (please see an article related to that question on our website:

So much of the field of Reserve Studies and reserve fund budgeting is about being fair. The core goal is attempting to have the owners enjoying the use of the association’s assets pay for the deterioration that occurred to those common area assets during their time of ownership. So should an association ever implement a reserve fund policy perceived to be unfair?

Conventional wisdom says the client is always right. Customer service principles support that concept: please the client, nurture relationships for repeat business, etc. But what if it is your job to provide professional counsel, and the nature of the news you deliver is that it often causes the client some discomfort?

In preparing to speak to two different audiences in two days, both made up of new boardmembers and new managers, I wanted to make sure I was communicating the simple truths about Reserve planning. It forced me to get down to the real basics, and in almost 30 years I found I had never crystallized my thoughts on the matter. What indeed are the underlying rules, on which all the details are based? So after some pondering, reflecting on questions I’ve recently fielded, and problems I’ve recently helped solve, I came up with this short list. I believe it defines the underlying reasons why Reserve planning, Reserve Studies, and National Reserve Study Standards are important:

In a recent webinar, an attendee remarked how simple it seemed to get on the path to appropriate Reserve funding. They were right! The problem of underfunded Reserves in community associations across the country can eliminated in five years with the $10 solution. Follow along as I explain.