Tips on Working with HOAs

Nobody has ever liked working with or on committees. However, in a situation with multiple stakeholders like a condominium or community development, it is necessary for both the HOA roofing committee and the roofing contractor to communicate well and work together.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the members of the committee generally have no professional experience in managing and budgeting large projects, nor in the process and conventions of major construction. (In most cases, a re-roofing is the single largest project an HOA ever tackles) The best thing the contractor can do is to keep in mind that the problem is only one of inexperience, not incapacity, and to devote as much time as necessary to educating the committee on what is involved in putting on a new roof.

Everyone understands that you should pay for quality, but people differ in opinion about whether a Lamborghini is that much better quality than a Mercedes. The easiest way to deal with sticker shock is to do a life-cycle cost analysis by comparing not the upfront cost, but the cost per year of each roofing option.

Working with a community HOA is less like working with a homeowner (although that’s what they are,) and more like working with an institution like a local plumber, hospital or college. The length of the investment term on material upgrades is considerably longer than a single family residence, though not as long as that of a university, which can easily enjoy the investment of slate roofs that will last 150 years. The mandate of the HOA, however, is to keep property values high, so any capital improvement that will deliver on that mandate will likely be considered.

Skilled and reputable roofers like Style Roofing have the same mandate for high-quality, long-term value, so the two groups will never be at odds. The only task is to clearly explain the benefits of the roofers’ advice. For instance, it is often wise to address any insulation or ventilation issues while the roof is off. Most HOAs are not expecting (nor have they necessarily budgeted for) that expense, but if the potential ROI is high enough, they are generally agreeable and will come back with a revised budget.

Working within a group for a common goal has always been tricky, but it doesn’t have to be too difficult. Rather than hire a moving company, with good communication and a shared vision, HOAs and roofer can work successfully together.  

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