Before hiring a construction manner, your HOA should ask the right questions to make sure he or she is best for the job. Invite each candidate individuall to a board or committe meeting, and interview each prospective construction manage carefully. Remember, you’ll be relying on the quality of his or her work to last for at least 10 years.
So what questions should HOAs ask? What qualities should boards be looking for? We’ve developed a set of questions to help your HOA find the best construction mangager that will suit your community’s needs.
Ask these questions, take notes on each candidates response, and compare your options.
Questions
- Does the company have a license for the type of work that they will be managing?
- How long has the company been in business?
- What type of projects do they consult on or manage?
- Does the company specialize in working with homeowner associations?
- What professional organizations does the company belong to?
- What types and amounts of insurance does the firm have? Errors & Omissions $_____; Property Damage $_____; Personal Injury $_____; Workman’s Comp $_____; Vehicular $_____
- Will the firm provide you with references for both current projects and projects more than two years old?
- Who will be the person on their staff assigned to your project? How long has he/she been employed by the firm? How many years of experience does he/she have with projects similar to yours?
- Will a firm representative be available to attend board meetings to give periodic progress updates?
- Does the company charge for any of the following: letters to the board or management company; notices to homeowners; change Order preparation; board meeting attendance; job schedule updates; mileage; copying; or telephone calls?
- Do they require a retainer fee or deposit, and if so, how much?
- What is their federal tax ID number?
- Will the company analyze your problems and present alternatives?
- Will the company develop cost estimates for the alternatives?
- Does their design work conform to local building code requirements?
- What is their estimate of the length of time that it will take to complete your project?
- What will they do to minimize the disruption of life at your association while work is underway?
- Do they provide any form of construction quality observation or auditing? Please describe.
- Has the firm ever been let go from a project by a client? What was the reason?
- What do they believe separates them from their competition?
Adapted from an article by Richard Tippett, former Chair of ECHO’s Maintenance Resource Panel.